Project Alternate

[deblow]

Project Alternate (Pc in a Desk) COMPLETED



Project Alternate: PC in a desk scratch build & MODs

Hi all,
After what feels like a very long year I have decided to start work on my new desk build.
The idea for this desk came to me when i was working on my last desk & at one point I almost started the project
again, but I'm glad i didn't

Most people liked the desk & I learned a great deal during the build.

The Project Alternate design slightly changed month by month & I will show some of the other plans & explain why the changes was made.
This time I'm hoping to outdo my last desk & hopefully help others in the process.

The desk work is about to start, using mostly MDF, Perspex, clay, metal & glass I plan to build the desk in 3 parts,
starting from the bottom, then middle followed by the top section.
the tricky parts will be the sharp corners & angles on the edges.

In making the desk in 3 parts it will allow for easy transport from my garden shed to my
very small room/office.

I plan to have the 2 reservoirs just under the top shelf so i can see the water flowing by

have a couple of different layouts for the internal components,
but want to wait until the top compartment is built so I can see IRL what looks & works best.

For the specs, I'm upgrading from my trusty i5-2500k to a i7-5820K, due to the CPU upgread I will also be using the new ASUS X99 TUF
motherboard & DDR4

This time I will also go with 3 screens at 1440p if possible, or 1X 4K screen, so my HD7970s will also need upgrading to a R9-295x2.

The desk is going to take months to complete, so rushing out for parts now is not necessary unless it's something on sale I can't pass on

**UPDATE 18/10/15: some Specs**

SPECS
CPU - i7-5820k
MB - ASUS Sabertooth X99
RAM - 32GB Avexir Blitz 1.1 (DDR4)
GPU - ASUS R9-295x2
PSU - Cooler Master: V1200 Platinum
PSU2 - Cooler Master: GM750W
Fans - Cooler Master: Jet flow 120's & Cooler Master Silencio FP120 PWM
HDs - Western Digital Green 6TB - Barracudas x2 2TB - Wester Digital Green 1TB
SSDs - 2x Samsung EVO850s 250GB (500GB)
RADS - 2x Phobya G-Changer 360 RADs V.2
RES - 2x Phobya 450 reservoirs
CPU WB - Alphacool NexXxoS XP³ Light
PUMP - 2x Alphacool VPP655
GPU WB - Alphacool NexXxoS GPX
KB - CM Storm quickfire xti
Mouse - CM Storm Reaper



For people that just want to see the photos & the build progress here are the build log vids
The final will be added later.


Build log 1

Build log 2

Build log 3

Desk top lift

Thanks to the sponsors.
Cooler Master UK, CM Storm, ASUS ROG, Phobya, OCOOL/Alphacool Mayhems GT Omega Racing & Avexir








For past & present MODs/Builds please check my Facebook & Youtube pages.

 

[deblow]

here is one of the many 1st designs i did, had to change it due to the size

After the wife told me to move all my model cars from the living room, this cabinet ended up in the garden, I was planing to use the glass from this
on the next build & was one of the main reasons the desk is so angled, I also love the Honda CBR600RR due to its sharp looking design & ofc Lambos have the same sharp designs that i love,
now due to the design changes I cant use the glass so will be using fresh cut glass or thick perspex.

 

[deblow]

Subbed
can't wait to see what you do

I wont do mass quotes, but i have seen all the above comments & thanks for your reply's

Just double checking the sizes so the artwork is as true to size as possible.
Its was fun designing the desk, but its hard work planning how to build it & working out the sizes.

should have it up for you to give your thoughts on before the weekend

 

[deblow]

Outdo MegaDeblow?!?

Wish I have thought about that one a bit more.
MegaDeblow is such a stupid name for a desk/project lol

So the name hopefully is a improvement

 

[deblow]

Just read through your last desk build log....omg how on earth are you gonna top that?

haha, thanks
Well I really hope I do because I will have some major trolling if i fail in anyway lol

The thing with the last one is I didn't have a consistent quality during the build log, I had almost finished building the desk before I started to put more major effort in to the build & photos quality.
towards the end I had people like Coolermaster, EK & all you guys on the forum watching the progress so I stepped up the quality a bit more,
& I hope that showed?

Anyways, this time I do hope to outdo the last, not just in design,looks, components, but also the build log its self.

I can no longer say "this is my 1st forum post"

 

[deblow]

oh man this is going to be good!

I'm looking forward to you guys input this time around, didn't give anyone much chance to last time

 

[deblow]

How soon will you be posting?

As it stands your thread doesn't comply with the rules for Project Logs.

Thanks.

Im working in the art as we speak, I was going to post as soon as its ready.
should be no more than 2hrs.

I Jumped the gun a bit, sorry

 

[deblow]

wow, that artwork...

