I can't get my mammoth build on my desk and have room for monitors on my desk so I bought a long 2x4 and cut it into pieces to build a stand to get my PC up off the ground and also give it room to ventilate. Even a few inches up off the ground though I get a ton of dust. I bought a duster and have to dust it out every couple weeks. Great video. Thanks for making it.
I have to agree. I have a corsair 800D with 720mm worth of rads. the weight alone would crush most desks. This case is 22 inches high and 24 inches long as well as 8 inches thick. it's just too darn big to put on a desk.
Thermaltake View 71 owner here... There is no way in hell that monster would fit on a desk (even my DIY Ikea counter top desk), so yeah I did the same thing built a platform on coasters and topped the platform with free vinyl flooring samples from Home Depot.. dust isn't too bad..
@@GravitySandwich1 I don't put computers on desks, but I do buy desks that I can stand on and not have it sag. That's the sign of a quality desk. :) Of course, I used to have a super heavy CRT sitting on it, so it had to be that strong.
You inadvertently mocked me into taking my PC off floor. For years I've had it on the floor for some reason. But watching your videos eventually convinced me to make the change. Today I'm a better person for it. Thanks Paul. 👍
Do not fall for this blatant propaganda. With basic cleaning measures, you can happily live a life with surplus desk space for your activities instead of surrendering that oh so precious working area to your computational tower.
@@starman1994 I used to do it a lot more often, but these days I only take my PC out to the air compressor maybe once every 6 months to a year. Having dust screens helps too (I have a Fractal R5).
I cannot get past the fact that he's wearing shoes inside and talking about it as a normal thing, when he just explained dust exists. I know this a thing in the US, but, why?
Not sure about the rest of the US, but my family is constantly in and out of the house for projects, errands, or running to the store. It’s just a hassle to be taking our shoes on and off every time we enter or leave the house. We also don’t really have the space to dedicate an area for shoes near the doors as any spot would either not allow the door to open or be directly in the way of people walking. But that’s just cause we have a smaller house. Other reasons being we don’t have guests over. Like ever. So we’re not concerned with how it looks. That goes doubly so because our floors hide dirt and dust SUPER well so it never really looks dirty in the first place
@@connormcgrath5800 yea but stuff like dog poop or bugs exist lol, and if u dont notice and step inside ur house, thats gonna be spread all over, how big is your household? even the smallest apartments ive lived in, we could still place our shoes somewhere.
@@sarius2388 well lucky for us we don’t actually go anywhere except for doing projects on our property, and our dog is big enough to where if you did step in her poop, you’d KNOW it. We got four people in a 700 sq ft house. The back door has cabinets on either side right up to it, and the front we don’t use because it’s blocked by a fold out couch which is out 99% of the time due to the differing schedule of the person who sleeps there. There’s about 2 1/2 feet of clearance from the door to the bed, so the door can’t open all the way, and about five feet on the other side is my brothers computer setup. We could leave our shoes outside but we live in Seattle where half the year it rains and there’s nothing that would protect the shoes.
I wear them inside, who cares I don't look at people without shoes on and say that's weird, I just prefer them on, you prefer them off who cares, some people wear pajama pants to bed some people wear boxers who cares like genuinely who fucking cares lmao such a weird thing to care about
All of my PCs are on the hard floor. Never had a dust issue for the most part as I clean my PCs on a regular basis at least twice a year (but even then it's not any significant amount of dust anyway). On the contrary - because there will always be colder air closer to the floor, the huge advantage is having colder air intake, which in its turn, is obviously beneficial to cooling.
I've told people the same thing for years, and for one major reason: Flood damage. I've seen machine after machine damaged because a pipe broke, or a drain clogged, etc. Sometimes, just a few inches away from the floor is enough to avoid this.
And... Dogs "flooding" More than once had a friend who's computer had hidden issues that dog smelled, and tried to cover the smell. Usually bad hard drive or heavy dust in power supply.
I heard stories of people spilling their drinks onto their pc and it made me wonder how the fuck did they do that? Then it made me realize they had it on the floor the whole time...
Best reason to keep the PC on the desk in my opinion is for easy access to the rear panel and cables. I absolutely hated bending down on the floor under the desk to access those rear cables.
I’ve worked with PC’s for 30 plus years. I’ve always kept them on the floor. Never had a single issue pertaining to dust since I clean and maintain my rigs 1-2x a year. Most of the reasons you have listed are personal reasons. I can completely agree on the reasons of aesthetics for modern RGB systems, but for any other reason it’s more personal depending on the persons desk, space availability, environment, maintenance routine, etc.
You had to have seen a power supply choked out before from sitting on carpet. I knew someone who blew up two seasonic PSU'S from it, they did this in 1 year... I agree it depends though
I have two loud barking fuzzies that love the heat from the PC in the winter. So I added a extension to the desk and have the PC behind the 27" monitor. No longer on the floor. One of them still sleeps in the same spot. Probably because it is the spot that the pc occupied because it was out of the way, but still easy to into get too.
I agree the reasons are a bit disappointing. I was actually really wanting to get my PC on my desk but there's absolutely no space for it there or anywhere else than where its currently at really. So was looking into smaller/ITX mobo's and cases but they turn out to be damn expensive/hard to get second hand, so sadly went back to planning for ATX/µATX form factor & subsequently floor. But I'm looking now into getting/building a little stand, 1. for aesthetics and 2. dust (&maybe airflow/temps)
Cons of having the PC on the desk IMO: hear the fans, hear the coil whine, takes space of desk, still gets dust inside Cons of having the PC on the ground IMO: it gets dusty i have to clean it internaly once a year Not everyone likes to see the components, if you maintain the system it doesn't really matter where you place the PC :)
I want a clean desk setup and I have big monitors so it looks so cluttered and I could easily lock off my pc on the ground since my desk is small, and IMO my PC is cool but it isn't something I want to show off like a trophy
For quite a long time I had my PC on my desk. Eventually put it in the floor and it's so much better. Much more desk space. No difference in dust collection. And I never actually looked at my PC(next one is not going to have a window. No point)
I have mine on the floor with the glass door facing out. I now look at my computer more than I ever did before, because I see it any time I enter the living room. Plus, all the RGB is a fantastic night light for middle-of-the-night bathroom trips.
I have a Sit/Stand desk, and I would be much more worried about my PC getting knocked off my desk and falling (as if there was room for it with all my monitors anyway).
Why I like having case next to the table (not under it): 1. More workspace on desktop or more space for monitors or speakers 2. Less audible noise (especially coil whine noise) 3. More safe, stable and protected position, it can't fall from the table especially during earthquakes 4. Easier cable management, less visible cables from side view 5. No annoying (rgb) leds during night time
Some valid reasons indeed. I have my 2 PCs on the floor for the simple reason #1, not having enough space on the desk for them together with the monitors. So I have to keep them under the table. I have placed them onto wooden boxes to give them some elevation over the floor. I'd like to have them above, but basically I'd need a second table and there is not enough room for that.
Wow someone with half a brain. What a concept. I have my desktop on the floor for the same reasons minus the earthquake thing. I prefer it on the floor because I have a tendency to knock stuff over.
I vacuum every two days and clean the case monthly. Could care less about showing it off; it's used to play video games not be a show piece. I view it in the same regard as high priced tool. It's away from my legs' range of motion and my dog doesn't go under my desk. It's also a giant full tower that weighs around ~45lbs and is way too big and frankly, looks like shit when up on a desk with my UW monitor and 2nd monitor that's in portrait.
This has high school presentation PowerPoint energy, 😂 and I love it. I will be presenting this video to my wife, who constantly tries to put my PC on the floor. Thanks Paul.
I’ve been holding off finally fixing my setup by moving my pc unto my desk because of laziness, this video helped me improve my life a million times over by actually making me feel bad. Thanks Paul! 3/1 Stars. Would feel bad again.
