Building the ENDGAME invisible PC

DIY Perks
23 May 202427:30

Summary

TLDRIn this DIY project, the creator dismantles an OLED monitor and integrates it into an innovative, invisible PC desk build, sponsored by Flexispot. The desk features a custom-designed mechanism with sliding rails, pneumatics, and springs to seamlessly reveal a high-end PC setup, including an Intel 13900 K processor, Zotac 490 graphics card, and a 48TB NAS storage. The cooling system utilizes repurposed server heat sinks and bidirectional fans, all controlled by a water block system. The desk also incorporates an adjustable height feature, allowing it to transform into a standing desk, enhancing ergonomics and comfort.

Takeaways

  • 🛠️ The video features a complex DIY project to build an 'invisible PC' desk with sliding rails, pneumatics, springs, and a custom cooling system.
  • 🔧 The desk incorporates the Flexispot E7 Pro standing desk system, which allows the desk to be adjusted in height for sitting or standing positions.
  • 💻 The main structure of the desk is made from two sheets of 3mm thick aluminum, laminated with extruded aluminum lengths for rigidity.
  • 🖥️ A hidden monitor mechanism is created using a custom hatch with invisible hinges, allowing the monitor to fold down into the desk.
  • 🔩 The desk includes a complex system of linear sliding rails and L-brackets to convert the rotational movement of the monitor hatch into linear movement for the platform.
  • 📐 Pneumatic struts and tension springs are used to ensure a soft closing action and to balance the system for easy operation.
  • 🖱️ The desk has a keyboard and mouse platform that moves out of the way to make room for the screen, utilizing vslot profiles for adjustability.
  • 📺 An ultra-wide, ultra-thin OLED monitor is integrated into the desk, with its electronics detached and hidden elsewhere.
  • 🔊 A high-performance PC with water cooling is housed within the desk, using server heat sinks and laptop fans for an experimental cooling solution.
  • 🛡️ The desk's cooling system is revised after initial testing fails to keep the components cool, opting for larger heat sinks and standard PC fans for improved airflow.
  • 🌲 The desk's surface is covered with oak planks for a more suitable and robust finish, with tapered edges to give the appearance of a thinner profile.

Q & A

  • What is the main project being discussed in the video?

    -The main project in the video is the construction of an 'endgame invisible PC' desk that integrates a high-end computer system, an OLED monitor, and various mechanisms for a seamless and hidden setup.

  • What type of desk is sponsored by Flexispot in this video?

    -Flexispot sponsors the E7 Pro standing desk system, which is integrated into the custom build.

  • How does the E7 Pro standing desk system contribute to the project?

    -The E7 Pro standing desk system allows the desk to adjust in height, providing ergonomic benefits and supporting the 'invisible PC' concept by offering a solid and adjustable base for the custom desktop.

  • What material is used for the main structure of the desk?

    -The main structure of the desk is made using two sheets of 3 mm thick aluminium, which are laminated together for rigidity.

  • How is the hidden monitor system activated?

    -The hidden monitor system is activated by a rotational movement from a hatch that uses invisible hinges, which in turn affects the height of a platform in front of the hatch through a series of linear sliding rails and mechanisms.

  • What type of monitor is used in the project and why is it special?

    -An ultra-wide OLED monitor is used because it offers a superior viewing experience compared to old-style LCD panels, and it can be made flat, which is essential for the thin profile of the desk.

  • What challenges did the creator face when trying to dismantle the OLED monitor?

    -The creator faced challenges due to the monitor's adjustable curvature arm and the need to carefully detach its electronics without damaging the expensive and delicate OLED panel.

  • What components are used inside the PC and how are they cooled?

    -High-end components such as an Intel 13900 K CPU, an ITX motherboard, and a Zotac 490 graphics card are used. They are cooled using water blocks and a custom cooling system with brass box sections acting as a massive heat spreader and old server heat sinks attached to bidirectional laptop fans.

  • What issues were encountered with the initial cooling system and how were they resolved?

