Utilizing his abilities in aluminium door and window manufacturing, Daniel Hunter created this gorgeous desk setup that accommodates not one however two water-cooled gaming PCs.
Because of our quickly rising PC constructing Fb web page, we’ve seen many {custom} gaming PCs, from mods based mostly on current case designs to scratch PC builds. You’ll be able to even submit yours for consideration proper right here. Now let’s chat to Daniel about how he constructed this desk PC.
: Let’s begin initially. What impressed you to construct this desk-based PC system?
Daniel: I’d all the time dreamed of constructing such a system, however by no means actually had the cash to do it. I’d seen methods that have been constructed into desks and simply thought they have been wonderful – the work that goes into them and their distinctive, {custom} nature – actually needed to create probably the most distinctive PC doable.
How did you propose out this construct?
I drew 4 designs of the desk, all by hand – on the ultimate drawing I obtained the precise measurement of each part and drew it to 1:7 scale so I might get the aluminium reduce to measurement, and see how small I might get away with making the desk.
It appears to be like like there are no less than two methods in there? What are the specs and what do you utilize them for?
There are two methods within the desk, which was an enormous feat to realize with the dimensions and routing of all of the components. I primarily needed two methods as a result of multiplayer on computer systems isn’t actually splendid in comparison with consoles, however I wasn’t shifting to consoles for multiplayer. As an alternative, I made a decision to get two PCs so me, my spouse and my mates might get collectively and play multiplayer PC video games in the identical room.
What supplies did you utilize to make the desk, and the way did you narrow them to form, end them and assemble the ultimate piece?
The desk is totally made out of aluminum. I personal an aluminum home windows and door firm (with my brother and pal), so I’m used to working with aluminum and have all of the equipment to chop and weld it, plus CNC tools. At first, it was a case of drawing up my first design and understanding the place I needed the components – I’m a sucker for symmetry, so I attempted to make all of it match up as finest as doable.
After drawing it up a did a second revision, exhibiting the place I’d feed all of the cables and water-cooling pipes. I then modified the place some components have been positioned, as a result of initially the GPU within the second system was air-cooled – I used to be going to make use of a Radeon RX 5600 XT from my previous system. Nonetheless, I made a decision that if I used to be going to do that then I ought to do it correctly and make it future proof. I needed to have the ability to play all my video games at most decision on my Samsung Odyssey screens, and with good body charges.
My final drawing was to scale after I obtained the measurements for all of the components. I needed to determine how small I might make the desk whereas nonetheless having an satisfactory hole between every of the elements, and with the gaps being of equal measurement in most locations. After doing the ultimate draft I ordered all of the aluminum and laptop components that have been required.
After I obtained the field part of aluminum, I then reduce all of the body costs on the noticed that we use to chop home windows and doorways at work. I reduce all of the items millimeter-perfect for the framework, and I left the plates till it had been welded – when aluminum is welded it may well transfer a little bit right here or there because it’s classed as a mushy metallic.
As soon as my brother had welded all of the components I had reduce collectively, it was prepared for grinding down the welds and filling and sanding all of the joints earlier than the body was despatched off to be painted with car-grade paint.
As soon as it was painted I took it again to my home and began marking out all of the elements and drilling the mounting factors for them – each half is screwed down or mounted on some type of bracket; nothing is unfastened within the desk. Each part additionally has holes beneath it for cable routing. As soon as each part was in place I then needed to begin planning all of the arduous tubing for the water-cooling loop, marking out all of the holes for the bulkhead fixings after which drilling all of them.
I then went again to work with the metallic sheet to make the facet plates – I reduce these all to measurement with a talent noticed and the pull-out noticed we use to make conservatory roofs.
As soon as all of the plates have been reduce out I then spent the remainder of the day making packages on our FOM CNC machine to chop out all of the slots for the radiator grilles, {hardware} mounting factors, fan mounting factors and the slots for all of the AIO and GPU connection factors. It was a really tedious a irritating day getting all of the calculations and factors right and all to the suitable measurement, but it surely was simple sufficient as soon as I had accomplished a few the plates.
I then took all of the plates residence, de-burred them and countersunk the entire mounting holes. I then mounted them onto the framework by drilling into the body and tapping the holes so the plates screw on and off simply sufficient. The plan was that, as soon as I’d examined the plates in place, I used to be going take them again off and ship them away to be painted with a coloration theme based mostly on Marvel’s Venom – the plates have been going to be painted black with some stencil airbrushing on them.
Nonetheless, as soon as they have been in place with all of the components inside it simply seemed jaw dropping – the naked aluminum seemed prefer it was made to be on that desk. I then modified my thoughts concerning the Venom theme and determined to stay with how it’s now.
