PC on a carpet

alexkyriak · 15 Aug 2022 at 15:30

I have a new PC just built. Currently my study has carpet, and it’s sat under my desk on the carpet.

I fitted the PC chassis with casters/wheels, so it’s actually spaced off the floor by about 90mm.

However I don’t like the fact it’s on carpet. I can’t re-do a whole new floor in the study just for my shiny new PC (although I’d like to!) but the next best thing I can think of is to put a board on the floor to act as a solid surface beneath the PC

Question is: will that really be of any benefit? Am concerned about carpet fibres getting in but this might happen anyway just by fact it’s a carpetted room.

Has anyone got any intel or experience with this? Cheers

Glanza · 15 Aug 2022 at 15:38

Not really if you've already put it on a raised chassis so it's not sat flush against the carpet putting it on board won't make a difference.

Thekwango · 15 Aug 2022 at 15:40

get a nice floor protector if you're worried. stick that under the pc, all sorted.

throwaway4372 · 15 Aug 2022 at 15:56

All that really matters is PSU fan down vs fan up. Down is generally better, but not if the intake is blocked by carpet.

arknor · 15 Aug 2022 at 16:21

I always had mine on a piece of wood that's as wide as the case feet, just so it gets better airflow and less dust on the filter

peterwalkley · 15 Aug 2022 at 16:53

It will be a dust magnet whatever you do. Just take it outside every so often and give it a a good seeing to with a dust blower.

alexkyriak · 16 Aug 2022 at 21:49

PC on an old kitchen cabinet door... job's a good'un!

Gregvivi0401 · 17 Aug 2022 at 04:27

alexkyriak said:
PC on an old kitchen cabinet door... job's a good'un!

Cool.

subroutine · 21 Aug 2022 at 19:39

arknor said:
I always had mine on a piece of wood that's as wide as the case feet, just so it gets better airflow and less dust on the filter

That's what I've always done.

clone · 21 Aug 2022 at 21:38

Made a big difference when I put my pc on my desktop tbh.

hornetstinger · 21 Aug 2022 at 21:42

Mines on a carpet it's fine.

alexkyriak · 21 Aug 2022 at 22:13

My old one was on carpet, super dusty. I don’t know if it’s because it’s a carpetted room, or, if it’s because it was directly above carpet. Now I have my kitchen door in place under my new pc, I’ll be able to measure it scientifically

still trying to find a super dust blower!

EdwardTeach · 21 Aug 2022 at 22:51

alexkyriak said:
I have a new PC just built. Currently my study has carpet, and it’s sat under my desk on the carpet.

I fitted the PC chassis with casters/wheels, so it’s actually spaced off the floor by about 90mm.

However I don’t like the fact it’s on carpet. I can’t re-do a whole new floor in the study just for my shiny new PC (although I’d like to!) but the next best thing I can think of is to put a board on the floor to act as a solid surface beneath the PC

Question is: will that really be of any benefit? Am concerned about carpet fibres getting in but this might happen anyway just by fact it’s a carpetted room.

Has anyone got any intel or experience with this? Cheers

I used to sit mine on some thick card board. I now sit it on an old floating shelf I had which happened to be almost exactly the same size as the pc. Both solutions were 100% effective at preventing intake of carpet fluff.

arknor · 21 Aug 2022 at 23:33

cardboard is a food source for silverfish, which are almost undoubtedly living in your house

LuckyBenski · 21 Aug 2022 at 23:42

arknor said:
cardboard is a food source for silverfish, which are almost undoubtedly living in your house

And booklice

JasonM · 22 Aug 2022 at 03:21

My PC is on the base of some Ikea draws with casters, the casters help raise the computer up, plus I can move it easy.

So if you have any old draws with casters on them, strip them down and just use the base to place the PC on to.

Fluffybob · 22 Aug 2022 at 08:20

I just made a plinth out of some window sill board, worked a treat

alexkyriak · 23 Aug 2022 at 20:59

clone said:
Made a big difference when I put my pc on my desktop tbh.

I’d love to do this, but my study is spatially challenged. But, I think I am noticing a much bigger difference of the pc being raised on castors and it not being directly on carpet. The airflow seems to be much better and the intake temperature sensor on the bottom outside of the chassis seems to be more accurate to my room ambient thermometer.

Firegod · 26 Aug 2022 at 18:17

Mine has been on the carpet for years and dust levels are a none issue - but I do vaccum every other day. Depends how dusty the room is or I guess if you have pets who molt all the time (or perphaps a hairy partner lol).

Simon42 · 7 Sep 2022 at 09:41

I use to by sheets of polycarbonate cut to size under my PCs on carpet, however due to cost I've switched to hardboard painted black on top and side with the smooth side down. Both methods make it easy to slide the PC out from under a desk if in a tight space.

Without that even with the taller feet some case have now, the carpet and underlay would cause PCs to sink in too far which could affect bottom fans and also leave dents in the carpet.