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PC Desks

Take a peek into my PC desk setups throughout history. These span six flats, four cities and three countries. I started working from home in 2020, but previous setups were mostly thrown together and didn't feel particularly inviting. Looking back at these now, I see common themes like: A single large LCD monitor, a black custom-built PC, a proper stereo amplifier and passive speakers. As well as certain bands like Logitech for the mouse & keyboard, Wacom for the stylus and Sennheiser for Headphones.

 

2000 - 2002 (Leamington Spa 1)

This desk was the one that I grew up using at home for my Atari computers and drawing. I also used it throughout my university years. If there was one thing that I could go back and tell myself in this period, it would have been to get a new, simple desk and to spend a day or two on cable management. For the longest time, it didn't occur to me that having a tidy space would make it feel nicer to work and play. Also, just because an amp fits under the desk is not a good reason to have it there :P. This early LCD monitor cost about twice as much as a 32" 4k 240hz QD-OLED does in 2024 (not adjusted for inflation). It would not compare well to modern tech, but it was so much better for eye strain than a CRT, it was worth it to me at the time. Fun fact; This image was taken on my first ever digital camera, the Fujifilm Finepix 6900z.

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Computer Spec:

  • Monitor: Dell 2000FP

  • CPU: 1.4Ghz Athlon

  • RAM: 3x128MB DDR

  • GPU: GeForce4 4200 ?

  • HDD: 120GB

  • PSU: 480w Tagan U01

  • Case: Lian Li Case

  • Optical: DVDRW x2

  • Mouse: Logitech cordless

  • KB: Logitech ?

  • Stylus: Wacom Graphire​​​​

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Other Stuff:

  • ​​Desk: From childhood

  • Speakers: Eltax

  • Amp: Rotel 930 BX

  • HPs: Sennheiser HD565​​​​

  • Console: Panasonic Q

  • Console: PS1

  • ​Sony VHS recorder​

 

2002 - 2005 (Leamington Spa 2)

From my second apartment in Leamington Spa. This was a much nicer place and with a bigger room. I had much more space for a nice desk, and thankfully took advantage of that. Since I was working on my portfolio here, it must have been after I lost my job at Codemasters and I thus right at the end of my time here. I remember being concerned that I wouldn't be able to find another job. If only I could go back and tell myself not to panic now. My adventure was about to begin with a move to Europe. â€‹â€‹â€‹

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Computer Spec:

  • Monitor: Dell 2405FPW

  • CPU: 3.4Ghz Pentium 4

  • RAM: 2x 1GB DDR

  • GPU: GeForce 6800 Ultra

  • HDD: 2x 200GB SATA 2

  • PSU: 480w Tagan

  • Case: Antec P180

  • Optical: DVDRW

  • Mouse: Microsoft optical

  • KB: Unknown

  • Stylus: Wacom Intuos 3 A5

  • SND: Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme​​

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Other Stuff:

  • ​​Desk: IKEA (I think)

  • Speakers: AE Aego 2​

  • HPs: Sennheiser HD565​​​​

  • Epson 1270 A3+ printer​

 

2005 - 2006 (Amsterdam 1)

This small room was my first proper apartment in Amsterdam (central), near Rembrandtplein. I switched to a laptop for the move here, which helped with the small space I had here, but I do remember hating it and went back to a desktop PC as soon as I moved, a year later. Interestingly, I went back to my older Logitech keyboard here. I have always liked their stuff, but that was probably more to do with the Wacom tablet than the bad laptop keyboard. The desk I had to buy from an Ikea, since there was nothing in the room except the little bed, but I still have it today.

 

Can you tell I had a mosquito problem? Canals on every street made them abundant here, and I reacted to the bites so badly that I almost quit my job and left the country due to this. I'm glad stayed, otherwise I probably wouldn't have met my wife.

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Other Stuff:

  • ​​Desk: IKEA basic​​​​

  • Laptop: ??

  • Handheld: Sony PSP

  • Speakers: Logitech Z-5500

  • ​KB: Logitech ??

  • Stylus: Intuos 3 A5 Wide

  • Camera: Nikon D2H

  • Mask: Paintball ??

 

2006 - 2009 (Amsterdam 2)

This was from my second apartment in Amsterdam, this time in the outskirts of the city, but still on the map you see on my wall today. This glass topped desk came with the flat, so I had two, but luckily they fitted easily enough with a sofa. I should have switched the desks around, as leaning your arms leaning on a glass edge was not comfortable. The tower chassis is the older version (Antec P180) that you see compared to the new NCase M1 on its page. If I ever make another PC, I doubt it will be a big tower PC case. I am an SFF (small-form-factor) convert now.​​

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Computer Spec:

  • Monitor: Dell 3008FPW

  • CPU: Core 2 Duo E6600 (2.4Ghz)

  • RAM: 2x 1GB DDR4 800

  • GPU: GeForce 7950 GX2

  • HDD: 500GB 7200rpm

  • PSU: 1000w Tagan

  • Case: Antec P180

  • Optical: DVD SH-W183A

  • Mouse: Razer Deathadder ?

  • KB: Logitech Ultra X

  • Stylus: Intuos 3 A5 Wide

  • SND: Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme

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Other Stuff:

  • ​​Desk: IKEA basic​​​​

  • Epson 750 slide scanner

  • Speakers: Logitech Z-5500

  • HPs: Beyerdynamic DT231​

  • Model: Akira bike

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2009 - 2016 (London)

This was the only apartment that we lived in London (West Hampstead) after getting married. Unfortunately it was never a setup that I was proud of so I didn't photograph it much. I kept the same desk, PC, monitor, keyboard & mouse since Amsterdam. Ignore the Alienware PC here, as that was an old one from work that I didn't keep long as it was absolutely enormous and not easily configurable.​​​

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