How the GCN Lab torture-tested rugged gear
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The GCN lab employed a 14-foot bass boat, refrigerator-freezer and a hot car trunk to test ruggedized equipment for the Product Review article, "Some rugged units strive to survive." Read how the Lab tested each piece of equipment in the review.
All notebooks in the test had to survive for three hours inside a refrigerator where the average temperature was 39 degrees Fahrenheit (3.9 Celsius). Humidity levels were average.Heavily ruggedized notebooks were put in a freezer for one hour. The temperature inside was 28 degrees Fahrenheit (-2.2 Celsius).Heavily ruggedized notebooks were shut inside a hot environment for three hours-the trunk of a car under the July sun. Inside, the average temperature was 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.5 Celsius). The relative humidity average was 60 percent.Each medium to heavily rugged notebook had to endure 10 drops onto a concrete floor from a height of 10 inches. The notebooks were dropped on each corner once, on both flat sides and against the four edges. After each drop the notebook was evaluated and damage noted. The entire notebook had to be above the 10-inch mark at the start of the drop.Each heavy-rugged notebook was to have been dropped 10 times in an identical way as the testing procedure for the 10-inch drop but at a height of 20 inches. But because none of the heavy-rugged units survived the 10-inch test, the 20-inch tests never took place.RAID CONTROLLERSEach RAID was tested within its recommended environment under procedures that mimicked real-life conditions. The tests included:The unit that was designed for ships was taken aboard a 14-foot bass boat. Data was stored on the drives before a three-hour excursion. Waves averaged three feet during the test with some five-foot swells. Data integrity was checked, as well as speed and drive integrity before and after the test.The unit that was designed for land use was tested strapped to the back of a Jeep. Data was stored on the drives before a three-hour excursion. Dirt roads and plenty of small hills were encountered during the test. Data integrity was checked, as well as speed and drive integrity before and following the test.In addition, the land unit was tested in the following way:The RAID had to survive shut down inside a hot car trunk for three hours. The average temperature was 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 Celsius). The relative humidity average was 60 percent.The RAID had to keep operating while under simulated rain. The unit was powered and locked down. A high-powered fan was turned on facing alternatively the front and back of the unit. Three cups of water were thrown through the running fan, pelting the unit with water. This test was conducted three times on both the front and back of the unit. The unit was checked for defects following each test.The RAID had to survive for three hours inside a refrigerated area. The average temperature was 39 degrees Fahrenheit (3.9 Celsius). Humidity levels were average.
Cold test
Extreme cold environment
Extreme heat environment
Shock test, 10 inches
Shock test, 20 inches
Shock, wave vibration
Shock, vehicles
Heat environment
Blown water test
Cold test
NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS
Rainforest
Each medium to heavily ruggedized notebook was placed inside a specially designed, 12-cubic-foot chamber with a boiling water humidifier to test resistance to moisture and humidity. Equipment inside the chamber monitored humidity and temperature. The powered notebooks were kept in the chamber for three hours, where the average temperature was 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33.3 Celsius).
 | A hot humidifer supplied placed inside a sealed box created the steamy environment for testing notebooks. |
Extreme cold environment
Extreme heat environment
Shock test, 10 inches
Shock test, 20 inches
Shock, wave vibration
Shock, vehicles
 | Water accelerated through a fan spinning on "high" created an environment of driven rain. |
Blown water test
Cold test
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