I’ll be considering how best to elevate my pc, thanks Paul. One other benefit I think went unmentioned: cable management. Having cables running from desk to floor is harder to get done tidily, and any loose cables trailing on the floor really help rack up those dust bunnies and make cleaning more work when you end up having to move them out of the way to vacuum…
I'm sticking to the floor, primarily for space reasons. 1. The removable dust filters on my Define Nano S have been plenty to keep my aging components clean. I just vacuum them out every few months 2. I like the lights to come from my screens, not the box. I have disconnected the power LED on my windowless case. It also helps hide cables, with just a cable sleeve visible coming up. 3. Kicking hasn't been a problem. I'd be more afraid of something knocking the PC off the desk 4. My cat likes to use the tower as a step up to my lap - but the unscheduled shutdowns have been a problem for my wife, whose setup approximately mirrors mine. 5. I think it looks pretty good how I have it.
Bought a bookshelf after watching this video and have since moved my PC up onto it. Hopefully it forgives me for living on the floor for the last 5 years 😂 Have to admit it looks heaps better on display rather than shoved in the corner between my desk and the wall.. Thanks for the tips Paul!
Agree entirely with all these, but there just literally isn't enough space in my typically tiny British home for such luxuries without an expensive remodelling of the entire room which will then mean less room for something else instead.
@@triadwarfare colloquially imperial are still used in informal settings, and all road markings are still in miles, people still refer to their weight in stones (which I myself am not accustomed to). The British is not fully metric. Do you even live in the UK? Actually, come to think of it, you're probably not, since you said meter instead of metre.
When I built my new PC (thanks to Paul’s awesome instruction vids) I made this change after 20 years of sitting them on the floor. The difference was amazing and not even close. I clean my PC thoroughly about every 4-6 months and barley get anything off it anymore but still do it to keep things running as cool as possible. Couldn’t agree more Paul!
I’m still keeping my PC on the floor. If I ever move to a place where I have more space, I’ll consider placing my PC in a higher place, but right now I’m confined to a small bed and small desk with 2 monitors on it.
So the top of your case barely fits under the desk? A cheap little stool would work great aswell just to get it of the ground a lil bit is better then none
consider to mount at least one monitor on a wall and use the empty space on the desk for the pc... by having the pc on the floor you are shortening its lifespan just as paul said
I don't have room on my desk as it is in a very tight alcove, keeping it on the floor actually benefits cooling. The floor is limestone over a concrete substrate so it's always about 5 to 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the room. The intake airflow is much cooler. Great CPU/GPU temps that way.
You might consider a desk mounted CPU holder? Still keeps the PC tower off the floor for those benefits, but fits under the desk which is ideal for smaller spaces
Regarding reason 3: What kind of savage wears shoes indoors with which to scuff their PC in the first place!? Maybe if you left your shoes at the door you'd have less dust and dirt on the floor to complain about.
@@jetah50 You don't have 30 seconds at the door? Compared to the amount of extra cleaning you're doing by tracking all that dirt inside, you'd actually save time by not wearing shoes indoors like a lunatic.
I care about exactly two things. Avoiding noise and desk space. I'd honestly prefer to have my computer in a closed cabinet but that can be problematic thermally. Directly on the floor is not great, but on the desk is absolutely off limits. If I'm not constantly touching it or looking at it, it doesn't belong on my desk.
I'm in the same boat, I tried putting my PC on my desk but I could hear my fans and GPU coil whine so much clearer and it drove me crazy, along with having to squish everything in and I could hardly move my mouse without accidentally hitting something.
PC is on the floor (on a little inox steel cart with proper cut outs for airflow). I don't have space on any of my desks. Dust is a non issue as there aren't carpet floors, clean and vacuum the room once a week, clean the dust filters monthly or bi-monthly and de dust the whole thing after every season. And I have 2 cats. I say seasons, as I basically have a summer build underground and a winter one in my room (which is under the roof xD). No issue with glass side panels as I use and will keep using my old solid panel cases.. fractal arc midi and define R4. So not much pride or RGB to show anything off to myself or to anybody.. But yeah, for overseas or northern EU countries where carpets are still a thing.. you should definitely move them off the floor. But I never had any PC that cluttered of thick dust as I see on the internet.. but those aren't just because they are on the floor or carpet, it's because they don't clean a thing!
I built my own PC in 2015 (third time actually) and it has been on a carpeted floor for two reasons: 1. The case is huge, and has the power and other buttons on the top, so if it were up on my desk I'd have to stand up to interact with the controls, usb ports, etc. 2. My computer desk is very narrow, only room for my 32" monitor, speakers, keyboard, and mouse. It has a pull-out shelf down below but my case is too tall to fit under there on the shelf, and that would only get it maybe 5 inches off the floor and I wouldn't be able to access the aforementioned buttons. On the bright side, it's in a nice spot to the left of my desk where anyone can admire it even from standing in the doorway of the room, and the case itself has rather large feet that lift it a couple of inches off the floor, and I haven't noticed much dust accumulation, even after weeks or months of use. It has very large fans and plenty of ventilation. In the future I may try to get it up higher though, now that you've explained all the reasons.
EVERYONE that does actual cleaning knows where dust collects. So that should be all the logic you need to know. Everyone that doesn't really go pull your bed aside and grab a vacuum. that dust below your bed will be what your pc sucks up if there was a pc there. And rule 6 : RGB demands it.
@@AngryChineseWoman Well that depends on how good you clean. Most people clean what they see. And yes they still shoud. Dust Always seeks places under objects and you frankly dont want to be moving your pc every time you have to vacuum. That is asking for problemns with delicate electronics.
@@pino_de_vogel Dust is not the super villain people clain to be, not even close. Even with the PC on the floor, cleaning it every 6 months is more than enough.
@@AngryChineseWoman I agree. Never had a problem in over 25 years of having my case on the floor under the desk. Also its done that way for 2 reasons, one.. its quieter and two.. I don't want or need any fancy RGB lighting polluting the desktop and monitor viewing area as I prefer gaming under a subdued light. People only need to put it on the desktop to show of the gimmicky RGB lighting.
Yeah, no. Never noticed much difference in dust build-up between PC on the floor vs elevated. And as long as you clean your PC (and your floor) on a regular basis, it's a non-issue. Plus you hear your PC's noise a bit more when it's on the desk. Edit : I wouldn't do that on carpet though.
You must live in the same clean room the Adam guy does. And noise? What noise? If it's too loud to be elevated, putting it on the floor doesn't solve the problem. It might hide it or mask it a little but you should address those bad fan bearings at some point. Or not. You do you. The floor is fine if that's what you like.
@@xliquidflames I said "a bit more". My PC is already quite silent, I just don't want to add unnecessary noise, even if it's only 2dB, by putting it just next to me.
I keep mine in an adjacent room to my recording booth/office. It lives in it's own side-table thing with a mesh bottom, intakes are bottom face, PC exhausts out mobo side panel and back. Works great! The PC most definitely has a place of honor in my home
I got my first desktop PC today. I don't have a lot of space and I don't have a monitor, so I have to use my TV for the time being. This means I had to put the PC on the floor in order to get it close enough for the hdmi. I then started looking up tips for where to put your PC for best air flow and I found this video. My PC now sits on my waist high book shelf and I'm going to make a complete mess of my interior decorating to get the TV and the couch closer to the PC. My point is; you convinced me so thoroughly that I didn't even feel comfortable leaving the PC on the floor when it seemed to be the only option. I value my PC more than I value having a home that doesn't scream "a schizö decorated this apartment". *TL;DR:* you convinced me to place my PC upp off of the floor. Thank you.
Since the late 90s, all of my main computers are over 2 feet tall, so they aren't even going under the desk. Mine goes next to the desk with the nice Lian LI optional thick feet on there. On hardwood. And it gets regular cleaning.