    -The initial cooling system faced issues with restricted airflow due to the small fans and the fine fin structure of the heat sinks. The problem was resolved by replacing the small fans with normal 140 mm PC fans and using larger heat sinks with wider thin spacing.

  • How is the desk's surface finished to make it look more like wood and less like raw aluminium?

    -The desk's surface is finished by gluing down oak planks, routing out patches for wiring and threaded knobs, filling gaps with wood filler, and applying several thin coats of oil to bring out the richness of the wood and give it a lighter appearance.

  • What is the secret mechanism for opening the invisible PC setup?

    -The secret mechanism for opening the invisible PC setup is a super strong magnet disguised as a silver paper weight. It is attracted to a steel sheet embedded in the top edge of the monitor hatch, allowing it to act as a 'key' to open the system.

Outlines

00:00

🛠️ Custom Desk Build with Invisible PC Mechanism

The video introduces a complex DIY project to create an 'endgame invisible PC' within a seemingly ordinary wooden desk. Sponsored by Flexispot, the project utilizes their E7 Pro standing desk system for adjustable height functionality. The desk's main structure consists of two 3mm thick aluminum sheets laminated for rigidity. A key feature is a hidden monitor system with a custom-designed mechanism that uses rotation to control linear movement, allowing the monitor to fold down from the desk surface. The build also incorporates sliding rails, pneumatics, and springs for smooth operation and a concealed appearance.

05:01

🖥️ Integrating High-Tech Components into the Invisible Desk

The build continues with the integration of high-end PC components, including an Intel 13900 K processor, an ITX motherboard, and a Zotac 490 graphics card, all cooled with water blocks for efficient heat dissipation. Storage is provided by a 48 terabyte NAS system connected through a 10 GB M.2 network card. The cooling system is a unique setup using old server heat sinks and bidirectional laptop fans, combined with a custom brass heat spreader to create a massive heat dissipation system. The desk also features a拆卸 OLED monitor, which is an ultra-wide format ideal for gaming and productivity, and is made to appear seamlessly flat when not in use.

10:03

🔩 Assembling the Desk with Flexispot E7 Pro Legs

The build process involves assembling the desk with the Flexispot E7 Pro standing desk system, which is integrated into the custom build. The desk's control box is housed within the desk's spare chamber, and the legs are fitted into slots made for them. Once assembled, the desk is tested for its height adjustment capabilities, demonstrating a smooth transition between sitting and standing positions. The aluminum surface is then covered with oak planks for a more suitable and elegant finish, and the desk's front and sides are designed with tapered edges to give a slim and sleek appearance.

15:05

🎨 Finishing Touches and Aesthetic Enhancements

The final steps of the build focus on the aesthetic enhancements and finishing touches. The wooden planks are glued onto the aluminum surface, and any gaps or knots are filled with wood filler for a smooth finish. The desk is sanded and coated with oil to bring out the richness of the wood and to avoid a bold honey-colored finish. Tapered edges are added to the perimeter to create an illusion of a thinner desk, and the monitor hatch is modified with a spring-loaded insert to maintain its invisibility. The desk is completed with the installation of a secret opening mechanism, activated by a magnet disguised as a paperweight.

20:05

🔧 Testing the Cooling System and Making Adjustments

The video concludes with testing the cooling system under load using Prime 95 and FurMark software to stress the CPU and graphics card. Initially, the custom cooling system struggles to manage the heat, causing components to throttle. The issue is identified as airflow restrictions due to the fine fin structure of the heat sinks and the air duct design. To resolve this, the cooling setup is redesigned with larger, more spaced heat sinks and standard 140 mm PC fans, which successfully keep the system cool and quiet. The new setup, while larger, remains largely invisible and provides superior cooling performance.

