Stalker's custom PC desk

[StalkeR]

Hello people, I was pretty busy with work and home work, so I'm back again here.
The desk was just sitting there, so I get back to work today.

The back side was pulled out and started to make cuts for the fans. Tommorow I should mount them and also if I have time will mount that two shelves, one for the mb and parts, other one for the PSU's.
Here are the parts together, getting ready for mounting finally.


I'll keep informing on the thread as soon I make some changes.

Thanks, Boshko.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Looks like fun

 

[rvcjew]

Can't wait for an update to this, looks like fun.

 

[essenbe]

Looks good, Boshko. Looks like you have a fun project here.

 

[StalkeR]

Here we go, what we've done for today.

Cuz I got only 4 fans atm, I mount them. Also I have one fan grill, will buy the rest later.

Also, the shelves can be positioned now. Here is the picture with the front one, that one with mb, cpu, gpu...

And, for the last fan there was a litlle accident. One part of the fan was broked, so I mounted it on the back one.

That was all for today. Next is to buy more fans and grills and to mount them. After that the back of the desk, to cut the hole for the I/O shield.

Will inform when something is done.

Thanks.

 

[essenbe]

Looks great Boshko. Good job. I look forward to the next update report.

 

[StalkeR]

Tonight should be made cut at back part for i/o shield and psu's. I was marking that just now.
Six of the grills are mounted, two fans will go from the outside, cuz there is no place for them inside.

Also, I need some help for mounting the hdd/ssd to the panel. I want to use something that will not be visibility fron the upside.

Thanks, Boshko.

 

[essenbe]

Boshko, I use Industrial strength Velcro with the sticky stuff on the back. It can all be hidden under the SSD. It works great. I have 4 stacked in my case now, all Velcroed to each other.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Looking good
Agreed velcro

 

[mjf]

The velcro fixing for SSDs looks simple and neat. However, I have one (desktop) PC were the SSD lies in the bay just connected to its power and data cables. For non portables I don't think physically fixing the SSD matters.

 

[StalkeR]

Thanks for the answers guys. I'll take that opinion,seems good.
When we are at hdd, it should be also fixed with velcro, or? Cause I want to make sure that its properltly fixed and its not moving.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
No place to put velcro on an hdd
I'd just get a hdd rack and put it in there.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I personally do not like having components laying around loose in a computer case, even one that is going to be pretty much stationary, like when installed in a desk. Velcro is good enough for an SSD (although I prefer something more secure but, then again, I tend to be anal) but an HDD is heavy enough, I would prefer using a mounting bracket of some kind that is screwed to the case (in this case, pardon the pun, a desk), then secure the HDD to the bracket.

Both 2.5" and 3.5" drives have four mounting holes on the bottom side of the drives. You could just drill holes in the floor of the desk compartment and run screws through the floor from underneath to secure the drives. An alternative would be to use 3mm threaded rod for 2.5" drives or 6-32 threaded rod for 3.5" drives screwed into the bottom of the drives, then drop the rods through the holes in the floor and secure with regular nuts or even wing nuts. I would suggest using short spacers between the drives and the surface the drives are being mounted to.

Another way to mount drives would be to use angle stock (aluminum looks good—good enough to not need painting—and is easier to work with). Just drill holes in the upright legs that will match the mounting holes in the sides of the drives and holes in the legs that will be mounted to the surface the drive is being mounted to for screws to fasten it to the surface. I personally feel installing the angles to the desk first with the legs being screwed down facing each other, then screwing in the drives would look better but you could also screw the angles to the drives first with the other legs pointing out, then screw down the angles to the surface.

 

[mjf]

A HDD needs to be properly mounted with a clamp based rack or side screws. Also, positioned with good air flow.
An SSD is just a chunk of Nand memory. You can lie it on the bottom of your case for that matter as far as I'm concerned. It isn't "neat" but you should see my wardrobe.

 

[BorisTheAnimal]

I sometimes fantasize about having a computer desk with like a small elevator for my computer, so when I'm alone it could be up and about but then if I were to get a drop in guest, I would press a button and the computer kind of like smoothly hide itself away inside the desk away from view.

Might be a little bit silly, or then this is just the little geek within me.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I sometimes fantasize about having a computer desk with like a small elevator for my computer, so when I'm alone it could be up and about but then if I were to get a drop in guest, I would press a button and the computer kind of like smoothly hide itself away inside the desk away from view.

Might be a little bit silly, or then this is just the little geek within me.

Their is nothing silly about that. That actually sounds like a good idea and hardware exists to make it happen. You would just have to be creative.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yea they have been doing that with t.v.'s for years now
Tad on the expensive side though
https://www.tvlift.com/storage-lifts/model-al-125/

 

[StalkeR]

Hello, back again.

Yesterday I was working with the project, cutting, mounting etc... So the results are:

I got CM E1 thermal pound for the CPU. It cames with 3 or 4 grams package, so I put on my brother pc a bit.

The HDD was mounted on the rack that came with my previous case. Hdd and Ssd are not mounted on the board, they just "float". HDD will be screwed and the SSD will be mounted with velcro.

I got some adhesive carbon tape, that help me to "hide" that ugly wood color. I got it year ago from AliExpress. It helps me now.

Everything mounted on the board.

Testing the fans, ok.

I was not precise while drawing, so the GPU grill was not fitting good. I was using some tools to make it fit. Yea, that is so ugly, but it will pass, cuz it's on the backside, and nobody can see it.
Backside with PSU's, I/O.

And, one quick video for the project. It was recorded with Messenger app, so the quality is really bad, sorry about that. FullHD video will come after I mount led stripes, two more fans and buy a monitor.

Quick Test Video

Here are two screenshots from the setup. Temperatures are great in idle, even lower that I expected.



One SC from the WEI, with new CPU installed.




That's what I've done, and there's the quick test on the project.

Things to do next:

- buy a glass for the topside.
- buy led stripes for the inside.
- buy two more 120mm fans, even the idle temps are excellent now.
- buy a monitor.
- buy a swith for the Power/Reset buttons.

That's the rest, but maybe it will take a while, cuz I need extra money for that, especially monitor.

Thanks for the help and for the attention. Any critics are welcome.

Boshko.

 

[essenbe]

Really well done Boshko. You've put a lot of work and thought into this. Congratulations on a project well done.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Nice
That is some cool looking tape
Plywood/ particle board... are all pretty tough to cut so don't feel bad a little black paint/ tape goes a long way.