Desk mounted CPU holder

[Davi]

Hey everyone, long time lurker who’s starting to get back into IT.

not sure if this is the correct place for this but couldn’t see anywhere specific for desks.

At the minute, I’m sorting out my desk/office space to make it better for home working and prepare for a new PC I want to build. I’ve got the desk built, I’ve ordered cable trays to attach to the back and I’m considering one of the CPU holders that screws into the wooden surface that the PC hangs from. I want to mount it behind the privacy panel of my desk so all the wiring is hidden between it and the wall but I’m worried that the screws will pull out of the chipboard. Has anyone used one of these holders before?

The image is from a different seller so don’t think I can post the link here to show you what I mean.

 

[Tanin'iver]

Just a minor point - the thing you want to mount under your desk isn't a CPU - the CPU is one of the components inside it. Call it the PC, or case, or tower, but not a CPU.

Anyway - can't say for certain without knowing a) the weight of the PC, and b) how long/thick the screws are, and how far they can screw in without going through to the other side.

Even then it would be a bit of guesswork. If it only screws in from above with 4-8 screws of less than half an inch long, I wouldn't trust it to hold the weight at all. If it can screw into the privacy panel too then that might make it reasonably secure.

You might need to consider ventilation too - the air behind the privacy panel will be constantly heated by the PC working, and the fans could end up having to work hard. You either need space at one end for the warm air to escape, or a good gap between the desk surface and the wall.

 

[Davi]

Unfortunately CPU holder isn’t my terminology, it’s what the item is actually called by multiple office furniture suppliers.

The one I’m looking at, has 4 uprights with a flange that you screw through into the bottom of the desk. Each flange accepts 3 screws so there would be 12 screws of 18-20mm length holding the weight of the PC.

The width of the space bewtween the privacy panel and wall is approximately 25cm’s. I would have the mount at the very edge which is in obstructed so fans could suck in cool air at the front. Apart from a WAP, 5 port switch and extension block, all of which will be mounted to the privacy panel, the air would be unobstructed till it hits the wall approximately 1200cm away. The privacy panel also stops 25cm above the floor so their is a large air gap running the entire length at the bottom.

I did think of adding a shelf to the privacy panel to give further support.

the other option, is one of the CPU holders that’s basically a small wheeled cart that the PC sits in. No worries about strength but I like the idea of the computer being mounted to the desk so that if I pull the desk out, everything is attached to it apart from 3 cables, 2 for power and 1 for network.

 

[Davi]

Technically where the desk meets the wall in the corner, it doesn’t actually touch the wall. On the king side it’s completely flush with the wall but on 1 side it’s very open and on the other side it has a gap of 11cm.
The 11cm gap is where the radiator and window is so makes sense to have that as the exhaust side and the wide open side as the intake side

 

[Tanin'iver]

Unfortunately CPU holder isn’t my terminology, it’s what the item is actually called by multiple office furniture suppliers.

Ugh, really? I didn't realise the misuse of that term had become so widespread that it would even be in a product name. Sigh.

It sounds reasonable then as long as the PC won't be especially big and heavy - if you are putting 12 hard disks in it or something then I might worry!

 

[Davi]

Nah no big storage server.

I’m actually designing it now (expect another post getting help with that lol). After measuring up I think the width of the system plus the width of the bracket will be too wide, if that’s the case I’ll just have to sit it on the floor unfortunately.