Same here. No way I'm putting the giant Lian Li cases on top of a table or off the floor. I seriously don't understand what this video is about and came out of the left field. I built my first PCs in the 90s and have always had large tower cases. They have always been placed right next to the desk like you mentioned.
I'm actually surprised he didn't mention that you're much more likely to spill your drink on top of the PC if it resides below your desk level. This is like the only viable reason for me. As to the points made in the video, my room is very clean and flashing RGBs distract me a lot, but I'd rather not switch them off completely.
Funny story, had a teacher years ago (like 15 years ago) spill their coffee on their computer when the CD drive broke, wait for it, because, no joke they were sitting the coffee mug on it, holder part that came out. Not funny at time, but now it's really funny...lmao again...#BkBs :-)
Good reminder of something we should all know. I rebuilt one machine and built clean a second one in the past month or two and the rebuild took twice as long because the donor parts spent 3 years in India on a job site in a refinery. It was totally filthy, and suffering from heat issues. It was obvious as to why as soon as I popped off the side panel. It spent only about one month on the floor, before I could get the office built up where the desk had a place for the PC on top of the desk. Reminder well taken!! Thanks for the reminder.
I have a baby gate on my office door to prevent many of the issues you listed because I have both small children's and cats. I also had been meaning to get my pc off the floor for awhile now but was procrastinating. When I saw the title of the video I did it even before watching. So you were so successful that you accomplished your goal with at least 1 pc before the video started. It is now on a small book shelf that I use to hold my old pc game disks. Although one poor 4tb external HDD took a tumble while trying to move things around without unplugging everything). I will blame you, Paul, and not my laziness for this because it makes me feel better. (the HDD is fine)
I have repented my sins by finally rearranging my desk so it has space for the tower on the desk. Considered doing it in the past, but your vid is the one that pushed me to actually do it. Great stuff
def Acts(){ return " Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." } Acts3:19()
You convinced me, Paul. Within two minutes, I'd started moving my dual monitor stand to the other end and after lunch, up came the computer! I'm expecting a cordless air blower later today from Amazon, so the next thing is to de-construct it, clean it out and re-build it.
A few things to consider. Gravity can't pull dust through a desk, through the vent on top of the PC. If a cable gets snagged and you PC is accidentally moved, on a desk? Well basically you are screwed if it falls off the desk.
I had a small drawer beside my bed and never had a use for it. I have no idea why I never thought of putting my case on it. I have a small table that is used for both my studies and as a PC table. Now that I have moved my PC onto that drawer or table or whatever it is called, my room just feels nicer. Thank you so much for kick starting my brain's shutdown parts.
@@DSP_Visuals yeah, I never understood why our neighbours to the south insist on wearing dirty, dusty shoes into their home. Imagine having to vacuum every other day.
Speaking of "floors" next time you install that type of floor (where Hana is running around with the balloons) you need to space out the end joints. Usually 8-12 inches minimum for better floor stability if they are interlocking.
I have a really good reason for people to put their PC on the ground. Not just on the ground - but hidden. Every single streamer should keep their PC off the desk and hidden behind it. The microphone will pick up the PC and make the voice sound worse. Not just that, but it will also make it harder for the auto denoising algorithms to do their job. Since the microphone is mounted TO the desk, having the pc on the desk as well will mean that vibrations will transfer directly to the microphone through the desk and the mic boom. So you want the PC off the desk, and on the floor to prevent vibrations from coming through. And on top of that, you want the desk to be BETWEEN the pc and the mic, so that the mic doesn't pick up the fan noise traveling through the air. Now nothing's against having the PC lifted up a few inches, but there's usually only so much space for that, and you can't lift the PC much more, or it'll be touching the desk again, transferring vibrations to the mic. You can hear this issue on many streamers' setups. Take this as gospel - I'm a recording engineer myself. And you can hear a noticeable difference with a cheap mic or an expensive mic, with a great setup or a bad setup, whether the room is treated or not, and whether the viewer is on a phone or on a high-end hi fi system. It's just that most of the time, you don't really know WHAT it is that's causing the degradation. Common techniques like compression, limiting, and EQ, all used to make the voice sound better, exacerbate the issue even more. Until we figure out how to make high-end PCs that make zero noise - that's it, you have to move the PC somewhere where it won't be picked up by the microphone.
The one thing I see will h some of the people who have it on the desk is that they're still stuffing it in the corner. These things need air all around them. They need to be at least a few inches away from anything on all sides. If you've got it right up against an insulated wall it will warm the wall and just hold that heat right in there. You really need enough room to get the heat completely away from your tower and out of the room. I've had mine both on the desk and on the floor although never never never sitting on carpet. And, when it was on the floor, it was like you mentioned. It wasn't exactly a clean room but it was ventilated and had filters and whatnot. I can tell you they do get way more crap in them on the floor. They will collect almost as much being on a desk and surrounded by crap though. With space on a desk is best, on a wall mounted shelf is second best, on the floor is worst unless you have some filtration. Remember too, heat rises so, get it off the floor, but don't put it on the ceiling.
Youve got to have your main rig on your desk for aesthetics alone, especially if windowed case! But, for someone with 3 pcs in active use, youve gotta leave a couple by the desk as ground peasants 😅
Hi Paul. Add to Reason 4: Pets. Your dog might consider your PC to be a tree or fire hydrant. If you decide to place your PC on your desk, please make sure the desk can handle its weight. I also added a 'large room' air filter. A solid floor covering, like vinyl or tile, makes dust and pet fur easier to see and remove. A side benefit will be a lower chance of static electric discharge.
Mine is currently in a 4U case in my homemade server rack, however, I'm going to put it back into a normal case, and have it sit on the top of the rack instead.
I used one of your video's to build my PC during the Pandemic and it came out perfect. And I just raised it off the floor. You are my go to guy for all things PC.
Theres no arguing less dust build up if your pc is up off the floor. I wonder though, since heat rises, will the ambient temp of your room affect the cooling of your pc the higher you take it off the floor.
Just a couple of noob question if you could please answer kindly. 1. Can you tell me in general how far pc can be kept from monitors? I mean, the wires and everything, how far they can be stretched? I am planning a setup. 2. Can Pc and Ups be kept side by side?
You make a lot of valid points. That being said, I run duel 27 in monitors. My desk is 50' wide. So, yeah. I put down one of those plastic desk mats for my pc to sit on so it's not on carpet. I have pets, so I clean my dust filters when I vacuum my room. Is what it is.
I've built my first PC in late 90s (1999 September). It was an ugly white case with good HW inside. I was aware, even then (I was 15), that my PC shouldn't be on the floor. I used a bookshelf-styled desk back then. Super limited, and yet, I found a way to up-lift the tower. Today my setup AND my wife's are on the desk. I even extended my desk (was 1.5m long) and put 30cm extra on the side, supporting my case, giving me space to have my speakers, and my console/mixer. When I see pcs on the floor, I die a little inside :P Oh, and your dogs are AWESOME!
I have always kept my PC on my desk, until I started my new job. Now I have 3 laptops and 2 monitors (with 2 more on the way) that take up the entirety of my desk space. I thought nothing of it, so I moved it to the floor. You’ve convinced me, though, so I will be moving my desk space around after work to get my tower off the floor
I have a nice unholy dual-trinity of sorts going on: - it's on the floor (on a board to keep it directly off of the carpet, but still) - bedroom (already more dust) - pets (2-3 cats on average, who love being in my pc-heated room) I would like my pc a bit more out of the way and off the floor, but just like my desk is on the wrong side of the room (window behind me -> glare), it's something I want to change, but never really get around to. As for directly parking it on my desk, I simply don't have the room for that without some major renovations, and I quite frankly don't want it all the way up, both in regards to desk real estate, as well as my pets probably wanting to jump on it, and they can get enthusiastic when jumping off of things. Eventually, I'll get something like a small table to park it on, just like I'll eventually actually move my desk...