More like a console on the Enterprise than a desk...

lol, I want to feel a bit more enclosed & this was the best option with the space i have to play with, the artwork post will fill in the other gaps

 

[deblow]

Thanks for all the above comments

The MDF for the 2 bottom sections along with most of the MDF for the middle have now been cut to size & I have started to assemble.

I was told to kit myself out with a face-mask & glasses when cutting MDF,
but the normal size face-mask was causing my glasses to steam up lol
So had to dig out my airsoft mask to use in conjunction with the small face-mask

Some of the bolts/screws I will be using to fasten the main parts together, they will make it more easy to remove with standard alan keys & should last longer.

Sides ready to be fasten to the bottom & back, soon as the miter edges are done

The hardest part so far, miter edges, very tricky & most the time i have to use scrap wood before doing the final peace or risk wasting some MDF

My 1st set of angled corners cut ready to use as shelf's/frame

Bottom left assembled

P.S, art added to 2nd post!

 

[deblow]

Amazing looking forward to this. I wish I continued mine but its too late. Again really good project and your previous one too

Thanks Samy, Im also moving my 1st build from the desk to a case,
rather than starting a new build log for that im just gonna add a couple of photos on this log as there a bit related.

Lottery win = you buiild my next pc

DEAL!

Love desk builds can't wait for more updates

Loving it! Cant wait to see more updates about it!

Thanks

 

[deblow]

A bit later than planed but finally got time now to update the log

Both bottom left & right shelf's/frames are completed, no permanent fittings just encase i have any problems moving the desk to the house,
This was by far the easiest part so far

The main compartment that will act as a frame for the top & hold the fans & other components - the RADs

Here im making some slots for the front panels that will be resting on the left & right side shelf's, doing so will help hold them im place as I screw them down

 

[deblow]

Thanks Andreas.. & yeah you should go for it!

 

[deblow]

Looking good man,

Must be pretty heavy? What thickness MDF are you using?

Its so heavy that i feel sorry for my friends that will have to carry it when complete lol

Its 22mm, as i wanted to build it without a frame, using some 5mm, 10mm & 12mm in places, but most will be 22mm

It breaks down in to 4 main parts, top, center compartment, left side & right side shelf's,
if needed i can break it down more as most the fittings are removable

 

[deblow]

This looks like an epic build, cannot wait to see it completed.

I wish i had the skills to do something like this and i cannot wait to see more of it

Thanks dhallam, ukxenon,

was planing to do a mid-week update as I had been working on a small case mod that's going to be the new home for my
old desk build components,
unfortunately because of all them long lonely cold nights in the garden shed working on the desk build
I've come down with a bad case of man flu

Will do a bigger update at the weekend instead & try cover both the builds & some components that im expecting before Friday.

 

[deblow]

Over the past week some build items have arrived so I will cover them along with the case mod im doing
Moving the MEGA desk build (2013) in to the case to make room for the new desk & to ensure I have a working
computer during the build so I can keep you all updated


My 1st package had some Cooler Master bit n bobs that I will cover later in the build
along with my replacement tea cup & cap

2nd package had the heart of the new build, A v1200 PSU along with Jet Flow 120mm RED fans & some
very nice Resonar in-ear buds so I can have some decent music as I'm working in the shed

And last thing I received this week was my new CPU, Intel i7-5820k witch will be a nice upgrade for me
the last CPU I was using was the i5-2500k.

 

[deblow]

Moving the old desk build to a cooler master silencio 652s case..
Wrapping with some 3M vinyl wrap (brushed silver)

Case broken down ready for the wrap, fairly easy to do

 

[deblow]

Building from bottom to top, the sides are cut and attached with screws & glue,
decided to use some old wood for this part to test out the new saw & my skills with mitering

In the end I was so happy with the results I kept the old wood & didn't bother redoing them with MDF

This bit was tricky, wood too deep for the dremel, design to narrow for the multi tool
Ended up having to use a bit of everything including a hand saw & blade.

Now time to cut the part that will allow my legs to go under the desk, then for the 1st time I can sit at the desk to get a feel for how it
will be when completed.

This is one of the drive bay holder cutouts, again with the older wood

The final update for this weekend is the start of the two shelf ends that will also act as speaker boxes

Hope you enjoyed the updates, please let me know your thoughts as I progress, good or bad, still time to change things if needed

Have a nice weekend
Rob

 

[deblow]

This looks epic.

One word AMAZING

A class of it's own when it comes to projects. Fantastic, cannot wait to see it finished

Thanks guys, its starting to look more like a desk now
I to cant wait until its finished so I can go crazy with the bench marks again

 

[deblow]

Looks amazing... Makes me a little disappointed that I have a desk already...

And it doesn't have a computer in it...

Thanks Jester, stick a PC in the desk & your good to go

 

[deblow]

My new GPU has arrived
ASUS R9-295x2

been testing it out on my current rig & im very happy so far, BF4 FPS are now over 120FPS maxed out @1440p