25:07

🏆 Completion of the Endgame Invisible PC and Flexispot Promotion

The final segment showcases the completed endgame invisible PC, which houses ultra-high-end components, an ultra-wide OLED monitor, a full-sized mechanical keyboard, and mouse, all concealed within a Flexispot E7 Pro adjustable height desk. The desk's ergonomic benefits are highlighted, promoting the health advantages of standing while working. The video ends with a promotion for Flexispot's brand day deals and a discount code for the E7 Pro or E7 plus standing desks, encouraging viewers to consider such an upgrade for their own well-being.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Sliding Rails

Sliding rails are mechanisms that allow for linear or sliding motion, often used in furniture or machinery to enable parts to move smoothly. In the context of the video, sliding rails are crucial for the functioning of the hidden monitor system, enabling the platform to move up and down seamlessly. They are mounted using v-slot profiles and are integral to the 'invisible' aspect of the desk, as they allow the monitor to be stowed away when not in use.

💡Pneumatics

Pneumatics refers to the use of pressurized gas to produce mechanical motion. In the video, pneumatic struts are used to assist in the movement of the monitor hatch and keyboard platform. They provide resistance to opening but allow for a soft and controlled closing mechanism, enhancing the user experience by making the movement smoother and the system more robust.

💡Springs

Springs are elastic objects that store energy and release it to return to their original shape, often used in mechanical systems to absorb shock or maintain tension. In the video, tension springs are integrated to counteract the force of gravity on the platform and hatch, ensuring they stay biased towards their open positions. This contributes to the balance of the system and assists in the soft closing action.

💡Heat Spreader

A heat spreader is a component designed to distribute heat evenly away from a heat source, typically used in cooling systems to prevent hotspots. The script describes soldering a giant heat spreader made from brass box sections to dissipate heat from the water-cooled PC components. This custom heat spreader is essential for the experimental cooling system of the 'invisible PC', ensuring the high-performance components do not overheat.

💡OLED Monitor

An OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) monitor is a display device that uses organic compounds to emit light when electric current is applied, offering superior contrast and color accuracy compared to traditional LCD panels. The video focuses on integrating an ultra-wide OLED monitor into the desk, which can be made flat to maintain the thin profile of the desk. The monitor's thinness and light weight are critical for the 'invisible' design, and its拆卸 (dismantling) allows for the electronics to be hidden elsewhere.

💡Invisible Hinges

Invisible hinges are a type of hinge that allows a door or cover to open and close without the hinge mechanism being visible when the door is closed. The video describes using unusual invisible hinges for the monitor hatch to maintain the 'invisible' concept of the build. These hinges have a purely rotational movement, which is essential for the design, as they do not leave a visible edge when the hatch is closed.

💡Linear Movement

Linear movement refers to motion that moves in a straight line, as opposed to rotational or circular motion. The script discusses converting the rotational movement of the monitor hatch into linear movement to control the height of a platform in front of the hatch. This conversion is achieved through the use of additional linear rails and custom-made L brackets, which are key to the innovative mechanism of the desk.

💡V-Slot Profiles

V-slot profiles are extruded aluminum lengths with a V-shaped groove that are used in various mechanical projects for linear motion systems or as structural components. In the video, V-slot profiles are utilized to provide adjustability for the components mounted on the platform, allowing for customization and flexibility in the positioning of elements like the keyboard and monitor.

💡Water Cooling

Water cooling is a method of cooling computer components by circulating water through a system of blocks and radiators to dissipate heat. The video details the use of water blocks for the high-end PC components to keep their profile low and efficiently dissipate the heat they generate. The custom cooling loop, including the brass heat spreader and server heat sinks, is a central feature of the 'invisible PC' build.

💡Flexispot E7 Pro

The Flexispot E7 Pro is an adjustable height desk system that allows users to switch between sitting and standing positions, promoting better ergonomics and health. Sponsored in the video, the E7 Pro is integrated into the custom desk build, providing the functionality to adjust the height of the entire 'invisible PC' setup. This feature adds to the innovative nature of the desk, making it not only a technological marvel but also an ergonomic one.

Highlights

Building an endgame invisible PC desk with sliding rails, pneumatics, springs, and a giant heat spreader.

Sponsor by Flexispot showcasing the E7 Pro standing desk system integration.

Custom desktop construction using 3mm thick aluminum sheets and extruded aluminum lengths for rigidity.

Designing a hidden monitor system with a unique invisible hinge mechanism.

Creating a platform with linear sliding rails for a hidden monitor that moves linearly with rotational input.

