Computer desk project run amok

phytoplankton73 · 19 Dec 2013 at 18:05

I bought this huge adjustable motorized computer desk 15 yrs ago. The desktop consisted of 3 laminated wooden plates which were set up to have a large CRT monitor on the right side. Since I have a small apartment I had it stashed at my brothers house the last couple of years but now he needed the space, so I decided to put a new hardwood desk on it.

Found a good sized desk plate in Acajou wood (a type of mahogany) at a hardware store. I gave it the recommended treatment of sandpaper and oiling as according to the instructions and it ended up looking as nice as I had hoped

The computer table's frame is amazingly sturdy and easy to work with and still shows no sign of wear. In 15 years all I had to do was change a broken link on a chain.

Put on the desk mount frame and took some measurements. Notice that the frame is asymmetrical. I'm planning to build a custom mount for my chassis (SilverStone FT02B-USB3.0) up under the desk in the gap on the left side of the frame.

Mounted the desk to the frame and installed the control system for the motors.

The basic table in it's lowest and highest positions

To be continued...

phytoplankton73 · 24 Dec 2013 at 13:53

Got me a 2 mm stainless steel plate. Going to have it bend into a |_| shape at a factory (bribed them with danish) and then paint it black. I'll use it to mount my computer under the desk

Got my computer mount finished

Still need to install new hardware in my PC so that's why it's still standing on the table instead of hanging under the desk.

Also added a cable tray and an extension cord with 2 rails of plugs. Each rail has an on/off switch. After I upgrade my PC I'll tidy up the cables so they will hardly be showing when sitting at the table

IWANTBLUE · 24 Dec 2013 at 17:34

Nice desk, Job, but shouldn't you have had themajority of the front of the @U bracket removed so that you can see the front of the Pc?

Do like that Top though

Hades · 24 Dec 2013 at 18:27

Can't see the point of it being motorise (But cool nonetheless), but I agree that the top is lovely.

phytoplankton73 · 24 Dec 2013 at 19:24

I got the Silverstone Fortress FT02 case. Its insides are turned 90 degrees so it takes air in from the bottom of the sides and has its exhaust on the top. I don't use the front bays and use an external USB optical drive. I left room on the top and at the back (there is an PSU intake vent at the back) so airflow should be fine.

With 3 x 27" monitors, a heavy PC and a really heave desktop. It's pretty nice to have it motorized. The 2 motors handle the weight just fine. The original table was a store demo model I got at 1/3 of the listed price 15 yrs ago and the electrical motors still haven't required any maintenance.

Here is an earlier pic with my monitors on the table

I did **** one thing up though... The side panel to on my case to access the components are on it's right side, so right now i need to take the case out of the mount. I can still detach the desktop from the frame and turn the frame around to the other side but then I would also have to reserve the location of all the stuff that's hidden under the desk. I only open the case up to clean the air filters 2-3 times a year. So I won't change it. It also depends on how the room's layout is, when you decide if you'd rather have the computer mount on the left or right side.

ShivP · 24 Dec 2013 at 21:37

That. Looks. Amazing.

I want that kinda setup, yet I'll be stuck with my pathetic ancient desk for time to come. Looks very nice, you'll probably want to cable tie the loose cables up as one of the most annoying things (I find this anyway) is having loads of cables where my feet should go lol

phytoplankton73 · 24 Dec 2013 at 21:48

All the loose cables in those pics are temporary. I've drilled a hole for cables behind each of the monitors and a bit below the holes I've put a cable tray. I'll probably be completely done with my setup tomorrow evening (Yeah I know it's Christmas

) and then I'll need to reinstall and backup the new installation.

Hades · 25 Dec 2013 at 01:19

Good move on the cable tray. Depending on how many devices you have it may also be worth discretely mounting a power socket strip under the desk or in the cable tray. e.g. an 8 way extension strip mounted in the tray so that the PC and screen cables all stay hidden within the tray. You could also consider mounting a network switch and USB hub under the desk somewhere.

phytoplankton73 · 25 Dec 2013 at 18:21

Outside view

Drilled cable holes so I could get the table as close as possible to the walls and still raise and lower the table without worrying about cables getting caught or extended to far

A view from the backside of the table fully loaded

A view from the front of the table fully loaded

A view from the left side of the table fully loaded. I still need to install a second graphics card in my computer so that's why there are 2 cables just hanging off the left side right now

Close up of the work/gaming area

Left underside of the table. I still need to tidy up the cables

Right underside of the table. Also needs a bit of tidying

phytoplankton73 · 27 Dec 2013 at 09:52

Upgraded my rig with a 3rd Dell monitor and a 2nd GTX Titan. Also had to remove my Noctua NH-D14 cooler in order to get room for the 2nd graphics card. I got the Corsair Hydro Series H60 instead and it could just fit into the top of my case which freed up a lot of space.

By the way: Don't use PCIe power Y-cables for the GTX Titan like I did in this picture, it won't work.

My rig afterr the upgrade:

Monitor: 3 x Dell UltraSharp U2713HM
Case: Silverstone Fortress FT02 USB3.0 Black
CPU: Intel Core i7 3770K
Cooler: Corsair Hydro Series H60
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB)
GPU: 2 x Gigabyte GeForce GTX Titan 6GB
MoBo: ASUS P8Z77
SSD: Samsung 840 PRO Series 512GB [MZ-7PD512]
PSU: Corsair AX1200i Digital ATX 1200W
Speaker: Bose Companion 2 Series III

The final result

zimboy69 · 27 Dec 2013 at 21:09

I love what you have done with the desk for my own desk
I was given a £30 cheapo desk for free and bought a 3X4 foot plank of wood

with this I varnished the plank as well as rounded the corner using a plate as a stencil for the arch

I cut out a hole in the back so I can have the desk flush with the wall but have a hole to feed the wires through
and bolted and i mean bolted the plank to the top of the desk (I even used some wing nuts for bolts)
now i have a 3X4 foot desk cost me less than £15

only took me half a day to varnish and round the corner and 30 mins to assemble had it now for 3 years and love it

if i was to do it again i would probably get hold of two cheapo desks and have a 8X3 foot plank on the top but i don't think the wife would be too happy.

cool desk btw

233 · 27 Dec 2013 at 21:13

that desk is something special,

the setup is tasty too

Schizo · 27 Dec 2013 at 21:19

Absolutely love the idea of not seeing your case,would like to see this design on many desk's.

Good work

whyscotty · 27 Dec 2013 at 21:51

Nice setup :cool:

HUNTER.P · 27 Dec 2013 at 21:56

Like it!

Randomface74 · 27 Dec 2013 at 22:03

needs a monitor mount

phytoplankton73 · 27 Dec 2013 at 23:16

billysielu said:
needs a monitor mount

Dammit, now I have to build one of those also

wndsr · 27 Dec 2013 at 23:21

I am definitely enjoying this desk

ShivP · 27 Dec 2013 at 23:24

Can I order one?

IceUK · 28 Dec 2013 at 16:28

It looks really nice and certainly a lot more robust than the usual junk we have to use.

Computer desk project run amok

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