fool wrote on 2022-02-09, 18:29:

Yesterday I was about to reorganize my "computing area" ...wasn't inspiring enough really. Needs some drivers.

I LOVE your "Computing Area" 😀
I could turn it into my bedroom 😀
Like literally sleep on the floor with a lil' blanket 😀

ontrca wrote on 2023-11-30, 14:51:

I LOVE your "Computing Area" :) I could turn it into my bedroom :) Like literally sleep on the floor with a lil' blanket :) […]
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fool wrote on 2022-02-09, 18:29:

Yesterday I was about to reorganize my "computing area" ...wasn't inspiring enough really. Needs some drivers.

I LOVE your "Computing Area" 😀
I could turn it into my bedroom 😀
Like literally sleep on the floor with a lil' blanket 😀

Yes, you can sleep there, but better take some extra fluffy blankets with you. It's winter and a bit chilly 😀

What my home office looks like with a new desk.

Got a lot of things to put back in and it'll be all set, eh?

Got my OfficeJet printer next to my desk on a side table and the phone next to it (not pictured).

My cave:

Old laptop, "modern" work laptop, "modern" personal computer (white) and 29" ultrawide, Optiplex SFF time machine and 17" Philips CRT.

All sharing the CRT monitor via VGA KVM and Thrustmaster T150 & T3PA, F710 gamepad, Logitech G305 & G435, via USB KVM. Even Creative speakers are shared using a non-powered small audio mixer.

Since this photo was taken the old laptop has been replaced by other running Windows 98, and the white computer is now hold under the table by strips.

Some photos, video (cool desktop switching), and detail of my build.

https://imgur.com/gallery/TI6UU6r
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_GUiagYLuk
https://www.reddit.com/r/retrobattlestations/ … dos_windows_98/

Stephen Hawking looks an awful lot like Albert Einstein on that book cover, @mgtroyas. 😉

Here is my area meanwhile until I will bought new gaming PC.

After a while I'll post my current set up as well.

Gone are all the MIDI modules and game consoles (stored away for later) and synthesizers (sold) to make space for my electronics stuff. My C64 will always have a place on my desk, no matter what ofcourse. 😀
Still, to have decent music with DOS games which I still play from time to time I am, for now, using Serdaco's MT-32 Pi which suits my needs for MT-32 and General MIDI just fine.

Salient wrote on 2023-12-29, 09:11:

After a while I'll post my current set up as well.

Nice set up. No shortage of multimeters 😀

I've been meaning to build a dedicated computer workshop / room for years. Now it's finally coming to fruition.

Initially I wanted to construct a seperate building in the yard, sort of like what 8 bit guy did, but due to monitary limitations I decided against it, and ended up using a little over 1/4 of my garage instead. Some drywall and finisings later, and here is the result:

So far I've only managed to get about 1/3 of all my stuff in the room, and along the way noticed I need a lot more shelves and storage containers. It's also taking longer then anticipated since I've been storing all my retro-computing stuff in the garage, taking up two parking spots, and despite my best efforts, most cases, monitors and boxes / bins are covered in a thick layer of dust. Others are just stuff I picked up in the past year, and are covered in dirt and grime. Before going into the new room I try to at least dust them as not to make a mess, and that is extremly time consuming.

I'll post more pics once more stuff is moved in and arranged.

I was able to downsize some of my collection but going through and testing lots of parts that were assumed to be working after being pulled from various computers over the years, such as DVD and CD drives, power supplies, and addon cards.

This would also be a good time to inspect your motherboards for building caps and remove batteries from any of your synthesizers. If you collect laptops, NiMH batteries leak often and will destroy traces, so that's something to inspect as well.

Socket3 wrote on 2024-01-18, 19:44:

I've been meaning to build a dedicated computer workshop / room for years. Now it's finally coming to fruition.

I like that, I like it a lot! Very nice work!

And do I see a Coolermaster HAF-XB case there? My daily driver is in one of those. Really nice case!

I agree. These are really neat little cases that have the unique feature of looking awesome when stacked.

H3nrik V! wrote on 2024-01-18, 21:34:

Socket3 wrote on 2024-01-18, 19:44:

I've been meaning to build a dedicated computer workshop / room for years. Now it's finally coming to fruition.

I like that, I like it a lot! Very nice work!

And do I see a Coolermaster HAF-XB case there? My daily driver is in one of those. Really nice case!

I love the HAF-XB as well. That case is still housing one of my old PC's - an I7 3930k. Now that was one hell of a build. Expensive too, but I got a lot of use out of that PC. Still capable today. One of it's HD7970's is gone, and I took the 750W PSU to use in another project, but the CPU, mainboard, ram and noctua N15D are still in there. It still has it's original 256GB OCZ SSD as well if I'm not mistaking.

But, since multi-gpu is no longer a thing, and everithing we need is crammed on board the mainboard, I've moved on to smaller form factors. Right now my daily driver is housed inside a Chieftec CI-02-B mATX cube case - it's got the exact same layout as the HAF-XB - PSU and drive bays at the bottom, motherboard and GPU in the top compartiment. Just a smaller form factor, and still able to fit high end components.

