Project: Drafting

[Matty F]

Hi All,

First of all long time stalker, first time poster!! I am a huge fan of this community and those lads who post a video or two somewhere .  I had a fantastic and quick response from the members on my planning thread and am looking forward to documenting and sharing my build.

 

About my new build:

Well firstly, I am a building services draftsman in Brisbane, Australia - utilising the Autodesk suite and secondly a bit of a gamer (when work and family permits ).  My current setup has a few issues:

1. My desk is poorly constructed and falling apart.
2. The current design makes getting cables hidden and out of reach of a 2 year olds hands impossible.
3. There is no room for plans or pretty much anything.
4. My PC is getting on a little bit and is just out of practical upgrading - It will however become my home server.

 

Current setup above.  Not the best.  Before you ask however, it was easier for my son to turn on and off the computer and open/shut the drives when it was on the floor.  Now I have power packs..... sigh.. toddler death trap!

 

My solution (apart from the new PC) is a custom built desk that I want to complete myself - pretty much just to say I did it.  I did a lot of internet searching and watched a lot of tour videos.  The one that really hit home was "MrThaiBox123".  If you haven't checked out this guy's setup, go do it!  I shamelessly borrowed his desk layout and came up with my own version..... well version(s) now that I am getting to the ordering stage!!

This build will not be the quickest, as I will be buying components as I am able - but I have even taken the drastic step of securing a 2nd income just to put this beast together (and the wife won't complain ha ha ha).

 

So before I kick this off, thanks again for the advice and entertainment from this commuinity and all in the Linus Media Group.

 

Cheers,

Matty

 

Planned PC Components:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-4930K 3.4GHz 6-Core Processor  ($659.00 @ CPL Online) 

CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X61 106.1 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($159.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Motherboard: Asus Sabertooth X79 ATX LGA2011 Motherboard  ($378.00 @ CPL Online) 

Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($429.00 @ CPL Online) 

Storage: Intel 530 Series 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($189.00 @ Mwave Australia) 

Storage: Western Digital Red 3TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($165.00 @ CPL Online) 

Storage: Western Digital Red 3TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($165.00 @ CPL Online) 

Storage: Western Digital Red 3TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($165.00 @ CPL Online) 

Storage: Western Digital Red 3TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($165.00 @ CPL Online) 

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB DirectCU II Video Card (2-Way SLI)  ($839.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB DirectCU II Video Card (2-Way SLI)  ($839.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Case: Cooler Master Cosmos II (Black) ATX Full Tower Case  ($379.00 @ PCCaseGear) 

Power Supply: Antec High Current Pro Platinum 1000W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($305.00 @ CPL Online) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro (OEM) (64-bit)  ($165.00 @ CPL Online) 

Total: $5001.00

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

 

 

[Matty F]

Where do I start..... well desk planning seems like a good idea.  My first designs look a little like this:

 

 

 

You can see my borrowed design from "MrThaiBox123".  I have space allowance for 6 x 27" screens all mounted off a common hutch.  The hutch design is so I can not only mount the screens but hide cabling and mount additional lighting.  Another feature will be built in GPO's, USB plates, possibly headphone jacks etc.  What I haven't allowed for yet is the auxcillary componets that I already have i.e Router/Modem, MIDI capture etc.

The depth of the desk is important as it will have A3, A2, A1 & even A0 size prints to house (maybe not flat in the case of A0).  Mounting even the bottom screens will give me even more desk space to use.

 

Good in theory, but just a touch to big to practially find a home for.  Currently this measures 2400(W)mm X 1200(D)mm.  Now my trick currently is reducing the size while leaving enough depth for the tower.  My 2nd issue what not knowing exactly what material I was going to make it out of.  I called a few places, did a bit of reseach and have decided on 25mm Black Melamine.  Its pre-laminated, strong, water resistant (since I am buying that type) and since its a manufactured material it will be straight and flat.  So back to Sketchup and redo the design.

 

I will be creating the cutsheets for the supplier to quote and cut for me also saving a bit of coin in the process.

 

Goal this week:  Get the design finalised, cut sheets created and sent to the supplier.

[Matty F]

I did start to get excited about this project when I started to type up my thoughts, so I had to go out and buy the first component...... the tower.  I settled on the Cosmos II.  Why? Well simply put its HUGE!  Currently I have an Antec 1200 so I am used to large cases, but I liked the extra width in this case and since my end goal is to watercool the thing, I didn't want to try and work around in tight cases.  I think it looks great plus I actually like the weight in a case.  It gives me a sense of security that I or maybe a 2 year old son won't easily push it over.

 

 

Luckily however I did take my car to the shop!!  Thats the case in the back of a Mitsubishi Pajero!!

 

 

Unfortunately for now, that's as far as she goes.

[Travianw135]

I'm listening...

[Epis]

Looking forward to updates in the coming weeks 

[Kevin_Walter]

Ah. A PC AND desk build, eh?

 

Subbed.  B)

[L.E.D]

I'll be watching this one!

[iamthecpu]

i want to know the water cooling goes in their i am interested because most of the case that i have bought to far have not been up to my standers so far with the exception of the NZXT 630   

[Kittke]

Do you have any plans in modding the cosmos?

[Matty F]

@Travianw135 @Epis @Kevin_Walter @L.E.D Thanks guys for having a read so far 

 

@iamthecpu Call it stage 1 there won't be a lot of water cooling, I'm only using an all-in-one option (the NZXT Kraken X61 to be precise) for the CPU.  Once all operational I will be looking to fully water cool the lot, might be a bit backwards but since I have never watercooled a PC before it will be another learning curve..... not much of a wood worker either so one hurdle at a time ha ha ha.

 

@Kittke I don't plan to mod the Cosmos, its a very expensive case for me to go cutting into.  That said I will do what I can with the internals - though as above, will be much better once watercooled.

 

Thanks for reading.

[Matty F]

Small update to the desk planning.....  

 

I made some further adjustments and quickly put together a new model.

 

 

As I am only interested in getting the timber cuts at this stage - the tower stand looks a little odd.  I plan to be a chrome column and leg stand in to support the weight.

 

Now I can get some cut sheets together

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nearly ready to send to the shop, just missed the guy this afternoon.  Just need to confirm his price and availability.  If all goes to plan, into the shop tomorrow  .  Should be some construction happening soon - pretty pumped!

[Bagmup]

Interested in seeing your desk building skills

Subbed.

[Matty F]

Interested in seeing your desk building skills

Subbed.

 

Ha Ha so am I!!!

[iamthecpu]

@Matty F i i bought the parts for my water cooling loop and then for 3 week did not put it together and then one day i was like ok i have have to do it and and it took me like 20 minutes to put every thing together so all you have to is try