After the plates have been all in place, and the components have been fitted, I measured the glass I wanted and obtained it on order. By the tip of that week I had accomplished all of the arduous tubing and mushy tubing for the water-cooling loops, and put the cables all in place prepared for the ending touches.
That’s lots of reservoirs! What number of water-cooling loops are within the desk, and what do they cool?
There are three water-cooling loops within the desk. One has a 480mm radiator, 400mm reservoir and a 160mm res/pump combo unit, which cools the CPU and GPU of the second (smaller) PC. Then there are two loops for the primary PC – one with a 360mm radiator, 400mm reservoir and a 160mm res/pump combo, which cools the CPU. The opposite loop has a 360mm radiator, two 250mm reservoirs and a 160mm res/pump combo, and it cools the GPU in the primary PC.
The principle system has been overclocked, and I needed to squeeze as a lot out of it as doable, so I put as a lot cooling energy as I might match into the desk. The second system is staying at inventory velocity and has satisfactory cooling for AMD’s base-level auto overclocking characteristic.
Filling three water-cooling loops all on the similar time was a studying curve, as my earlier water-cooling expertise had simply concerned a res/pump unit, a radiator and operating two mushy tubes to a part. After an air-leak check on all three of the loops (earlier than filling) I used to be assured they have been all okay.
What kind of glass is that on the highest?
I buy lots of glass for the corporate, so I gave the required sizes to certainly one of our suppliers and requested 6mm toughened glass with polished edges for the highest.
The place are all of the cables routed?
Beneath the desk there’s a 40mm cavity between the underside aluminum plates, the place I routed the entire water-cooling tubing (the mushy tubing is beneath the primary space), and the cables to all of the elements. This was crucial to me, as a result of different desk PCs I’d seen had cables and tubing seen all all through the desk, however I actually am a ‘much less is extra’ particular person and I needed simply the elements to be seen.
How is all of the RGB lighting managed and synchronized?
The RGB lighting is all managed by means of the motherboards – I simply obtained RGB splitters that I linked to every part after which to the right motherboard. ASRock and Asus have their very own software program, and I simply set all of the lights to white so that they went with the theme.
Did you come throughout any difficulties?
There are some components that you just by no means actually think about till you attain that a part of the construct, and for me that was the truth that mushy tubing doesn’t need to bend at a 90-degree angle inside a 25-20mm hole, so I had to purchase 90-degree tubing fittings to go beneath the desk.
How lengthy did it take you to finish this construct, from begin to end?
The construct has taken a 12 months from begin to end. I drew all of it up, ordered all of the components, reduce all of the aluminum after which got here the lengthy hiatus of ready for my brother (he’s an excellent aluminum welder but in addition very busy) to weld the desk collectively.
After that, it took me 4 weeks to do the portray, drilling and slicing the facet plates, getting the glass and so forth. It was in all probability a whole working time of 5 – 6 weeks, however I needed to watch for my brother to weld the {custom} design of the desk. I might solely work on the desk after work and on weekends, as I had work all through the times, however I used to be engaged on it each night.
Are you utterly pleased with the tip end result, or do you would like you’d accomplished a few of it in a different way on reflection?
The one half that I actually would have modified is getting the welding accomplished sooner, so my components have been nonetheless classed as (AMD {hardware} solely) the very best of the very best. Realizing all the brand new {hardware} is now popping out is disheartening, however in any other case the elements in it are wonderful and it appears to be like nice – the photographs don’t do it justice in comparison with seeing the true factor.
Desk {custom} gaming PC specs
System 1
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
- GPU: PowerColor Crimson Satan AMD Radeon RX 6900 XTU overclocked to 2640MHz
- Storage: 2 x 2TB Seagate FireCuda 530 2TB, 2TB Samsung 870
- Reminiscence: 32GB TeamGroup 8Pack RIPPED Version
- Motherboard: Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Darkish Hero
- PSU: Corsair HX1000
- Cooling: Customized water-cooling loop utilizing EKWB elements
System 2
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
- GPU: PowerColor Crimson Satan AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT
- Storage: 2TB Samsung 970 Evo Plus, 2TB Samsung 870
- Reminiscence: 16GB TeamGroup 8Pack RIPPED Version
- Motherboard: ASRock X570 Professional 4
- PSU: Corsair HX1000
- Cooling: Customized water-cooling loop utilizing EKWB elements
Wow, what a tremendous setup, we bow all the way down to your aluminum craftsmanship abilities Daniel! The pair of water-cooled {custom} gaming PCs are spectacular sufficient, however the truth that you’ve mounted them in your individual custom-built desk is sensible.
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