I truly wish I had listened to you before it was too late Paul! MY dog knocked over a bottle of water and fried the motherboard/graphics card six months ago. Defo the worst time to have that happen. Now - with new components - it sits proudly on a sturdy shelf.
Just removed a full dust bunny from the case and yeah, you've convinced me. Don't really have room on the desk, but it looks like I have about 8" clearance under for a riser... looking for a creative solution for a riser platform.
I like keep my PC hidden from both my eyes and ears, but the dust argument is an important one that shouldn't be ignored. Just a few centimeters from the ground make a big difference.
I typically agree with Paul on most things, but I put my highly-filtered PC a couple of inches above the floor under my desk because A. the filters catch nearly everything, and B. the noise of my very quiet fans is picked up by recording mics in my studio recording setup if the PC is mounted on a hard surface (such as a desk-height setup). Desk-level PCs are the way to go for most folks... but not for audio engineers.
Back in the 90's I walked into the front office and saw a computer on the secretary's desk. Back then the AT style desk case was huge. I asked her how she liked it and she complained it was just to damn big. Having this machine on the desk made it all but impossible for her to use the desk for anything else. later I was in the storage building looking for a spool of wire when I saw some cinder blocks (8x8x16), I grabbed one and headed up to the office. I pulled the desk out from the wall and put that cinder block on the floor between the desk and wall. Now all Rita had on her desk was the 12" Hercules monitor and the computer was high enough to keep dust out of it.
Shortly after just seeing this video, yesterday, I have put my pc on my desk and I'm very happy with the way it looks now. Thank you Paul for the indirect "shamming" you did to me.
You know, when Paul was talking about kids it brought to mind a time when a friend wanted me to look at their computer that they kept on the floor and when I opened it I found a considerable amount of shredded cheese inside the PC that was apparently introduced by their toddler who discovered an uncovered expansion slot on the back of the case.
The "three word slogan" approach is particularly effective for calls to action. The part where you called it out that you respected people watching and therefore weren't going to denigrate anyone was hella refreshing. I came into this assuming having it on the floor was bad for it, so we already agreed on that point. Your aesthetic argument was also persuasive. Oddly enough, I was most compelled by your bonus reason of "up is good and down is bad". So, yeah, I'll make a change 👍 Excellent video.
I would expect carpet to act more as a filter than a problem for dust on the PC, as it would catch more dust before it reaches the PC intakes. Like, if you vacuum your gross carpet it should be actually a second filter for air intake.
You'd be very wrong, built up stack electricity which helps hold dust but the cling effect is not strong enough to actually hold on to it. Secondly even if we don't see it carpet always shreds, also theirs the heat concerns because your most likely choking the intake for the power supply. Odds are your shit posting, but i dont want anyone to think is anything more then that.
PCs on the desk are also noisier, because you have the source way closer to your ears. Also on the dust part, on the desk it would get less dust from the ground, but more dust from top of it, so it basically cancels out. It's more or less the same with liquids / food, being below the desk actually protects it from a lot of it. Those 2 get invalidated if the PC is just on the floor but not below the desk tho. So, yea, PC below the desk master race :D
Thanks man. Was rearranging to save space and this video is exactly what I needed. I had a small stand I was going to use but have now have the tower 18" up and still saved the space.
This is why I made my PC ugly so I don't care about showing it off. (it's 80% secondhand parts from friends so it's a Frankenstein but it kept prices really low for me) I don't have room on my desk, but it's sitting on a little wheel board at least for some minor elevation Also stop wearing shoes in the house ya nasty. Will be considering setting it up on a nightstand of some sort but I'd need some really long cables to make this work, especially with a standing desk I actually use often. Any tips?
"In a place of honor and prestige." LMAO. Okay, Paul. Whatever you say. For me, it was a matter of space. Now that I've moved it's a matter of...well, space and the weight capacity of the desk/table my ultrawide monitor is sitting on. I've come up with an idea. Before watching this I decided to rest it on top of something...not sure what yet but that way it won't be on the floor. What I wasn't sure about is how high off the floor. Thanks for the 18" recommendation. Also, I too am festooned with RGB and I fracking love it! 😀 Lastly, that set up at 8:20 is 🔥 for sure. 💯
One big question: if it can cause dust collection as well as some other things, can I lay my PC onto a ceramic plate or something to slightly elevate it, as well as preventing dust collection from carpets
I can't get my mammoth build on my desk and have room for monitors on my desk so I bought a long 2x4 and cut it into pieces to build a stand to get my PC up off the ground and also give it room to ventilate. Even a few inches up off the ground though I get a ton of dust. I bought a duster and have to dust it out every couple weeks. Great video. Thanks for making it.
The answer is clear. Let your PC sit in the chair, and _you_ sit on the floor. 👉
I have to agree. I have a corsair 800D with 720mm worth of rads. the weight alone would crush most desks. This case is 22 inches high and 24 inches long as well as 8 inches thick. it's just too darn big to put on a desk.
That's not a stand, it's a pedestal. And your PC totally deserves it.
Thermaltake View 71 owner here... There is no way in hell that monster would fit on a desk (even my DIY Ikea counter top desk), so yeah I did the same thing built a platform on coasters and topped the platform with free vinyl flooring samples from Home Depot.. dust isn't too bad..
@@GravitySandwich1 I don't put computers on desks, but I do buy desks that I can stand on and not have it sag. That's the sign of a quality desk. :) Of course, I used to have a super heavy CRT sitting on it, so it had to be that strong.
I love that this video is part serious PSA to put your PC on your desk and part shitpost. top tier paul content.
you understand me ❤
We all love the pointed curved finger. :)
You inadvertently mocked me into taking my PC off floor. For years I've had it on the floor for some reason. But watching your videos eventually convinced me to make the change. Today I'm a better person for it. Thanks Paul. 👍
Do not fall for this blatant propaganda. With basic cleaning measures, you can happily live a life with surplus desk space for your activities instead of surrendering that oh so precious working area to your computational tower.
Are you a better person, or are you worse. Because you allowed propaganda to corrupt your mind? Think about that, Jack!
it's free heating for your legs in winter tho just sayin
I hope you did some deep cleaning of the internal components.
@@starman1994 I used to do it a lot more often, but these days I only take my PC out to the air compressor maybe once every 6 months to a year. Having dust screens helps too (I have a Fractal R5).
I cannot get past the fact that he's wearing shoes inside and talking about it as a normal thing, when he just explained dust exists. I know this a thing in the US, but, why?
No one I know in the US wears shoes indoor
Not sure about the rest of the US, but my family is constantly in and out of the house for projects, errands, or running to the store. It’s just a hassle to be taking our shoes on and off every time we enter or leave the house. We also don’t really have the space to dedicate an area for shoes near the doors as any spot would either not allow the door to open or be directly in the way of people walking. But that’s just cause we have a smaller house. Other reasons being we don’t have guests over. Like ever. So we’re not concerned with how it looks. That goes doubly so because our floors hide dirt and dust SUPER well so it never really looks dirty in the first place
@@connormcgrath5800 yea but stuff like dog poop or bugs exist lol, and if u dont notice and step inside ur house, thats gonna be spread all over, how big is your household? even the smallest apartments ive lived in, we could still place our shoes somewhere.
@@sarius2388 well lucky for us we don’t actually go anywhere except for doing projects on our property, and our dog is big enough to where if you did step in her poop, you’d KNOW it. We got four people in a 700 sq ft house. The back door has cabinets on either side right up to it, and the front we don’t use because it’s blocked by a fold out couch which is out 99% of the time due to the differing schedule of the person who sleeps there. There’s about 2 1/2 feet of clearance from the door to the bed, so the door can’t open all the way, and about five feet on the other side is my brothers computer setup. We could leave our shoes outside but we live in Seattle where half the year it rains and there’s nothing that would protect the shoes.