Incorporating vslot profiling for adjustable component mounting.

Using heavy-duty L brackets and sliding sections to control the platform's height.

Implementing pneumatic struts and tension springs for a balanced and soft closing mechanism.

Integrating an ultra-wide, flat OLED monitor into the desk design.

Dismantling an expensive OLED monitor to hide its electronics and integrate the panel into the desk.

Using high-end PC components like Intel 13900 K and Zotac 490 graphics card with water blocks for cooling.

Custom brass heat spreader construction for an experimental cooling system.

Assembling a massive heatsink setup with 40 bidirectional fans for silent cooling.

Integrating the Flexispot E7 Pro standing desk system for adjustable height.

Finishing the desk with oak planks and a vinyl wrap for a wooden appearance.

Creating a spring-loaded insert to keep the monitor hatch invisible when closed.

Utilizing a magnet as a 'key' to open the invisible PC setup.

Cooling system testing and modifications for optimal silent operation.

Flexispot brand day deal promotion with a discount code for the E7 Pro or E7 plus standing desks.

Transcripts

00:00

coming up in this video we'll be working

00:02

with sliding rails pneumatics and

00:04

springs as well as soldering up a giant

00:07

heat spreader for an experimental

00:08

cooling system all on top of dismantling

00:11

an OLED Monitor and the goal building

00:14

what appears to be a normal wooden desk

00:18

however you are watching DIY perks so

00:21

this desk is far from ordinary it is in

00:25

fact the endgame invisible PC let's

00:30

go now some parts of this build are

00:32

going to be super complicated but

00:34

thankfully one thing that I won't have

00:36

to design myself are the legs as this

00:39

video is being sponsored by flexispot

00:42

advertising their E7 Pro standing desk

00:45

system which I'm going to be integrating

00:47

completely into the build now if you've

00:50

not heard of flexi spot before they make

00:52

really solid adjustable height desks

00:54

that can change the way you interact

00:56

with your computer now thanks to the way

00:58

the legs have been designed they can

01:00

actually be mounted onto custom desktops

01:03

which I'm going to take full advantage

01:04

of by making a massive custom desktop so

01:07

we have enough room for the various

01:08

mechanisms that'll make the invisibility

01:10

concept work and just like my last desk

01:13

PC build I'm going to be using for its

01:15

main structure two sheets of 3 mm thick

01:18

aluminium now as you can see it is

01:21

somewhat bendy but that's easy to fix

01:24

with some extruded aluminum lengths by

01:27

screwing the aluminium sheets directly

01:30

to these they become a lamination which

01:33

brings some significant advantages while

01:35

remaining Hollow you see these sheets

01:38

were super floppy but just look how

01:40

rigid they are now that they're bolted

01:42

together and this is going to make a

01:45

fantastic desktop um so with all that

01:49

done we're now actually ready to start

01:50

working on the potentially quite complex

01:53

mechanism to make the hidden monitor

01:55

system despite how complicated things

01:58

are going to get it start start out

02:00

being quite easy as cutting a hole for

02:02

the monitor to fold down into only takes

02:04

a few minutes using a jigsaw as

02:06

aluminium is quite a soft metal choosing

02:09

a hinge for this is where things start

02:10

getting a bit more involved though you

02:12

see simple hinges like but hinges would

02:14

leave a visible Edge going against the

02:17

concept of the build but what about

02:19

concealed cabinet hinges these are

02:22

definitely more like it but

02:23

unfortunately they don't rotate around a

02:25

stationary Point as this point literally

02:28

moves as they open making them difficult

02:30

to figure out how to design around for a

02:32

non-standard use case like this

02:35

ultimately after a lot of

02:36

experimentation I've settled on some

02:38

rather unusual invisible hinges which

02:41

thankfully have a purely rotational

02:43

hinge movement making them far easier to

02:46

design around and with them mounted in

02:48

place the hatch can open and close

02:49

without the hinges being visible in the

02:51

closed position perfect with this now

02:55

sorted the complexity is about to

02:57

Skyrocket though as we need to use this

02:59

rotational movement to affect the height

03:02

of a platform in front of the hatch

03:04

basically turning rotational movement

