Project Arctic Aurora - Custom Desk PC LOTS OF PICTURES - Massive Update 5/19/18

[Toasted Waffles]

Welcome To

 

A project to rebuild my crappy old desk and replace it with a brand new desk with my new PC built into it. I took some inspiration from Linus's custom desk and some images I found online.  I went through several designs to figure out the best way to build it and configure my hardware. If you have any recommendations please let me know - I've built many things before but never a desk to house a PC. 

 

Desk Construction : 

 

Legs : 4x4 secured with glue and Lag bolts

Base : 2x4 beams securing both sides of the legs making a flat base for the top - can be separated to make moving easier'

Top : 3/4 Maple Plywood with 2 good sides

Glass : Custom Cut 1/4" Tempered Glass

 

Components :

 

CPU :  AMD Thread Ripper 1950X

Motherboard : Asus Zenith Extreme

Ram : Corsair Vengence White RGB DDR4 128gb 3000mhz

Storage : 6x Samsung 860 Evo 500gb SSD in Raid 0 - 1x Intel Nvme Boot drive 256gb

Video Card : GIGABYTE AORUS GeForce GTX 1080 Ti in SLI

Power Supply : Corsair 1200 Watt Platinum w/ Cablemod Cables 

Monitors : 2 Acer Predator 35" Ultrawide 1440p w/ Gsync\

Fans : Corsair ML120 RGB x18  w/ Corsair Link

 

Water Cooling Components : 

 

Radiators : Alphacool NexXxoS UT60 480mm x2 - Alphacool NexXxoS UT60 360mm x2

Pumps : Alphacool D5 Pump x2

Reservoir : EKWB 400ml Clear x4

GPU Blocks : Phanteks Gigabyte Aorus x2

CPU Block : XSPC Raystorm Block

Fittings : Monsoon Hard Line Fittings

Tubing : Monsoon Hard line 5/8 inch

Coolant : EK CyroFuel Navy Blue just over 2 gallons worth

 

 

Concept Photos

Spoiler

 

 

Renders

 

Spoiler

 

Packages  - The Good Stuff

Spoiler

 

Would you like to see during Construction photos ? Whats your Thoughts on this project?

 

 

 

Link To Current Update ------ >   Lets Go!!!!

 

 

 

 

[AndreasRitter]

looks good, how are you going to assemble it all? nail gun and wood glue?

[Toasted Waffles]

2 hours ago, AndreasRitter said:

looks good, how are you going to assemble it all? nail gun and wood glue?

The Legs will be separate so you can move it more easily. The top will be a combination of wood glue and screws no nails.

[Toasted Waffles]

Update #1

 

I started building the legs and base of the desk. The 2x4s are notched into the 4x4 for extra support and to make a flat surface. Each leg has two 8” long Lag bolts coated in liquid nail to make sure they never come out. So far it supports about 300lbs and still has some more reinforcement to come. 

 

[Toasted Waffles]

I ran out of bolts and screws- Major update coming Sunday. Paint is coming this weekend hopefully if everything falls together properly. The base will be mostly White with Smoked Gray Accents and the top is either a Gray or White outside with a white inside with Blue water decals throughout. 

 

What do you guys think - Should I get Ek Rads or Alphacool?

[xdeathshot20]

On 4/13/2018 at 1:16 PM, Agent Maine said:

I ran out of bolts and screws- Major update coming Sunday. Paint is coming this weekend hopefully if everything falls together properly. The base will be mostly White with Smoked Gray Accents and the top is either a Gray or White outside with a white inside with Blue water decals throughout. 

 

What do you guys think - Should I get Ek Rads or Alphacool?

ive never water cooled before but i have just always know Ek rads to be some of if not the best

[Toasted Waffles]

On 4/14/2018 at 1:08 PM, xdeathshot20 said:

ive never water cooled before but i have just always know Ek rads to be some of if not the best

Im going mostly EK - However I think I will go with Alpha cool because they have their X Flow rads - it'll make this whole desk better looking

[Toasted Waffles]

Update # 2

 

Working on the top of the desk. Did not get nearly as much done as I would have liked - stores took longer than expected.... I got most of the plywood cut and rough put together for the top part of the desk. I'm using 3/4" Maple Plywood with both good sides to make a nice finished looking piece.  It looks really tiny for some reasons but it is w/ glass 33" inchs tall.  All the wood is in rough positions - still have to do more trimming before finally setting them permanently.

 

Would you like to see more in progress photos like of me Cutting wood and assembling them?

 

 

 

 

Sorry the Update was not as much as I planned... I am working on this project all day This Tuesday and will be positing all day with small updates. What are your thoughts so far? Am I crazy or this a cool project?