I wear them inside, who cares I don't look at people without shoes on and say that's weird, I just prefer them on, you prefer them off who cares, some people wear pajama pants to bed some people wear boxers who cares like genuinely who fucking cares lmao such a weird thing to care about
All of my PCs are on the hard floor. Never had a dust issue for the most part as I clean my PCs on a regular basis at least twice a year (but even then it's not any significant amount of dust anyway). On the contrary - because there will always be colder air closer to the floor, the huge advantage is having colder air intake, which in its turn, is obviously beneficial to cooling.
Yes!!!!
Ikr
I've told people the same thing for years, and for one major reason: Flood damage. I've seen machine after machine damaged because a pipe broke, or a drain clogged, etc. Sometimes, just a few inches away from the floor is enough to avoid this.
I mean sure that's sort of a reason but most of the reasons Paul gives arent actually that compelling
And... Dogs "flooding"
More than once had a friend who's computer had hidden issues that dog smelled, and tried to cover the smell. Usually bad hard drive or heavy dust in power supply.
I heard stories of people spilling their drinks onto their pc and it made me wonder how the fuck did they do that? Then it made me realize they had it on the floor the whole time...
Bit hard to have floods on the 2nd floor...
@@TechTechPotato pipes do break
Best reason to keep the PC on the desk in my opinion is for easy access to the rear panel and cables. I absolutely hated bending down on the floor under the desk to access those rear cables.
PROTIP: Keep your PC turned backwards for extra easy access.
Expressions like: "I've kicked the PC on the floor just getting in my chair due to base level motor functions failing me" keep me coming back to PH
PaulHub?
Ahh yes.. PH?
I’ve worked with PC’s for 30 plus years. I’ve always kept them on the floor. Never had a single issue pertaining to dust since I clean and maintain my rigs 1-2x a year. Most of the reasons you have listed are personal reasons. I can completely agree on the reasons of aesthetics for modern RGB systems, but for any other reason it’s more personal depending on the persons desk, space availability, environment, maintenance routine, etc.
You had to have seen a power supply choked out before from sitting on carpet. I knew someone who blew up two seasonic PSU'S from it, they did this in 1 year... I agree it depends though
I have two loud barking fuzzies that love the heat from the PC in the winter. So I added a extension to the desk and have the PC behind the 27" monitor.
No longer on the floor. One of them still sleeps in the same spot. Probably because it is the spot that the pc occupied because it was out of the way, but still easy to into get too.
@@Dracossaint I got tired of sucking the hair and fuzz out of mine. 4 times a year. Cleaning the fans , filters, CPU cooling fins and video cards.
I agree the reasons are a bit disappointing. I was actually really wanting to get my PC on my desk but there's absolutely no space for it there or anywhere else than where its currently at really. So was looking into smaller/ITX mobo's and cases but they turn out to be damn expensive/hard to get second hand, so sadly went back to planning for ATX/µATX form factor & subsequently floor. But I'm looking now into getting/building a little stand, 1. for aesthetics and 2. dust (&maybe airflow/temps)
Avoid putting them on carpets other than that, I dont see the issue.
I think on the floor you'll just have to clear it out more often.
Cons of having the PC on the desk IMO: hear the fans, hear the coil whine, takes space of desk, still gets dust inside
Cons of having the PC on the ground IMO: it gets dusty i have to clean it internaly once a year
Not everyone likes to see the components, if you maintain the system it doesn't really matter where you place the PC :)
I want a clean desk setup and I have big monitors so it looks so cluttered and I could easily lock off my pc on the ground since my desk is small, and IMO my PC is cool but it isn't something I want to show off like a trophy
For quite a long time I had my PC on my desk. Eventually put it in the floor and it's so much better. Much more desk space. No difference in dust collection. And I never actually looked at my PC(next one is not going to have a window. No point)
Yeah, while I understand the reasoning for wanting the tower off the floor, they take up way too much room to be on the desk.
Thank you.
Agreed
I have mine on the floor with the glass door facing out. I now look at my computer more than I ever did before, because I see it any time I enter the living room. Plus, all the RGB is a fantastic night light for middle-of-the-night bathroom trips.
I have a Sit/Stand desk, and I would be much more worried about my PC getting knocked off my desk and falling (as if there was room for it with all my monitors anyway).
Why I like having case next to the table (not under it):
1. More workspace on desktop or more space for monitors or speakers
2. Less audible noise (especially coil whine noise)
3. More safe, stable and protected position, it can't fall from the table especially during earthquakes
4. Easier cable management, less visible cables from side view
5. No annoying (rgb) leds during night time
Some valid reasons indeed. I have my 2 PCs on the floor for the simple reason #1, not having enough space on the desk for them together with the monitors. So I have to keep them under the table. I have placed them onto wooden boxes to give them some elevation over the floor. I'd like to have them above, but basically I'd need a second table and there is not enough room for that.
Wow someone with half a brain. What a concept. I have my desktop on the floor for the same reasons minus the earthquake thing. I prefer it on the floor because I have a tendency to knock stuff over.
I vacuum every two days and clean the case monthly. Could care less about showing it off; it's used to play video games not be a show piece. I view it in the same regard as high priced tool. It's away from my legs' range of motion and my dog doesn't go under my desk.
It's also a giant full tower that weighs around ~45lbs and is way too big and frankly, looks like shit when up on a desk with my UW monitor and 2nd monitor that's in portrait.
Only? My previous super tower build was over double that at 103lbs it had to sit on the floor it was as tall as my desk.
Fr, plus my desk isn't only defective it literally doesn't have enough space for it, got nowhere else to put it! The floor it is.
This has high school presentation PowerPoint energy, 😂 and I love it.
I will be presenting this video to my wife, who constantly tries to put my PC on the floor. Thanks Paul.
I've never seen someone from high school speaking so eloquently to be honest...
why is your wife always trying to put your PC on the floor
@@S_MAN_CHAN so she can clean the desk like the dog she is
My cat died recently. She's the cat that is "plotting to kill me" at 4:48. Thank you for immortalising her in your video, Paul.
The script and delivery are priceless. Thank you, Paul!. And yes, I have always had both my home and work PCs off the floor.
I’ve been holding off finally fixing my setup by moving my pc unto my desk because of laziness, this video helped me improve my life a million times over by actually making me feel bad. Thanks Paul! 3/1 Stars. Would feel bad again.
I’ll be considering how best to elevate my pc, thanks Paul.
One other benefit I think went unmentioned: cable management. Having cables running from desk to floor is harder to get done tidily, and any loose cables trailing on the floor really help rack up those dust bunnies and make cleaning more work when you end up having to move them out of the way to vacuum…
Have you considered a desk mounted CPU holder? Saves space whilst still keeping your tower unit off the floor.
I'm sticking to the floor, primarily for space reasons.
1. The removable dust filters on my Define Nano S have been plenty to keep my aging components clean. I just vacuum them out every few months
2. I like the lights to come from my screens, not the box. I have disconnected the power LED on my windowless case. It also helps hide cables, with just a cable sleeve visible coming up.
3. Kicking hasn't been a problem. I'd be more afraid of something knocking the PC off the desk
4. My cat likes to use the tower as a step up to my lap - but the unscheduled shutdowns have been a problem for my wife, whose setup approximately mirrors mine.
5. I think it looks pretty good how I have it.
Bought a bookshelf after watching this video and have since moved my PC up onto it. Hopefully it forgives me for living on the floor for the last 5 years 😂 Have to admit it looks heaps better on display rather than shoved in the corner between my desk and the wall.. Thanks for the tips Paul!