03:06

into linear movement before we can get

03:09

going with this though we need to make

03:10

the platform itself which can just be

03:12

cut from the lower aluminium sheet

03:15

making it look a bit nicer with some

03:16

vinyl wrap as this platform needs to

03:19

have various components mounted to it

03:21

I'm going to utilize some vslot

03:23

profiling to give them adjustability as

03:25

they can be used with captive t-notes

03:27

anywhere along their length this allows

03:30

pretty much anything to be added or

03:31

taken away or adjusted as required which

03:34

is going to be very important for the

03:35

mechanisms we're about to build the

03:38

first of these mechanisms is going to be

03:39

limiting the platform to purely up and

03:41

down movement and is going to be based

03:43

upon some linear sliding rails these

03:46

work thanks to having tiny bearings

03:48

inside a guide carriage for smooth

03:50

operation and thanks to the vslot

03:53

profiles they're very easy to mount in

03:55

place with one in each Corner once

03:57

they're mounted to their accompanying

03:59

rails they allow the platform to slide

04:01

up and down as required but how are we

04:04

going to control its height purely from

04:06

the rotational movement of the monitor

04:08

hatch well the key relies on the

04:11

addition of another set of linear rails

04:13

to the top of the platform linked

04:15

together with some aluminum

04:17

strips that these can slide back and

04:19

forth is vital as the intention is to

04:22

use them with some heavyduty L brackets

04:25

these are custom made to be of the

04:26

required dimensions and have bearings

04:29

installed to provide an easily rotatable

04:31

point where they're attached to the

04:33

additional

04:34

sliders now while everything is upside

04:36

down in the shots you should still be

04:39

able to understand what's going on here

04:41

with the other side of the brackets

04:43

screwed to the monitor hatch the monitor

04:45

Hatcher rotational movement causes the

04:47

other end of the L brackets to be forced

04:50

further away and because they're linked

04:52

to the platform through the sliding

04:54

sections the platform is completely free

04:57

to follow along cool as you can see

05:00

though it only affects the rear side of

05:02

the platform but as the sliding section

05:05

runs all the way to the front we can

05:07

actually use some extra identically

05:09

proportioned brackets to exploit

05:11

geometry and turn it into a

05:13

parallelogram forcing it to remain flat

05:16

no matter what with it flipped the right

05:20

way up it's now the moment of truth will

05:23

it

05:24

work hey look at that much to my joy

05:28

this works a great with the opening of

05:30

The Hatch resulting in the platform

05:32

rising up to become flush with the rest

05:35

of the desk the most important Milestone

05:38

of this build as you can see though it

05:41

does have a tendency to slam closed but

05:44

this is easily fixed with some pneumatic

05:47

struts these strongly resist being

05:49

opened out but are happy to close with

05:51

very little opposition so by attaching

05:54

them to the vslot profiles they'll

05:56

restrict the movement of the sliding

05:58

section and force the hatch to close

06:00

softly I'm also integrating some tension

06:03

Springs to help them along as they'll

06:05

counter the effect of gravity on the

06:07

platform and the hatch and bias them

06:09

towards their opened positions this

06:12

balances the system beautifully

06:14

providing not only a nice soft close

06:16

action but making it much lighter to

06:19

operate as well to finish things off the

06:22

use of some magnets allows it to

06:23

confidently lock into its open position

06:26

when it gets there which makes the

06:27

platform feel surprisingly solid

06:30

there's plenty of space for a keyboard

06:32

and mouse here and the mechanism moves

06:34

them out of the way completely to make

06:36

room for the screen speaking of which

06:39

seeing it's such an important feature it

06:41

makes sense to go with one that's rather

06:44

special you see computer monitors have

06:46

gone through some major advances in the

06:48

past few years to the point where we can

06:50

forget about old style LCD panels like

06:53

this entirely and use a vastly superior

06:57

OLED one instead now as you can see this

07:00

is an ultra wide which is a fantastic

07:03

format for both gaming and productivity

07:06

but what makes it particularly special

