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Computer Desk/Case Mod Help

Tags:
  • Cases
  • Computers
  • Systems
  • Motherboards
  • Modding
Last response: in Systems
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February 20, 2014 1:41:09 PM

I'm planning on building a desk that doubles as the case for my computer. I'm sure you've seen them before and if not it's a quick search away. I have the basic layout planned and it includes a window on top to see the motherboard and everything. I just have a few questions about doing this if anyone has done this before or knows anything.

First off how should I go about mounting the motherboard? The desk itself will be wood. Are there "motherboard trays" for sale anywhere? Or should I buy a case and take it apart? Same goes for the GPU and even HDD and SSD's. The GPU will not be attached directly to the MB, but will instead be laying next to it.

Also, any idea on how much airflow I'll need? I plan on water cooling the GPU and CPU so the radiator should take care of the exhaust, but do i need just as many if not more intake fans? With the fans/ radiator any ideas on how to mount them? Will vibration/noise be noticeable with them attached directly to the desk?

Lastly, does anyone know where I could get the small power/ HDD LED lights? Or the power/reset buttons? Same goes for USB ports as Id like to have some installed directly to the desk as well as the ones on the MB.

Sorry If I posted this in the wrong area, but it seemed like the best fit. Let me know if you have any questions or need any more info and thanks!

More about : computer desk case mod

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a b V Motherboard
February 21, 2014 4:18:44 AM

This sounds like a really cool project, I hope it turns out awesome!

As for mounting the motherboard, I would just get the standoff screws that you need, and screw them directly into the desk.
For the HDD and SSD, you could make your own drive cage. Using several small planks, make a cage, and then on the sides, drill holes that you can put screws through to hold the drives in place.
For the gpu, you can connect it to the PCI slot with this.
For the fans/rads, I would build the desk with about a 1" or 1.5" overhang on the left and right sides, and put the fans/rads there. Then you can run the tubing flat and straight, like sewer pipes, to the components.
Pick up the power/reset buttons and lights here.
I wasn't able to find any good USB pcbs yet,I'll keep looking.
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February 21, 2014 1:25:35 PM

Jacob McIntosh said:
This sounds like a really cool project, I hope it turns out awesome!

As for mounting the motherboard, I would just get the standoff screws that you need, and screw them directly into the desk.
For the HDD and SSD, you could make your own drive cage. Using several small planks, make a cage, and then on the sides, drill holes that you can put screws through to hold the drives in place.
For the gpu, you can connect it to the PCI slot with this.
For the fans/rads, I would build the desk with about a 1" or 1.5" overhang on the left and right sides, and put the fans/rads there. Then you can run the tubing flat and straight, like sewer pipes, to the components.
Pick up the power/reset buttons and lights here.
I wasn't able to find any good USB pcbs yet,I'll keep looking.


Thanks!
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a b V Motherboard
February 21, 2014 1:28:25 PM

No prtoblem! Post the finished product when you are done!
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February 21, 2014 1:29:42 PM

I currently have all the computer parts air cooled and running great in a regular case and was planning on water cooling once I made the switch to the desk. But, I'm not made of money and while I knew water cooling was going to be somewhat expensive I didn't realize it would cost as much as it seems like it would. Do you all think that air cooling would be sufficient? I'd like to make the desk "water cooler friendly" so in the future I wouldn't have to go back and cut holes in the desk and such. Thoughts on this?
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a b V Motherboard
February 21, 2014 4:36:51 PM

Yes and no. If you opt with air cooling until you get water cooling, I'd watch the temps closely, and not do any benchmarking or OCing. The best way I can put is is like so: Similar to a river, with come parts of it being super fast, rushing water, and other parts being big, slow-moving sections, I fear that something similar will happen with your airflow. the intake and exhaust will be very fast-moving, lots of air flow, but the middle may be just warm, semi-stagnant air, which PCs don't like. Now, I'm not a scientist, so I could be totally wrong, but that is what I imagine could happen. With the watercooling, the cold water is being moved directly to each component, minimizing the loss of cold temps, and all the heat is taken directly to the exhaust radiator (assuming you will have one).

As for should you watercool or not, I would say yes. If you are taking the time and money to 1) Build your own PC, and 2) to make a desk for it, I would most certainly watercool it.
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