Agree entirely with all these, but there just literally isn't enough space in my typically tiny British home for such luxuries without an expensive remodelling of the entire room which will then mean less room for something else instead.
Head to B&Q and buy some lumber offcuts and just prop your PC a few inches off the ground?
@@DuyLeNguyen I think you should use meters rather than inches. Remember, the British are metric.
@@triadwarfare Centimetres. A few _metres_ would be equal to 120 inches!
ITX! ITX! ITX! Join the tiny PC crew!
@@triadwarfare colloquially imperial are still used in informal settings, and all road markings are still in miles, people still refer to their weight in stones (which I myself am not accustomed to). The British is not fully metric. Do you even live in the UK?
Actually, come to think of it, you're probably not, since you said meter instead of metre.
My computer is a work of art, so of course I keep it on my desk
When I built my new PC (thanks to Paul’s awesome instruction vids) I made this change after 20 years of sitting them on the floor. The difference was amazing and not even close. I clean my PC thoroughly about every 4-6 months and barley get anything off it anymore but still do it to keep things running as cool as possible. Couldn’t agree more Paul!
I’m still keeping my PC on the floor. If I ever move to a place where I have more space, I’ll consider placing my PC in a higher place, but right now I’m confined to a small bed and small desk with 2 monitors on it.
So the top of your case barely fits under the desk? A cheap little stool would work great aswell just to get it of the ground a lil bit is better then none
consider to mount at least one monitor on a wall and use the empty space on the desk for the pc... by having the pc on the floor you are shortening its lifespan just as paul said
@@angeladrianparedescedeno8111 that’s a solid idea actually. Thank you
I don't have room on my desk as it is in a very tight alcove, keeping it on the floor actually benefits cooling. The floor is limestone over a concrete substrate so it's always about 5 to 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the room. The intake airflow is much cooler. Great CPU/GPU temps that way.
You might consider a desk mounted CPU holder? Still keeps the PC tower off the floor for those benefits, but fits under the desk which is ideal for smaller spaces
Great video, Paul. A perfect blend of humor and instruction. The adorable child and pet shots are the cherry on top. ;)
Leave it to Paul to be humorous, informative and humble at the same time! - absolutely love this video!
Regarding reason 3: What kind of savage wears shoes indoors with which to scuff their PC in the first place!? Maybe if you left your shoes at the door you'd have less dust and dirt on the floor to complain about.
Second. Shoes are not for indoors! Barbarians.
@@MMmmmVarley tell that to nurses and medical staff!
@@jetah50 What does that have to do with anything? Leave your nasty shoes at the door, like a normal person.
@@waveformdistortion nah, i have throw mats for that shit. not everyone has time to reshoe every time they go out.
@@jetah50 You don't have 30 seconds at the door? Compared to the amount of extra cleaning you're doing by tracking all that dirt inside, you'd actually save time by not wearing shoes indoors like a lunatic.
8.5 min rant. 30 sec solutions
What did you expect, get it off the floor up on the desk or another elevated or even slightly elevated sturdy stand.
I care about exactly two things. Avoiding noise and desk space. I'd honestly prefer to have my computer in a closed cabinet but that can be problematic thermally. Directly on the floor is not great, but on the desk is absolutely off limits. If I'm not constantly touching it or looking at it, it doesn't belong on my desk.
I'm in the same boat, I tried putting my PC on my desk but I could hear my fans and GPU coil whine so much clearer and it drove me crazy, along with having to squish everything in and I could hardly move my mouse without accidentally hitting something.
I actually like it on the desk because it acts like a lamp and helps me see with all the RGB 🤣
Lol 🤣
Lol. Same for me. I couldn't buy a long ass table, so I joined my two tables and now I have a much bigger desk in a budget. 😅
06:48 When Paul goes into Meta mode, I’m all ears! Sign me UP!
PC is on the floor (on a little inox steel cart with proper cut outs for airflow). I don't have space on any of my desks.
Dust is a non issue as there aren't carpet floors, clean and vacuum the room once a week, clean the dust filters monthly or bi-monthly and de dust the whole thing after every season. And I have 2 cats.
I say seasons, as I basically have a summer build underground and a winter one in my room (which is under the roof xD).
No issue with glass side panels as I use and will keep using my old solid panel cases.. fractal arc midi and define R4. So not much pride or RGB to show anything off to myself or to anybody..
But yeah, for overseas or northern EU countries where carpets are still a thing.. you should definitely move them off the floor. But I never had any PC that cluttered of thick dust as I see on the internet.. but those aren't just because they are on the floor or carpet, it's because they don't clean a thing!
I built my own PC in 2015 (third time actually) and it has been on a carpeted floor for two reasons: 1. The case is huge, and has the power and other buttons on the top, so if it were up on my desk I'd have to stand up to interact with the controls, usb ports, etc. 2. My computer desk is very narrow, only room for my 32" monitor, speakers, keyboard, and mouse. It has a pull-out shelf down below but my case is too tall to fit under there on the shelf, and that would only get it maybe 5 inches off the floor and I wouldn't be able to access the aforementioned buttons.
On the bright side, it's in a nice spot to the left of my desk where anyone can admire it even from standing in the doorway of the room, and the case itself has rather large feet that lift it a couple of inches off the floor, and I haven't noticed much dust accumulation, even after weeks or months of use. It has very large fans and plenty of ventilation. In the future I may try to get it up higher though, now that you've explained all the reasons.
Paul.
Your reasoning is impeccable.
My PC lives on my carpeted floor.
It will continue to do so.
Thank you.
#4 - You forgot that a computer on the floor might be thrown up on by the cat on your desk. Definitely not 1st hand experience.
GET THE TABLES!
(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
DEVON!
@@hotstovejer TESTIFY!
No. My computer is trash it belongs on the floor
🤣
💀
Lol this is great. Having your pc on your desk doesn’t help when your cat is also on your desk all the time
This video convinced me to get my pc off the floor and onto my desk… glad I did it. Thanks Paul
EVERYONE that does actual cleaning knows where dust collects. So that should be all the logic you need to know. Everyone that doesn't really go pull your bed aside and grab a vacuum. that dust below your bed will be what your pc sucks up if there was a pc there.
And rule 6 : RGB demands it.
Everyone that does actual cleaning (of room and PC) does not need to put the PC on the desk.
@@AngryChineseWoman Well that depends on how good you clean. Most people clean what they see. And yes they still shoud. Dust Always seeks places under objects and you frankly dont want to be moving your pc every time you have to vacuum. That is asking for problemns with delicate electronics.
@@pino_de_vogel Dust is not the super villain people clain to be, not even close. Even with the PC on the floor, cleaning it every 6 months is more than enough.
@@AngryChineseWoman I agree. Never had a problem in over 25 years of having my case on the floor under the desk. Also its done that way for 2 reasons, one.. its quieter and two.. I don't want or need any fancy RGB lighting polluting the desktop and monitor viewing area as I prefer gaming under a subdued light. People only need to put it on the desktop to show of the gimmicky RGB lighting.
Yeah, no.
Never noticed much difference in dust build-up between PC on the floor vs elevated. And as long as you clean your PC (and your floor) on a regular basis, it's a non-issue.
Plus you hear your PC's noise a bit more when it's on the desk.
Edit : I wouldn't do that on carpet though.
You must live in the same clean room the Adam guy does. And noise? What noise? If it's too loud to be elevated, putting it on the floor doesn't solve the problem. It might hide it or mask it a little but you should address those bad fan bearings at some point. Or not. You do you. The floor is fine if that's what you like.
@@xliquidflames I said "a bit more". My PC is already quite silent, I just don't want to add unnecessary noise, even if it's only 2dB, by putting it just next to me.
Wasn’t on the floor, but on a low open exposed self on my desk lifted about 4 inches.
You made me move my PC now.