Socket3 wrote on 2024-01-18, 19:44:

I've been meaning to build a dedicated computer workshop / room for years. Now it's finally coming to fruition. […]
Show full quote

I've been meaning to build a dedicated computer workshop / room for years. Now it's finally coming to fruition.

WhatsApp Image 2024-01-18 at 20.29.35_6420137d.jpg

Initially I wanted to construct a seperate building in the yard, sort of like what 8 bit guy did, but due to monitary limitations I decided against it, and ended up using a little over 1/4 of my garage instead. Some drywall and finisings later, and here is the result:

WhatsApp Image 2024-01-18 at 20.30.04_331adb0e.jpgWhatsApp Image 2024-01-18 at 20.30.05_3a4bebf8.jpg
WhatsApp Image 2024-01-18 at 20.30.05_5ffc12c8.jpgWhatsApp Image 2024-01-18 at 20.30.05_c441b88f.jpg

So far I've only managed to get about 1/3 of all my stuff in the room, and along the way noticed I need a lot more shelves and storage containers. It's also taking longer then anticipated since I've been storing all my retro-computing stuff in the garage, taking up two parking spots, and despite my best efforts, most cases, monitors and boxes / bins are covered in a thick layer of dust. Others are just stuff I picked up in the past year, and are covered in dirt and grime. Before going into the new room I try to at least dust them as not to make a mess, and that is extremly time consuming.

I'll post more pics once more stuff is moved in and arranged.

the pics show 1/3rd of your stuff? it will be a challenge to fit it all in and still have room to move around and use them all, looks good so far though

gerry wrote on 2024-01-26, 09:15:

Socket3 wrote on 2024-01-18, 19:44:

I've been meaning to build a dedicated computer workshop / room for years. Now it's finally coming to fruition. […]
Show full quote

I've been meaning to build a dedicated computer workshop / room for years. Now it's finally coming to fruition.

WhatsApp Image 2024-01-18 at 20.29.35_6420137d.jpg

Initially I wanted to construct a seperate building in the yard, sort of like what 8 bit guy did, but due to monitary limitations I decided against it, and ended up using a little over 1/4 of my garage instead. Some drywall and finisings later, and here is the result:

WhatsApp Image 2024-01-18 at 20.30.04_331adb0e.jpgWhatsApp Image 2024-01-18 at 20.30.05_3a4bebf8.jpg
WhatsApp Image 2024-01-18 at 20.30.05_5ffc12c8.jpgWhatsApp Image 2024-01-18 at 20.30.05_c441b88f.jpg

So far I've only managed to get about 1/3 of all my stuff in the room, and along the way noticed I need a lot more shelves and storage containers. It's also taking longer then anticipated since I've been storing all my retro-computing stuff in the garage, taking up two parking spots, and despite my best efforts, most cases, monitors and boxes / bins are covered in a thick layer of dust. Others are just stuff I picked up in the past year, and are covered in dirt and grime. Before going into the new room I try to at least dust them as not to make a mess, and that is extremly time consuming.

I'll post more pics once more stuff is moved in and arranged.

the pics show 1/3rd of your stuff? it will be a challenge to fit it all in and still have room to move around and use them all, looks good so far though

I managed to squeeze 2/3 of my stuff in, but I'll have to invest in some more shelfing. I was thinking wall mounted, something I can install on the walls, over the desk areas. The metal shelves are stuffed, and i haven't even unpacked my boxes of computer parts.

I managed to find some interesting wall mounted shelfing, but I'm out of cash. Guess I'll have to wait until my next paycheck.

Well my retro area managed to be clean and orderly for a whole two weeks.... but after moving some more of my stuff in:

I'm not sure what to do about the componentes stuffed in boxes, I don't want them under the desks. One idea I had is to buy kitchen cabinets - the kind you install on the wall, and install them on the walls above the desks.

Socket3 wrote on 2024-02-13, 07:05:

I'm not sure what to do about the componentes stuffed in boxes, I don't want them under the desks. One idea I had is to buy kitc […]
Show full quote

I'm not sure what to do about the componentes stuffed in boxes, I don't want them under the desks. One idea I had is to buy kitchen cabinets - the kind you install on the wall, and install them on the walls above the desks.

WhatsApp Image 2024-02-13 at 09.01.09_3732ffee.jpg

WhatsApp Image 2024-02-13 at 09.01.08_a091f447.jpg

WhatsApp Image 2024-02-13 at 09.01.08_929825a2.jpg

That's a really nice retro setup you have there. I like the idea of using upper cabinets to add extra storage.

Socket3 wrote on 2024-01-28, 00:28:

I was thinking wall mounted, something I can install on the walls, over the desk areas

Thats what I'm thinking when I have a room to setup. Maybe even a kind of display shelf running along the top for software boxes

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3fCwXWtt35/
My semi-retro setup with studio mixer, speakers and OLED display. It is compatible with my retro PCs for the 1993-2006 era, and also my home office with Macbooks.