When shopping for a PC, you’ll be able to spend lots of time zeroing in on the appropriate specs on your state of affairs. But the attentiveness usually ends there. After the choice’s made, we slot the machine right into a spot on our desks (or close by), after which go about enterprise as common.
But your desk setup can have a big impact in your high quality of life everyday and upgrading it doesn’t need to price lots. (Though it could possibly in the event you’re so inclined). Such was the considered a Reddit person who requested r/buildapc what their favorite desk accessories had been.
I learn by the checklist, hoping to glean just a few concepts for my very own setup, and I used to be not disillusioned. (Thanks, y’all!) And, after parsing by a lot of the 1K+ feedback on the put up, I assumed I’d prevent a while and share my findings, with somewhat of my very own commentary blended in. While there’s positively overlap in what you’ll hear from different corners of the web, some suggestions had been new to me (and probably can be to you, too)—and so they’ll quickly make their approach onto my very own desks at house.
Other equipment: The greatest wireless gaming keyboards, mice, and headsets.
Little issues with huge affect
Desk pad
Oakywood
A big desk pad can supply clean, uninterrupted house for huge mouse actions, safety on your desk, and traction for keyboards and mouse pads that may in any other case shift. Combine with coaster use and Reddit swears even an inexpensive pad will final for years.
Heated coaster
Mr Coffee / Amazon
A traditional workplace accent, however one that also has its place within the house, particularly since so many people work at home now. Put your espresso mug on one of these bad boys and also you received’t need to undergo a chilly morning beverage after you get sucked into hours of e-mail and conferences. I’m nonetheless utilizing one which dates again to the late 90s, a hand-me-down present from a coworker who retired.
Reusable mounting tape
Realth / Amazon
File one other one as revelatory (for me). For years, I’ve used 3M Command image strips to connect issues that I later needed to take away cleanly. But this tip about reusable mounting tape provides up an alternate that’s cheaper and extra unobtrusive. Reviews recommend it’s not nice for delicate surfaces (e.g., painted partitions), however the Redditor who talked about it makes use of it for sticking down light-weight equipment like USB hubs, which works for me.
Speakers
Creative
As good as headphones (or a flowery headset) might be, sporting them for lengthy stretches might be uncomfortable. Ear sweat, strain ache, and common overheating are widespread. Offloading the audio to a set of exterior audio system is sweet if you don’t want exact audio accuracy. A good set doesn’t need to price a lot both—our top pick for budget computer speakers goes for $20 and sound good.
Caster improve
BF Brightfield / Amazon
Whether cheap or premium, rolling chairs usually include casters that may scratch hardwood flooring or don’t transfer effectively. Swapping them out for a smoother, larger high quality set doesn’t price a lot and may also help you roll alongside your flooring effortlessly. (Sometimes too effortlessly if you uncover that your flooring isn’t as stage as you thought…however they’re nonetheless very good).
Luxe upgrades
Macropad
Elgato
Even in the event you by no means livestream, having a macropad—which Elgato popularized with its Stream Deck—can prevent lots of time when switching between apps or adjusting controls. You could make your individual and even use a free digital model by way of Touch Portal.
In an identical vein, you may get a lot deeper management over your PC’s audio with a quantity controller, which helps you to get map particular apps to completely different controls. No fumbling round in Windows’ Volume Mixer when your pals shout at you in Discord. You can dial them down instantly. While you’ll be able to DIY your individual model, a couple of Redditor sang the praises of PCPanel as a ready-made possibility.
Ubiquiti router
Ubiquiti Amplifi
Ubiquiti’s gear could also be priced the identical as different costly routers, however each its consumer-friendly AmpliFi and prosumer Unifi strains offer you deep management over your house community. Frankly, tech fans spending $350 to $450 (or extra) on a mesh system can’t do higher. I actually upgraded to a Unifi setup and to this present day, 4 years later, I nonetheless smile after I see all of the settings and stats within the dashboard. Reddit prefers AmpliFi (the Alien specifically), as a result of you’ll be able to see all your community stats at a look—you’ll know immediately in case your gaming connection points are yours or your buddy’s.
Motherboard with wi-fi
Asus / Amazon
If you lease, chances are you’ll not at all times have the posh of working an Ethernet port to your PC. Building a system with Wi-Fi help can be sure that regardless of the place you find yourself with a desktop rig, it could possibly join instantly to the web. Also, since Wi-Fi modules often embrace Bluetooth help, you get the comfort of built-in compatibility with Bluetooth gadgets, too.
When constructing a mini-ITX system, you’re greatest off with a motherboard with Wi-Fi, however in the event you’ve obtained an micro-ATX or full ATX mobo, you’ll be able to typically get monetary savings (and hold your mobo choices open) by as an alternative installing a Wi-Fi PCIe card into certainly one of your spare slots.
Dedicated USB microphone
Elgato
A USB microphone doesn’t simply improve your sound high quality—although you’ll positively hear an enormous distinction as in comparison with a headset. It frees you to select a lighter pair of headphones, for starters. It additionally opens a wider world of headphones (that’s, over-ear cans missing a microphone), which helps you to decide one which most accurately fits your audio tastes. For our favorites, try our top picks for USB microphones.
For the desk itself
Desk reinforcement plates
Wali / Amazon
This one is revolutionizing my house setup. During the pandemic, I bought a few low cost Ikea tabletops for ad-hoc WFH images and video, and so they’re not sturdy. They can’t deal with clamp-mounted arms for a monitor or perhaps a devoted USB microphone on them…or so I assumed till Reddit rocked my world.
