Creating the Ultimate Gaming Desk

[Brapson]

Hey Guys,

So one of the projects I'm currently working on is designing myself a brand new desk to replace my old IKEA desk which I've had for the last couple of years. I'm really keen on designing a desk that is both super functional, sleek and sexy. Sort of like if Apple made desks (iDesk?) without a thousand pound price tag.

So what do I mean by functionality? Well I want to build a desk that is enhanced by the simplest of things, nothing over the top as I'm not looking for flashing lights and a massive water cooling loop for my PC but simpler things like inbuilt HDMI ports/Display Ports and inbuilt USB 3.0 ports and possibly even inbuilt plug sockets. I'm really, really fussy about wire clutter and this combined with the position of my monitors would hide wires so I never have to see them. Another part of the functionality is that I want it to have a somewhat textured surface so that I can game without the need for a mouse pad.

So I've worked out the functionality of the desk. What about the design? Because the design of the desk is really important to me as well. As I said before I'm not looking to build something over the top as I prefer sleek, minimalistic, industrial design. Right now my design concept is very much based on my current desk only that it is longer, has some more depth and is built into the wall. It has U shaped metal legs and a black wood top. However the design is very much a work in progress.

I know that there is another desk that has recently been on KickStarter called the Paradise Desk which has this functionality but the design really doesn't cut it for me, I think it looks big, heavy and over engineered.

So yeah, I was wondering what everyone's thoughts on this was. If anyone has built a custom desk before I'd love to hear about it. Also I've created a Poll at the top to find out how important the desk is to a PC gamer.

[Zeke]

Add "Maybe, I haven't been thinking about it" option in the poll.

 

Now that I think about tables, a simple cable management system would be nice, maybe a couple of 2A USB ports for charging mobile devices, and a Qi-charger zone.

[Brapson]

Add "Maybe, I haven't been thinking about it" option in the poll.

 

Now that I think about tables, a simple cable management system would be nice, maybe a couple of USB ports for charging mobile devices, and a Qi-charger zone.

 

Consider it done my friend. All excellent suggestions, I especially love the suggestion of wireless charging. Never thought about that! Thanks!

[Zeke]

Consider it done my friend. All excellent suggestions, I especially love the suggestion of wireless charging. Never thought about that! Thanks!

Well, I hope that you-know-which-corporation will implement some sort of wireless charging in their devices soon.

 

Also, there's an idea to make the desk extendable, if your friend comes to your house with a laptop and wants to play with you. giggity

[unraw]

Wireless charging pads built into a desk would be awesome 

[JLCitadel]

Consider it done my friend. All excellent suggestions, I especially love the suggestion of wireless charging. Never thought about that! Thanks!

 

I'd add in a quad style charger zone. With all three types of phone plugs (iphone, samsung, and every other phone) and one usb then have four wall plugs below it. and four usb below that. and have it hidden behind your monitor

[ZetZet]

Building stuff from chipboard is easy, especially a desk. You just figure out the measurements buy some chipboards, cut it, take it to your local place that laminates them and you put it together. The hard part would probably be drawers if you wanted them, but still not that hard.

 

You can draw your desk in google sketchup to imagine the design.

[Zeke]

I'd add in a quad style charger zone. With all three types of phone plugs (iphone, samsung, and every other phone) and one usb then have four wall plugs below it. and four usb below that. and have it hidden behind your monitor

You might as well hide four USBs behind the monitor and have a couple of wire holders so only the connectors are sticking out.

 

Oooooooh can we make a retractable laptop charger cable? So you press the button and it crawls back like in vacuums?

[Recon-UK]

No.

[JLCitadel]

You might as well hide four USBs behind the monitor and have a couple of wire holders so only the connectors are sticking out.

 

Oooooooh can we make a retractable laptop charger cable? So you press the button and it crawls back like in vacuums?

 

Good idea. Retractable cables

[lapris54]

Have a thing so that when you tap the desk a module flips out with usbs on it and you can push it down and it goes back down

[Brapson]

Building stuff from chipboard is easy, especially a desk. You just figure out the measurements buy some chipboards, cut it, take it to your local place that laminates them and you put it together. The hard part would probably be drawers if you wanted them, but still not that hard.