I keep mine in an adjacent room to my recording booth/office. It lives in it's own side-table thing with a mesh bottom, intakes are bottom face, PC exhausts out mobo side panel and back. Works great! The PC most definitely has a place of honor in my home
I got my first desktop PC today. I don't have a lot of space and I don't have a monitor, so I have to use my TV for the time being. This means I had to put the PC on the floor in order to get it close enough for the hdmi. I then started looking up tips for where to put your PC for best air flow and I found this video.
My PC now sits on my waist high book shelf and I'm going to make a complete mess of my interior decorating to get the TV and the couch closer to the PC.
My point is; you convinced me so thoroughly that I didn't even feel comfortable leaving the PC on the floor when it seemed to be the only option. I value my PC more than I value having a home that doesn't scream "a schizö decorated this apartment".
*TL;DR:* you convinced me to place my PC upp off of the floor. Thank you.
Since the late 90s, all of my main computers are over 2 feet tall, so they aren't even going under the desk. Mine goes next to the desk with the nice Lian LI optional thick feet on there. On hardwood. And it gets regular cleaning.
Same here. No way I'm putting the giant Lian Li cases on top of a table or off the floor. I seriously don't understand what this video is about and came out of the left field.
I built my first PCs in the 90s and have always had large tower cases. They have always been placed right next to the desk like you mentioned.
Corsair 1000D here, i have mine on top of a thick wood board with wheels, i would like to have it in my desk but..
I always have my computer on my desk. What's the point of having the sparkly lights and amazing aesthetics when you can't even see it?
I'm actually surprised he didn't mention that you're much more likely to spill your drink on top of the PC if it resides below your desk level. This is like the only viable reason for me. As to the points made in the video, my room is very clean and flashing RGBs distract me a lot, but I'd rather not switch them off completely.
Funny story, had a teacher years ago (like 15 years ago) spill their coffee on their computer when the CD drive broke, wait for it, because, no joke they were sitting the coffee mug on it, holder part that came out. Not funny at time, but now it's really funny...lmao again...#BkBs :-)
I keep my drinks as far away from my desktop as I can. I’m a righty, but I keep my drinks on my left side opposite the desktop.
Good reminder of something we should all know. I rebuilt one machine and built clean a second one in the past month or two and the rebuild took twice as long because the donor parts spent 3 years in India on a job site in a refinery. It was totally filthy, and suffering from heat issues. It was obvious as to why as soon as I popped off the side panel. It spent only about one month on the floor, before I could get the office built up where the desk had a place for the PC on top of the desk. Reminder well taken!! Thanks for the reminder.
I have a baby gate on my office door to prevent many of the issues you listed because I have both small children's and cats. I also had been meaning to get my pc off the floor for awhile now but was procrastinating. When I saw the title of the video I did it even before watching. So you were so successful that you accomplished your goal with at least 1 pc before the video started. It is now on a small book shelf that I use to hold my old pc game disks. Although one poor 4tb external HDD took a tumble while trying to move things around without unplugging everything). I will blame you, Paul, and not my laziness for this because it makes me feel better. (the HDD is fine)
I always kick my PC to get it started in winter, or to silence it when one of the fans starts making this annoying noise.
I'm so happy that you chose the most passive-aggressive title variant ^^ Anyway, great video Paul!
I have repented my sins by finally rearranging my desk so it has space for the tower on the desk. Considered doing it in the past, but your vid is the one that pushed me to actually do it.
Great stuff
def Acts(){
return " Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."
}
Acts3:19()
Amazing video but what if I make videos and when I record the fan is in the background? Drives me crazy
You convinced me, Paul. Within two minutes, I'd started moving my dual monitor stand to the other end and after lunch, up came the computer! I'm expecting a cordless air blower later today from Amazon, so the next thing is to de-construct it, clean it out and re-build it.
"Unscheduled shut downs when they discover the power button"
Yep I felt that years ago. Especially when your power button has light around it.
Great video! As a dog lover I love the comment "your cat plotting to kill you" :)
A few things to consider.
Gravity can't pull dust through a desk, through the vent on top of the PC.
If a cable gets snagged and you PC is accidentally moved, on a desk? Well basically you are screwed if it falls off the desk.
I had a small drawer beside my bed and never had a use for it. I have no idea why I never thought of putting my case on it. I have a small table that is used for both my studies and as a PC table. Now that I have moved my PC onto that drawer or table or whatever it is called, my room just feels nicer. Thank you so much for kick starting my brain's shutdown parts.
i use the CPU float mount. Tower is under desk in a cradle floating about 12" off the floor.
Me who has a small desk and no space other than the floor
💯💯💯🤣
Same
Another way to avoid dust getting in: STOP WEARING SHOES IN YOUR HOUSE!
Yes, after living in Japan for a long time, I really can't stand the thought of shoes being worn inside a living space
@@DSP_Visuals yeah, I never understood why our neighbours to the south insist on wearing dirty, dusty shoes into their home. Imagine having to vacuum every other day.
Speaking of "floors" next time you install that type of floor (where Hana is running around with the balloons) you need to space out the end joints. Usually 8-12 inches minimum for better floor stability if they are interlocking.
I have a really good reason for people to put their PC on the ground. Not just on the ground - but hidden. Every single streamer should keep their PC off the desk and hidden behind it. The microphone will pick up the PC and make the voice sound worse. Not just that, but it will also make it harder for the auto denoising algorithms to do their job. Since the microphone is mounted TO the desk, having the pc on the desk as well will mean that vibrations will transfer directly to the microphone through the desk and the mic boom. So you want the PC off the desk, and on the floor to prevent vibrations from coming through. And on top of that, you want the desk to be BETWEEN the pc and the mic, so that the mic doesn't pick up the fan noise traveling through the air. Now nothing's against having the PC lifted up a few inches, but there's usually only so much space for that, and you can't lift the PC much more, or it'll be touching the desk again, transferring vibrations to the mic. You can hear this issue on many streamers' setups. Take this as gospel - I'm a recording engineer myself. And you can hear a noticeable difference with a cheap mic or an expensive mic, with a great setup or a bad setup, whether the room is treated or not, and whether the viewer is on a phone or on a high-end hi fi system. It's just that most of the time, you don't really know WHAT it is that's causing the degradation. Common techniques like compression, limiting, and EQ, all used to make the voice sound better, exacerbate the issue even more. Until we figure out how to make high-end PCs that make zero noise - that's it, you have to move the PC somewhere where it won't be picked up by the microphone.
The one thing I see will h some of the people who have it on the desk is that they're still stuffing it in the corner. These things need air all around them. They need to be at least a few inches away from anything on all sides. If you've got it right up against an insulated wall it will warm the wall and just hold that heat right in there. You really need enough room to get the heat completely away from your tower and out of the room. I've had mine both on the desk and on the floor although never never never sitting on carpet. And, when it was on the floor, it was like you mentioned. It wasn't exactly a clean room but it was ventilated and had filters and whatnot. I can tell you they do get way more crap in them on the floor. They will collect almost as much being on a desk and surrounded by crap though. With space on a desk is best, on a wall mounted shelf is second best, on the floor is worst unless you have some filtration. Remember too, heat rises so, get it off the floor, but don't put it on the ceiling.
Youve got to have your main rig on your desk for aesthetics alone, especially if windowed case! But, for someone with 3 pcs in active use, youve gotta leave a couple by the desk as ground peasants 😅
Naw, now you have to get a beefier machine and virtualize the other 2 boxes.
@@hotstovejer Ha thats not a bad idea! Though I love tinkering with my PCs, a VM wouldnt be the same
Hi Paul. Add to Reason 4: Pets. Your dog might consider your PC to be a tree or fire hydrant. If you decide to place your PC on your desk, please make sure the desk can handle its weight. I also added a 'large room' air filter. A solid floor covering, like vinyl or tile, makes dust and pet fur easier to see and remove. A side benefit will be a lower chance of static electric discharge.
