Opinions Please! Desktop on top or below desk?

[Aleks]

What do you prefer and why? I am trying to get the best looking and most space efficient setup.

[connorpiper]

Desk. Easy access to stuff. 

Away from dust and reduced risk of ESD.

And it looks pretty there! 

[Archangel1994]

If you have a good looking case with a window AND if you have the space: On top of the desk

If you have any case and do not have the space: Below desk

 

I actually have mine standing on a wooden chest which would be half height :3

[Epic_Nex]

If you do not have carpet, then i would say below desk, or on a separate mini table

[NInety]

On desk to the right of the monitor. Easy access to USB and headphone/mic jacks and it's easier to manage the cables.

[andre82693]

Desktop on top

[Flight1sim]

If it looks nice, then top, if it's plain, then choose depending on desk space

[KemoKa]

if you have a carpet, keep it the hell away from the floor. ESD's not the only issue, you can get dust buildup in your PSU, and if your computer's ventilation is not exhausting through the bottom, your computer as a whole will steadily fill with dust.

 

I would keep it on the desk. having said that, I don't have enough space on my desk...

[Damikiller37]

Mine is below because I like and want all of the space and it looks cleaner in my opinion.

[razor767]

On top of desk, easy to get to everything.

[STRMfrmXMN]

I always keep desk*tops* on the desk. Unless you have all top IO then putting it on the floor is just so... why?

[KE2012]

I'm currently hiding my rig (a midi case) behind my one of my screens, so I say on top.

[-TesseracT-]

Under the desk, less noise and lights.

[GoodBytes]

It actually depends on a few factors.

-> Location, how you maintain the computer, personal taste, type of system/case the system is.

Location:

I it's in a room where you have visitors, such as a office desk in a living room, you want the computer hidden, including it's wires (but that is is just cable management, they are many thing you can get to hide them). If it's in your room, then it doesn't really matter where it is.

Note that: by hidden, I don't mean put a house plants on it and around it to hide it. I mean that it should not be flashy and attack attention. And yes, it can compliment the style of the living room.

Computer maintenance

Excluding special task computers such as server or powerful workstations, I believe that if your computer audible at idle, then the computer built is a failure. Of course, that is harsh thing to say. And I am guilty of not achieving this perfectly, and to some extent, it is impossible, however it is a goal. Now if your system sounds like a jet reactor, ok that is a failure right there. But a good case, with high quality fans, and appropriately placed with a quiet HDD (if any) with a case that offer vibration absorbing system for the HDD,good CPU heatsink, allows to easily achieve close to this goal.

However a quiet computer is all nice and neat, but when not properly maintain time to time, it can lead to increase noise due to dust blocking air flow from heatsink, not to mention that dust is an insulator, but also make fan noisier, by needing them to spin faster to compensate, and dust can get in the motor itself of the fan. So depending on the dust level of your place (this varies if you have a HVAC system that filters air or not, and if you are in a rural area or a downtown), and also if you are or have pets or smoking person in the house, and if you have carpet or not. If dust level is high, and you are unwilling to clean your computer often for your location, then perhaps on top the desk is best. If not, then you can put it on the floor.

If the computer is on the floor is may need more clean up sessions than on the desk.

Personal Taste

If you have a modded computer or just a computer you want to showcase (and that is fine. I see it as art), then put it on your desk. If not, even if the case is nice looking, you can put it on the floor. Assuming not a mod that you want to showcase, in my opinion I see that the desktop computer should not exists. In other words, it needs to be hidden (once again, I mean that it should not be flashy and in your face, and not physically dangling out of the window where the DVI connector cable screws are holding it from falling outside as you are trying to hide it from existence)

Type of system

If it's a server, or a backup system, depending on the level of sound is produce, you may want to put it in a closet, (or bathroom if you are Linus), but if not, you can put it anywhere. Likewise, if you have those, in my opinion, nice looking Mac mini style case, such as this one:

Then obviously you don't want to put on your floor.

Also, space. do you have space on your desk or not.

Now, to counter argue some things being said for conversation purposes:

Accessibility:

All decent monitors have a USB hub and descent computer speaker have a headphone jack on them. Optical drive is rarely used. So, there is no point in worrying about accessibility. Plus, front headphone jack on cases are usually total garbage that gets interference from the system due to the poor or no shielding of the audio cable, and sometimes uses the USB as ground for the plug.

ESD:

Decent cases have the case itself grounded. It usually uses the ground of the frontal USB ports to ground itself. Assuming your electric outlet is grounded as it should normally be (unless you live in a country that doesn't believe in grounds), and a decent power supply used in your computer and motherboard, then it should not be a problem. If you got a 60$ case with included power supply, then I would worry about a fire hazard before ESD problem.

[chilicheeseburger]

A Poll would be nice.

If I had the space, I'd have my PC sitting on my desk. But I don't have the space right now so it's on the floor. Need to get one of those nice Ikea tables ..

[Adreyu]

my case is beautiful so i prefer to be able to see it. on desk if possible

[TetraSky]

Inside. I don't want to see it and it also reduce the noise a little.

Also less chances of hitting it, spilling anything in it, or have it fall off the desk because I somehow manage to drag it off with me when I stand up.

[ace101.]

I just transferred my PC from the floor to my Desk last night. 

[BulkFish]

I like it on the desk for ease of access, and to constantly admire the delicious hardware. However it all depends on the size of your desk and space restrictions. I would go on top of desk unless space will not allow.

However if placing on carpet, definitely try to get a piece of timber to give it a flat surface.

^ @GoodBytes nailed it though. Awesome post.

[NannerBeans]

On desk. The great thing about having a mitx system is that I can pretty much fit it anywhere and it's still a freaking beast of a computer. (My sig is outdated atm btw)

[Fofus]

I have always had mine on top of the desk.

It will take some space, yes, but it will be way easier to acces without you bumping your head on the desk or having to crouch.

Besides, it's easier to keep clean and looks great on top.

I will attach my setup so you can see.

[Fofus]

I have mine on top, always have.

It looks great if you have a medium/large desk and you don't need space for anything else.

It is easier to access and clean.

The thing is that the cables can be seen more, since you will need to have it next to the monitor.

[Dabombinable]

I've experimented with the location of every computer I've ever had, and I always found that they stay cooler on top of a desk due to having better air flow and having less dust get inside the case, though I did find that my old overclocked P4 hotbox was okay on the floor in winter as it made quite a nice foot warmer/heater.

[QueenDemetria]

I have my servers under my desk since they make more noise and because they don't look as pretty. My Gaming rig, workstation, and personal PC are all on my desk(well next to it technically). They are easier to work on this way and I've noticed that they suck in less dust(however they collect more dust on the outside).

[sulairris]

i have my tower on top of my desk. I moved it off of the floor because i had a fan die from cat hair so yah.