 

You can draw your desk in google sketchup to imagine the design.

 

Thanks. I'll make sure to keep that in mind.

 

You might as well hide four USBs behind the monitor and have a couple of wire holders so only the connectors are sticking out.

 

Oooooooh can we make a retractable laptop charger cable? So you press the button and it crawls back like in vacuums?

 

Hahaha... Your acting as if it is your desk too! Sounds sort of cool though I don't use a laptop anymore.

 

Have a thing so that when you tap the desk a module flips out with usbs on it and you can push it down and it goes back down

 

What is this science fiction? Though that sounds like a really cool idea! Not sure how I would pull it off though.

[FlamingDefibs]

I love this idea. Maybe built-in monitor mounts to look extra clean?

[lapris54]

Thanks. I'll make sure to keep that in mind.

 

 

Hahaha... Your acting as if it is your desk too! Sounds sort of cool though I don't use a laptop anymore.

 

 

What is this science fiction? Though that sounds like a really cool idea! Not sure how I would pull it off though.

You know how you get spring loaded rods that hold up car bonnets? Use that and have a plastic clip to hold it down, push down to release the clip, push down again to reengage it, use a usb hub for the usbs and have the connector for them drop down so it does not get in the way of the clip etc.

[Brapson]

I love this idea. Maybe built-in monitor mounts to look extra clean?

 

Yeah I was considering that! Great minds think alike!

 

 

You know how you get spring loaded rods that hold up car bonnets? Use that and have a plastic clip to hold it down, push down to release the clip, push down again to reengage it, use a usb hub for the usbs and have the connector for them drop down so it does not get in the way of the clip etc.

 

Ahhh! Yes, I'll definitely look into it! Thanks

[Samdb]

I don't really care for any of these "added functionality desks." I like my desk to look sleek and clean, no clutter etc.

[HeathCliff]

-snip-

 

Might not be that much use to you but I hope this helps for the design. (Teacher said it was too unrealistic)

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/130090-project-notsurewhattonameit/

 

 

More pics in the link.

[lapris54]

Might not be that much use to you but I hope this helps for the design. (Teacher said it was too unrealistic)

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/130090-project-notsurewhattonameit/

 

 

 

My idea of the pop out usbs would look great on the left of that desk

[Brapson]

I don't really care for any of these "added functionality desks." I like my desk to look sleek and clean, no clutter etc.

 

Well that's mainly what I'm aiming for. I want an "added functionality desk" that looks sleek and clean. I wanna be able to hide all my wires with ease and will probably do something to hide the USB ports and such. I'm taking all these ideas on board though.

 

 

Might not be that much use to you but I hope this helps for the design. (Teacher said it was too unrealistic)

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/130090-project-notsurewhattonameit/

 

 

Wow! That looks awesome, though my design is going to be a little simpler than that as it's not a corner desk. However it looks really cool!

[lapris54]

I know this could be another topic but it is kind of related, how come we don't have wireless charging for wireless mice?

[HeathCliff]

I know this could be another topic but it is kind of related, how come we don't have wireless charging for wireless mice?

 

Mionix has your back. (if you don't know who they are, the made the Naos 8200).

 

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/mionix-inductive-charging-mouse,25689.html

[Zeke]

I know this could be another topic but it is kind of related, how come we don't have wireless charging for wireless mice?

We do, but it's for the only mouse you can't play games with.

[lapris54]

Mionix has your back. (if you don't know who they are, the made the Naos 8200).

 

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/mionix-inductive-charging-mouse,25689.html

 

 

We do, but it's for the only mouse you can't play games with.

One of those mice is rubbish and the other looks good if the (mouse) pad for it was semi-attreactive

[Zeke]

One of those mice is rubbish and the other looks good if the (mouse) pad for it was semi-attreactive

I think it's not impossible to build AA-batteries with Qi implemented in them... although the charge time would probably be tremendous (small coils). 

[Brapson]

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. I really like the idea of integrating some sort of wireless charging capability into the desk. Any other features people can think of?