Share your HOME WORKING workstation environment - pics

[illmonkey]

I know, IT worker here! It's been fine in cupboard for the last 4 years. But I'll do some holes.

Yep, I did think of something like that, then only 1 cable to give slack to for the draw movement.

[xeny]

illmonkey said:

But I think a few holes in the backboard wouldn’t be the worst idea.

In a similar arrangement I've gone with a few holes in the bottom panel towards the front (so invisible) and in the backboard towards the top - holes just in the back didn't help anything like as much as the machine didn't pull air in well from the back of the cupboard, it just tried to suck it around the door.

[dxg]

xeny said:

illmonkey said:

But I think a few holes in the backboard wouldn’t be the worst idea.

In a similar arrangement I've gone with a few holes in the bottom panel towards the front (so invisible) and in the backboard towards the top - holes just in the back didn't help anything like as much as the machine didn't pull air in well from the back of the cupboard, it just tried to suck it around the door.

I'm using a mac mini, which is a hot machine anyway - in a desk side cupboard much like the above.

I cut some extract holes and invested in this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AC-Infinity-CONTROLLER-Th...

and these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AC-Infinity-MULTIFAN-Rece...
(cheaper than the other ones they do that are designed to be mounted in the side of your cabinet).

and it's fantastic!! I have the thermocouple jammed in the fan outlet for the mini and, with the fan controller in "smart" mode, the fans slowly ramp up as the air temperature gets up towards the limit I've set. The fans are dead quiet, too.

[techguyone]

dxg said:

xeny said:

illmonkey said:

But I think a few holes in the backboard wouldn’t be the worst idea.

In a similar arrangement I've gone with a few holes in the bottom panel towards the front (so invisible) and in the backboard towards the top - holes just in the back didn't help anything like as much as the machine didn't pull air in well from the back of the cupboard, it just tried to suck it around the door.

I'm using a mac mini, which is a hot machine anyway - in a desk side cupboard much like the above.

I cut some extract holes and invested in this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AC-Infinity-CONTROLLER-Th...

and these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AC-Infinity-MULTIFAN-Rece...
(cheaper than the other ones they do that are designed to be mounted in the side of your cabinet).

and it's fantastic!! I have the thermocouple jammed in the fan outlet for the mini and, with the fan controller in "smart" mode, the fans slowly ramp up as the air temperature gets up towards the limit I've set. The fans are dead quiet, too.

That's pretty cool, something I'll bear in mind for in cabinet installs (to be honest I had no idea that those fans/controllers even existed as a standalone thing)

[tejr]

dxg said:

I'm using a mac mini, which is a hot machine anyway - in a desk side cupboard much like the above.

I cut some extract holes and invested in this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AC-Infinity-CONTROLLER-Th...

and these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AC-Infinity-MULTIFAN-Rece...
(cheaper than the other ones they do that are designed to be mounted in the side of your cabinet).

and it's fantastic!! I have the thermocouple jammed in the fan outlet for the mini and, with the fan controller in "smart" mode, the fans slowly ramp up as the air temperature gets up towards the limit I've set. The fans are dead quiet, too.

Love this.. Was looking for something like this to put under the stairs where all my kit is.. Gets quite hot in there especially during our summer heat waves.

Thanks for sharing!

[illmonkey]

What are peoples thoughts on how to align your monitors to your seating position?

Previous desk I had 1 monitor straight infront of me one of the left (left handed) on an angle, with the new desk, I've done it so the middle of the 2 screens is directly infront of me.

I've not been working long today but it's already feeling awkward. Think I'd rather have 1 directly infront the other on the side.

[Jinx]

illmonkey said:

What are peoples thoughts on how to align your monitors to your seating position?

Previous desk I had 1 monitor straight infront of me one of the left (left handed) on an angle, with the new desk, I've done it so the middle of the 2 screens is directly infront of me.

I've not been working long today but it's already feeling awkward. Think I'd rather have 1 directly infront the other on the side.

If you do that you'll start thinking a third screen will be needed to "balance" out the setup. I went from two screens to one bigger one (with a higher resolution) in the end.
PS shame to hide your XPS 8700 away like that - I had the 8500 for many years and it is still going strong as my nephews gaming machine.

[Scobblelotcher]

xeny said:

illmonkey said:

But I think a few holes in the backboard wouldn’t be the worst idea.

In a similar arrangement I've gone with a few holes in the bottom panel towards the front (so invisible) and in the backboard towards the top - holes just in the back didn't help anything like as much as the machine didn't pull air in well from the back of the cupboard, it just tried to suck it around the door.