Mine is currently in a 4U case in my homemade server rack, however, I'm going to put it back into a normal case, and have it sit on the top of the rack instead.
I used one of your video's to build my PC during the Pandemic and it came out perfect. And I just raised it off the floor.
You are my go to guy for all things PC.
Theres no arguing less dust build up if your pc is up off the floor. I wonder though, since heat rises, will the ambient temp of your room affect the cooling of your pc the higher you take it off the floor.
The joke about the dust bunnies made me chuckle. Oi: it's hard to make me laugh.
You convinced me to get my computer off the, "cough" (carpeted) floor. I'm so ashamed!
Just a couple of noob question if you could please answer kindly.
1. Can you tell me in general how far pc can be kept from monitors? I mean, the wires and everything, how far they can be stretched? I am planning a setup.
2. Can Pc and Ups be kept side by side?
You make a lot of valid points. That being said, I run duel 27 in monitors. My desk is 50' wide. So, yeah. I put down one of those plastic desk mats for my pc to sit on so it's not on carpet. I have pets, so I clean my dust filters when I vacuum my room. Is what it is.
I have 3x32“ monitors and no space left on my desk 🤔 I think over a year how to get my computer on the desk
I've built my first PC in late 90s (1999 September). It was an ugly white case with good HW inside. I was aware, even then (I was 15), that my PC shouldn't be on the floor. I used a bookshelf-styled desk back then. Super limited, and yet, I found a way to up-lift the tower.
Today my setup AND my wife's are on the desk. I even extended my desk (was 1.5m long) and put 30cm extra on the side, supporting my case, giving me space to have my speakers, and my console/mixer.
When I see pcs on the floor, I die a little inside :P
Oh, and your dogs are AWESOME!
Hello, I just bought my first gaming pc, and now i am looking for a desk to put my computer, can u recommend a good desk?
I have always kept my PC on my desk, until I started my new job. Now I have 3 laptops and 2 monitors (with 2 more on the way) that take up the entirety of my desk space. I thought nothing of it, so I moved it to the floor. You’ve convinced me, though, so I will be moving my desk space around after work to get my tower off the floor
I have a nice unholy dual-trinity of sorts going on:
- it's on the floor (on a board to keep it directly off of the carpet, but still)
- bedroom (already more dust)
- pets (2-3 cats on average, who love being in my pc-heated room)
I would like my pc a bit more out of the way and off the floor, but just like my desk is on the wrong side of the room (window behind me -> glare), it's something I want to change, but never really get around to. As for directly parking it on my desk, I simply don't have the room for that without some major renovations, and I quite frankly don't want it all the way up, both in regards to desk real estate, as well as my pets probably wanting to jump on it, and they can get enthusiastic when jumping off of things.
Eventually, I'll get something like a small table to park it on, just like I'll eventually actually move my desk...
THANK YOU. I KEEP telling everyone I build PC's for this same thing and it's maddening every time I see it.
Next video: ceiling mounted PCs
I truly wish I had listened to you before it was too late Paul! MY dog knocked over a bottle of water and fried the motherboard/graphics card six months ago. Defo the worst time to have that happen. Now - with new components - it sits proudly on a sturdy shelf.
Just removed a full dust bunny from the case and yeah, you've convinced me. Don't really have room on the desk, but it looks like I have about 8" clearance under for a riser... looking for a creative solution for a riser platform.
I like keep my PC hidden from both my eyes and ears, but the dust argument is an important one that shouldn't be ignored. Just a few centimeters from the ground make a big difference.
...it makes no sense to say something looks OBJECTIVELY better. Something looking better or not is the most subjective statement I can think of lmao
Your delivery kills me. Loved this.
4:10 this genuinely sold me. No more PC's on the floor and I might survive the robot uprising...
My PC is like 4 inches off of the floor because of the way my stupid desk is set up, but you have convinced me to do something about it
I typically agree with Paul on most things, but I put my highly-filtered PC a couple of inches above the floor under my desk because A. the filters catch nearly everything, and B. the noise of my very quiet fans is picked up by recording mics in my studio recording setup if the PC is mounted on a hard surface (such as a desk-height setup). Desk-level PCs are the way to go for most folks... but not for audio engineers.
Back in the 90's I walked into the front office and saw a computer on the secretary's desk. Back then the AT style desk case was huge. I asked her how she liked it and she complained it was just to damn big. Having this machine on the desk made it all but impossible for her to use the desk for anything else.
later I was in the storage building looking for a spool of wire when I saw some cinder blocks (8x8x16), I grabbed one and headed up to the office. I pulled the desk out from the wall and put that cinder block on the floor between the desk and wall. Now all Rita had on her desk was the 12" Hercules monitor and the computer was high enough to keep dust out of it.
Shortly after just seeing this video, yesterday, I have put my pc on my desk and I'm very happy with the way it looks now. Thank you Paul for the indirect "shamming" you did to me.
You know, when Paul was talking about kids it brought to mind a time when a friend wanted me to look at their computer that they kept on the floor and when I opened it I found a considerable amount of shredded cheese inside the PC that was apparently introduced by their toddler who discovered an uncovered expansion slot on the back of the case.
The "three word slogan" approach is particularly effective for calls to action. The part where you called it out that you respected people watching and therefore weren't going to denigrate anyone was hella refreshing.
I came into this assuming having it on the floor was bad for it, so we already agreed on that point. Your aesthetic argument was also persuasive.
Oddly enough, I was most compelled by your bonus reason of "up is good and down is bad". So, yeah, I'll make a change 👍 Excellent video.
I would expect carpet to act more as a filter than a problem for dust on the PC, as it would catch more dust before it reaches the PC intakes. Like, if you vacuum your gross carpet it should be actually a second filter for air intake.
You'd be very wrong, built up stack electricity which helps hold dust but the cling effect is not strong enough to actually hold on to it. Secondly even if we don't see it carpet always shreds, also theirs the heat concerns because your most likely choking the intake for the power supply. Odds are your shit posting, but i dont want anyone to think is anything more then that.
PCs on the desk are also noisier, because you have the source way closer to your ears.
Also on the dust part, on the desk it would get less dust from the ground, but more dust from top of it, so it basically cancels out.
It's more or less the same with liquids / food, being below the desk actually protects it from a lot of it.
Those 2 get invalidated if the PC is just on the floor but not below the desk tho.
So, yea, PC below the desk master race :D
Thanks man. Was rearranging to save space and this video is exactly what I needed. I had a small stand I was going to use but have now have the tower 18" up and still saved the space.
This is why I made my PC ugly so I don't care about showing it off. (it's 80% secondhand parts from friends so it's a Frankenstein but it kept prices really low for me) I don't have room on my desk, but it's sitting on a little wheel board at least for some minor elevation
Also stop wearing shoes in the house ya nasty.
Will be considering setting it up on a nightstand of some sort but I'd need some really long cables to make this work, especially with a standing desk I actually use often. Any tips?
Someone no one has talked about ever before. Thanks for this
"In a place of honor and prestige." LMAO. Okay, Paul. Whatever you say. For me, it was a matter of space. Now that I've moved it's a matter of...well, space and the weight capacity of the desk/table my ultrawide monitor is sitting on. I've come up with an idea. Before watching this I decided to rest it on top of something...not sure what yet but that way it won't be on the floor. What I wasn't sure about is how high off the floor. Thanks for the 18" recommendation. Also, I too am festooned with RGB and I fracking love it! 😀 Lastly, that set up at 8:20 is 🔥 for sure. 💯
One big question: if it can cause dust collection as well as some other things, can I lay my PC onto a ceramic plate or something to slightly elevate it, as well as preventing dust collection from carpets
Should inflow fans surpass outflow ones, creating negative pressure? Or should I blow air outside the case? Which is better?