For below $20, you’ll be able to add metal reinforcement plates to your desk. You slide these over the spots the place you wish to connect a clamped merchandise, notably a heavy one like a monitor. It provides rigidity and spreads out the strain over a wider space, lowering the chance of denting your Ikea Linnmon desk. Or watching it crumble.
A much bigger tabletop
The extra desk house you’ll be able to have, the much less cluttered it’ll really feel. (Assuming you don’t add extra stuff.) Even if an extended desk doesn’t work, a deeper desk can nonetheless make a distinction. I not too long ago found this myself after briefly organising on a folding desk with a 30-inch depth. My common desk is simply six inches shallower, however it couldn’t deal with monitor placement as effectively. Also, I all of the sudden had much more room for snack plates.
Better desk legs
Bench Depot
Maybe your ready-made desk is wobblier on its ft than you’d like. Or your DIY undertaking’s tabletop is just too heavy for its legs. Provided your desktop is thick sufficient—often 1 inch minimal—you’ll be able to swap in workbench legs for a much more sturdy, resilient desk. (In the Reddit thread, these were recommended specifically). Combine these with reinforcement plates on your desktop and also you’ve obtained your self a sturdy, resilient setup.
Clutter management
Monitor arms, stands, and risers
Amazon
Monitor arms create extra room in your desk—plus they may also help with ergonomics, too. If you don’t have sufficient room behind your desk to accommodate arms, you’ll be able to as an alternative select a riser to get somewhat extra space. Or, you probably have an enormous heavy monitor, a floor stand.
Pro tip: Screen fastidiously for sturdy arms, particularly in the event you’re buying on Amazon. Surprisingly, different components of Reddit have good issues to say concerning the AmazonBasics lift models—they’re purportedly white-label variations of Ergotron’s beefy (and beloved) arms, whereas being a heck of lots cheaper.
USB hub and/or KVM swap
IOgear / Amazon
A USB hub not solely expands the variety of usable ports in your PC, however having one makes shifting equipment between gadgets simpler, too. (Check out our picks for the best USB-C hubs). Meanwhile, in the event you’re flipping between energetic PCs at your desk usually (say, a piece system and a private one), a KVM switch permits you to use the identical set of monitor(s) and peripherals with out having to plug and unplug wires any time you wish to swap machines.
Hooks & stands
NZXT
Using a headphone hook (be it an attachment to your desk or NZXT’s magnetic Puck), phone charging stand, and controller stand not solely reduces desk litter, however may also help with maintaining monitor of your gear, too. (At least, I can now discover issues sooner on my desk).
Cable administration gadgets
Ikea
That hideous Medusa’s tangle of cables doesn’t must exist. An cheap cable administration tray (both the clamp or drilled variety) and a handful of Velcro ties can hold the unruliness to a minimal. Also, tidy exterior cables lower down on problem when swapping PC equipment or the PC itself. (Tip: Label your cables when you’re neatening up again there).
Wireless peripherals
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Speaking of cable administration, the best method to handle cords is to nix all of them collectively. A wireless keyboard, wireless mouse, and wireless headset go a great distance towards lowering visible noise in your desk. Plus, with no wire tethering your headset to the PC, you’ll be able to stand up to reply a name or the door with out by chance strangling your self.
Side desk
Ikea
Having a small aspect desk subsequent to your desk—be it an TV tray, finish desk, rolling drawer unit, or a random field (ahem) may also help hold gadgets at hand whereas lowering litter. I just like the field for my air air purifier simply high quality, however there are positively extra refined choices on the market.
Ergonomics
A greater chair
Steelcase
Spend hours sitting in an uncomfortable chair, and your physique received’t allow you to overlook it, particularly the older you get. Reddit has a few good suggestions right here: Shopping refurbished for costly chairs from Herman Miller and Steelcase, or looking for out extra reasonably priced however nonetheless common fashions just like the Staples Hyken.
Comfier peripherals
Azeron
As bizarre as they appear, ergonomic mice and keyboards could make a world of distinction in consolation. I’ve lengthy been on board this practice out of necessity—a Goldtouch keyboard and a Contour Rollermouse are my every day drivers.
You can prolong that philosophy to gaming as effectively. PC gaming keypads might be definitely worth the funding, and so they vary from the more conventional to the downright wild. (Not gonna lie, I’m intrigued by that Azeron—and I’m a dyed-in-the-wool controller participant).
A keyboard tray
HUANUO / Amazon
Ok, this one’s not from Reddit (however technically I’m a Redditor myself, so perhaps this nonetheless counts). However, if we’re speaking ergonomics at a desk, a keyboard tray can do wonders for correct alignment. You don’t must drill holes in your desk, both—as I simply found myself, fantastic no-drill keyboard trays now exist.
Light strip or gentle bar
BenQ / Amazon
Eye pressure is as problematic as any shoulder, elbow, or wrist ache. Adding lighting to your desk may also help with overhead glare in addition to maintaining your space adequately lit if you’ve turned down most of your different lamps. Light bars like the BenQ Screenbar are a luxe possibility, however you’ll be able to add monitor backlighting for $15 or much less.
Amazon
Sometimes you simply must elevate your ft somewhat and alter the strain in your again. A foot relaxation doesn’t must take a lot house, both. Whether you’re shopping for an ergonomic model, a small ottoman, and even a foot hammock, you’ll be able to tuck one thing below your desk fairly simply.
Sit/stand desk
FlexiSpot / Amazon
Even you probably have a terrific chair, the human physique wasn’t constructed to take a seat all day. A sit/stand desk permits you to swap between positions extra regularly. The child step is to get a riser you can place in your present desk. Meanwhile, a cheaper DIY route is re-purposing an present desk’s tabletop (or shopping for kitchen counter prime materials) and including a motorized body. Regardless, make sure to get a standing mat—they’re cheap and can assist your again.