I love the work illmonkey, very tidy however I very much do agree, you're going to seriously shorten the life of the PC without some sort of improved ventilation.

The two main killers of hardware are heat and power. Hot spots are far worse for the life of hardware (i.e. no ventilation) than running in a hot environment with adequate ventilation.

I definitely want to go more towards your approach though to minimalism.

[snuffy]

illmonkey said:

What are peoples thoughts on how to align your monitors to your seating position?

Previous desk I had 1 monitor straight infront of me one of the left (left handed) on an angle, with the new desk, I've done it so the middle of the 2 screens is directly infront of me.

I've not been working long today but it's already feeling awkward. Think I'd rather have 1 directly infront the other on the side.

I have 3. I sit facing the centre of the middle one and the right hand side one. So I mainly use 2 and then only use the LHS one when I need to have things on three.

[illmonkey]

I get it, I am used to 3 monitors in the office, one is directly infront of me, and I use that most of the time.

But, at home, I need to compromise. 3 Monitors would be wider than the desk, then I need to have the desk away from the corner, encroaching on the room etc. Would also need to buy an other arm, which I don't really want to do, as this is just a COVID desk, we have an office already.

I need to stick to 2. Using it this morning, it doesn't feel right, so think I need to butcher the desk more...

[snuffy]

illmonkey said:

I get it, I am used to 3 monitors in the office, one is directly infront of me, and I use that most of the time.

But, at home, I need to compromise. 3 Monitors would be wider than the desk, then I need to have the desk away from the corner, encroaching on the room etc. Would also need to buy an other arm, which I don't really want to do, as this is just a COVID desk, we have an office already.

I need to stick to 2. Using it this morning, it doesn't feel right, so think I need to butcher the desk more...

A curved desk (or an L-shaped one) is the thing for 3 monitors I'd say. My desk is curved so the monitors are arranged in a curve as well.

I tried 4 monitors in a square some years ago; that was a really bad idea - caused me neck pain so I quickly gave up with that arrangement.

[webstercivet]

Assuming you want to stick with the monitors and desk you've got, rotating one so it's vertical could be a good solution. The horizontal one would be in the centre of your vision, with the vertical one off to one side. Use the vertical one for email / long docs / PH threads etc.

[xeny]

illmonkey said:

Previous desk I had 1 monitor straight infront of me one of the left (left handed) on an angle, with the new desk, I've done it so the middle of the 2 screens is directly infront of me.

I've not been working long today but it's already feeling awkward. Think I'd rather have 1 directly infront the other on the side.

I like one primary in front of me, and then subsidiaries to the side(s) - so right now it's a 27" in the middle, a 24" to one side, and a 21 to the other (all hung off one PC), and then right at the "ends" are a pair of laptops on stands that live on different VPNs and screen extend onto one of the monitors as necessary if I need to spend lots of time on that network.

[Bobajobbob]

Still a work in progress but after 6months at home I felt my study needed an upgrade.

[droopsnoot]

illmonkey said:

What are peoples thoughts on how to align your monitors to your seating position?

Previous desk I had 1 monitor straight infront of me one of the left (left handed) on an angle, with the new desk, I've done it so the middle of the 2 screens is directly infront of me.

I've not been working long today but it's already feeling awkward. Think I'd rather have 1 directly infront the other on the side.

Surely the answer is "whatever feels best to you"?

[ZesPak]

Bobajobbob said:

Still a work in progress but after 6months at home I felt my study needed an upgrade.

Looks great, my 2 cents: wall mount the bds. It'll look a lot cleaner and your desk will feel twice as big.

[mmm-five]

Bobajobbob said:

Still a work in progress but after 6months at home I felt my study needed an upgrade.

Either one is too high, or one is too low, or one is too far bak, or one is too far forward.

Please make the screens/bezels line up...or don't!

[Diplomatico]

Bobajobbob said:

Still a work in progress but after 6months at home I felt my study needed an upgrade.

Really like the built in cupboards.

[anonymous-user]

This thread has convinced me to ditch my standard monitor stands and buy a desk clamp to hold my dual monitors.

My desk is a decent size, but I just like the idea of freeing up even more space and ridding myself of the cluttering monitor stands.

I chose this one as it’s both the cheapest dual monitor arm you can buy, but gets really good reviews:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PWK4R9S/ref=cm_sw_r...

I shall let you know if it’s any good.

[Peanut Gallery]

Not mine (I'm too much of a horder to ever post a pic of mine) but I saw this one thought of this thread!



Having been using them, if they break I will be happy to spend on replacing some really nice gaming headphones - I have some turtle beach ones.