TL;DR: I have a desk like the one pictured and I want to build a PC into the bottom left hand drawer and a power bar and fan set into the body. so that it’s my dream desk. What do I need to know before I do this?
So I have a very similar desk to the image provided (not my desk it’s currently covered in projects), it’s a mid century tanker desk with Formica top. I also have a modestly good PC that I use for gaming. Unfortunately my tower is pretty bulky and this desk definitely wasn’t built with the idea of that in mind.
I’m considering modifying the desk so that I can fit the internals of the PC into the bottom drawer on the left side. currently, everything will be able to fit and if I place the board at the middle I will be able to upgrade the graphics card (whenever they become affordable) without issue as that would be the biggest concern space wise.
The two biggest issues I foresee are cooling and cable. For cables, I’m thinking I’ll get extenders for the video, internet, USB’s, and run them through the body of the desk. one side will feed into the drawer to connect to the PC with a little slack to allow the drawer to slide, the other will be part of a tasteful 3d printed hub on the desk, either under the lip of the back or on the table top. That way I’d be able to plug in flash drives or the monitors without trouble.
Cooling is a trickier matter. The entire desk is enclosed but not air tight by any measure. I figure, I can drill out a vent pattern in the bottom front and top back of the left tower to allow a sort of chimney effect, the hot air coming out the back of the desk will draw fresh air in to the bottom. From there, I do a similar bottom front, top back array for fans on the drawer itself, so that it draws cool air into the enclosed space near the desk intake hole, and blows hot air up the back wall of the desk. I could then even wire fans into the desk itself to further move the air if it’s not staying cool enough as I already plan to be in there running wires and maybe installing a power supply so that I always have a free outlet to test things with.
All that said, This is a bit more involved than the case mods I’ve previously done on PCs, and while I am confidant that I can do all this without damaging anything, I would like some input from others before I jump on it. Is there anything I should consider? anything I’m overlooking? I have a deep love for these desks and I’ve always wanted to integrate a computer into my desk instead of just sitting it near by. Now I kind of have the resourced and tools I need for both. I just want to make sure I do it right.
As an alternative, you could find on of those flat wall-nount cases that have all the components spread out.
Put that on the side of the desk.
I have several of these desks and have done what you’re looking at to one.
Don’t do it, you’ll be unhappy.
You gotta basically destroy a drawer (that you can’t get back), the airflow is awful, there’s a panel behind the drawer that puts crazy strain on the cables and connectors, its inconvenient and you lose the use of the drawer.
It’s the worst of all possible worlds and you’ll hate it.
I did consider that, but I think we may be different enough use cases for it to work out.
Currently that drawer has literally rocks, bent metal, springs, and stickynotes in it so I’m not losing anything but a convenient place to dump shiny things I don’t want to find a home for.
There is actually a huge variation in designs on these, mine has a skeletal frame holding the drawers and is otherwise hollow enough that I used to keep a cigar box of money in the same area the cords will be in this build. I’m also aiming to do very minimal cutting, I won’t ever be able to store liquids or sand in this drawer again but if I decide I hate the idea it’s only going to be about 8 3mm holes for screws, some horizontal slots with bends for vents, and two 3in holes for cables to run into the desk and into the drawer. I wouldn’t even notice them if I put all the junk back.
The plan is to have the ports and cable heads inside the drawer which is nearly twice as long as my mobo so the only strain on the cords will be an 18in pull to get the drawer open to disconnect, which should be less than me pulling it away from the wall on the shelf it currently resides in. Plus the slack between the frame and the drawer would basically mean it’s just the cords rubbing the plastic guard I’ll be putting around the hole as opposed to any real tugging.
take the drawer out, store it. you would kick yourself someday for destroying this desk. fabricate a shelf to put in its place with holes to route cables down and out, and a front bezel to cover the opening with a mesh insert and fan mount(s) for airflow.
I thought all that stuff too.
Even if you’re right where I was wrong I can tell you for a fact that the airflow is going to be a problem.
A better choice is might be to reinforce the modesty panel and put a little shelf or retention hook on the inside of it. Those old desks have a footwell so deep you can definitely fit a computer in it.
Would a mini or micro ATX case fit in the drawer, on its side?
As far as venting, instead of drilling a bunch of holes, cut big holes and install a grill, that’s what they’re for, and it would look neater. You could put one or more in the bottom of the drawer, and one in the back of the desk.
I’d get a surface mount fan assembly. They sell them for stuff like entertainment cabinets. You want them to draw hot air out of the enclosure.
I installed one on the door to my office back when I was WFH because I would usually have the 3D printer running, and it got really toasty.
I have a server in a closet and I found that using a fan to get hot air out of the closet was far, far more important than trying to draw cold air in. The ambient air will fill the space naturally as long as you push the exhaust air somewhere else.
Could be problematic if you have any wireless networking devices or peripherals, because that desk will make an excellent Faraday cage.
Also you’re going to have to electrically insulate the components from the desk, safety ground it, and ensure that any cable penetrations have insulating grommets installed. A low-voltage short might kill your computer. A high-voltage short might kill you.
I figure I’d compensate for that with some acrylic to insulate the the pc components and then attach a general ground from the body of the desk to the ground for the built in outlet. The pc won’t be able to arch unless it gets an ungodly amount of overload and by that point it won’t really matter what I have going on.
For the holes, I plan on printing 2 sided snap on plastic rings so that the wires are properly protected from any sharp metal by sturdy pla guards.
Most of the pc cases I have had are metal-bodied; what difference would this desk then have with a metal case, or are they normally non-conductive?