 

[Toasted Waffles]

Massive update #3

 

I got the whole Top assembled and secured together. This took a whole bunch longer than I was thinking and had to make several trips to Lowes to get more wood and different items. Please let me know what you think

 

 

 

 

 

[Toasted Waffles]

Update # 4

 

I finished the Base - secured the legs with the lag bolts and ground down the heads to make a flat surface. Most of the work was doing the first sanding to prep for wood filler to fill in the smaller imperfections.  I worked to about 10:30 at night  on getting this wood putty top and bottom to make sure I can move forward this weekend and get the holes cut and sized for the hardware.  I have lots of pictures to upload today - will be here tonight.

 

What are your thoughts so far?

[Toasted Waffles]

Update # 4 Pictures

 

 

[Toasted Waffles]

On 4/14/2018 at 1:08 PM, xdeathshot20 said:

ive never water cooled before but i have just always know Ek rads to be some of if not the best

I ended up going with Alphacool Rads - I hope they awesome! 

[Toasted Waffles]

Update #5 I think?

 

I got the monitor stand mounting setup and cut and secured in place today. I also sanded all the wood down a second time and reapplied wood putty to make sure all surfaces are perfectly smoothed.  Still waiting on the hardware to arrive to cut the power supply hole and fan holes to make sure I am correct on spacing. 

 

What do you think of it so far?

 

 

 

 

[GDRRiley]

Looking great so far. I doubt it will rival one of the other desk build on here but that guy spent years and thousands on it. 

[Toasted Waffles]

Update #6 

 

After a Visit to the Hospital after my Drill deiced to attack me -.-

 

I got some of my water cooling gear already to test fit and drill the holes for the radiators.  I laid out my templates then used a small drill bit to make small pilots holes for the soon larger holes to be made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Aktechmod]

Something special is coming out of the wood:).  I myself preferred  to go with much less pain. You've got a bunch of a toys there man. What was that huge saw out of the garage? :D. Well, you are good skilled though. So far so good- Keep it up.!

[Toasted Waffles]

12 hours ago, Aktechmod said:

Something special is coming out of the wood:).  I myself preferred  to go with much less pain. You've got a bunch of a toys there man. What was that huge saw out of the garage? :D. Well, you are good skilled though. So far so good- Keep it up.!

Thanks man!

 

I do a lot of my own stuff it tends to be cheaper  = The Huge Saw is a 12 inch Dual Bevel Miter Saw.  The pain inst bad expect when my drill spun and smacked me on my head lol. I am trying to test fit all hardware Sunday but have to wait on packages.

 

[xdeathshot20]

in the end i would post pictures of your current desk pc and then your new one so we can see how much different they are otherwise build looks great cant wait to see what it looks like when its done

[Toasted Waffles]

3 hours ago, xdeathshot20 said:

in the end i would post pictures of your current desk pc and then your new one so we can see how much different they are otherwise build looks great cant wait to see what it looks like when its done

That is a great idea to do before and after. Thanks!

[Toasted Waffles]

I am now awaiting all my parts to arrive - Should I paint my monitor stand from black to White to match?

[Aktechmod]

16 hours ago, Agent Maine said:

I am now awaiting all my parts to arrive - Should I paint my monitor stand from black to White to match?

If the  base will be mostly in white and smoked-gray and the top and  interiors gonna be also white. I would leave it as it is if it's originally black colored stand. It actually  depends on if this rig gonna be mostly based in white or dark color. Either way would be OK!:)

[Toasted Waffles]

5 hours ago, Aktechmod said:

If the  base will be mostly in white and smoked-gray and the top and  interiors gonna be also white. I would leave it as it is if it's originally black colored stand. It actually  depends on if this rig gonna be mostly based in white or dark color. Either way would be OK!:)

The Outside will be dark Gray - and the inside will be white - I was thinking of painting it like a metallic white

[Toasted Waffles]

UPDATE # 7   1000 Views!

HARDWARE HAS STARTED TO ARRIVE!

 

 

Thanks Everyone so far - Never had a build reach 1000 views :D. I want to post some pictures quick tonight of some of my packages so far. I will be getting all my hardware Tuesday and will have an massive update tomorrow and Tuesday! Stay Tune!

 

I also switched Phones - This update is all taken with the Pixel 2XL - I have to get a lens for my DSLR - Glam footage will be here don't worry!

 

 

[Toasted Waffles]

Update #8

 

I got all the holes cut and shaped for the fans and sanded. Waiting on the wood putty to set the third time to make sure all joints are perfect then will paint.

 

What are your thoughts on it?

 

 

 

[Toasted Waffles]

Update #9 + Sneak Peak!

 

Finally got the first layer of paint on the base and started to test fit some hardware. Unfortunately it was too humid too start test fitting boards and or power supplies. However all the goodies finally arrived - Time for the race to the finish  This weekend it will be painted and possible final test fit of the hardware.

 

Gifts of FedEX

 

 

 

 

 

The Desk

 

 

 

 

A Sneak Peak on Whats to Come!!