07:07

is that it can be made Flat an essential

07:10

feature for the desk as it makes the

07:12

monitor's profile super thin it's

07:15

Electronics pose a challenge though as

07:17

they are on the back so need to be

07:19

detached to be hidden elsewhere I'll be

07:22

honest dismantling such an expensive

07:24

monitor is a bit scary but there's not

07:27

too much that can go wrong so long as

07:29

I'm super careful this one is more

07:31

complicated than most due to its

07:33

adjustable curvature arm but once

07:35

everything is finally stripped down I'm

07:38

left with the raw OLED panel it's

07:41

incredibly thin and also thankfully

07:43

incredibly light but it does have some

07:46

proud mounting cylinders that will

07:48

prevent me from attaching it directly to

07:50

the front of the monitor hatch as they

07:52

are simply in the way my only real

07:55

option is to drill holes in the monitor

07:57

hatch for them to hopefully disappear

07:59

into

08:00

as this is also a bit floppy though I've

08:02

made two identical copies to make it two

08:04

layers thick with some vinyl wrap around

08:07

its perimeter to finish off its visible

08:09

Edge once it's reattached a front plate

08:12

can also be installed directly onto it

08:15

this again helps with rigidity but it

08:17

also provides a lip for the OLED panel

08:20

to rest upon now so much of the build

08:23

actually relies on this installation

08:26

going smoothly and if it goes wrong it's

08:29

going to be extremely costly because

08:31

this panel and the screen was like 2K so

08:35

yeah there's a lot resting on this

08:36

actually uh working well so I'm just

08:40

going to lift it up and it's going to

08:42

stand on that lip and these holes at the

08:44

back should allow the little Noggins to

08:47

go through and as each of these Noggins

08:49

has an internal thread I can use them in

08:51

conjunction with some washers to pull

08:53

them tightly in place there's just

08:55

enough room on the bottom here to

08:57

connect one of the two control boards as

08:59

well with the other tucked inside the

09:01

desk behind the

09:03

hinges with the screen now installed the

09:06

concept really is starting to come

09:08

together and it's looking pretty awesome

09:10

but as this is just so unique I think it

09:14

deserves high power PC components for

09:16

inside it the ones I have for this are

09:18

some of the highest end parts available

09:21

right now an Intel 13900 K on an ITX

09:25

motherboard and a Zotac 490 graphics

09:28

card to get the most out of them I am of

09:30

course using water blocks so that the

09:32

heat that they generate can be pulled

09:33

away from them as quickly as possible

09:36

and of course the other benefit of using

09:37

water cooling is that it keeps their

09:39

profile quite low so that they can fit

09:41

within the desk using some PCB pillars

09:44

to make them nice and

09:45

secure as there's not quite enough room

09:48

for a normal power supply though I'm

09:50

using a set of gallium nitride

09:52

Alternatives these can deliver 500 watts

09:55

each one of which is dedicated for the

09:57

motherboard and CPU and the other for

10:00

the graphics card as for storage I'm

10:03

adding a flash store Nas that I'm

10:04

populating with 12 4 tbte flash dries

10:07

for a rather gargantuan 48 terab of

10:11

space accessed directly through a 10 GB

10:14

m.2 network card we are after all going

10:17

for the end game here with everything

10:19

wired up and the water blocks connected

10:21

together in series we need to think

10:23

seriously about how we're going to deal

10:25

with all of the heat that these

10:27

components generate as they total over

10:29

800 WTS and standard PC radiators aren't

10:33

really an option because they're just so

10:35

thick while smaller radiators are

10:38

definitely available I have an idea that

10:40

I really want to try which is to use

10:41

these old server heat sinks as you can

10:44

see they've got a really fine fin

10:46

structure which makes them extremely

10:48

effective at transferring heat into the

10:50

surrounding air and they're the perfect

10:53

size to match these laptop fans if you

10:55

recognize these These are actually from

10:57

my previous project where we made a

10:59

portable PS5 and if you remember from

11:01

that video These fans are bidirectional

11:04

which means that they can actually cool

11:06

two heat sinks at once and in this

11:09

configuration they can actually get rid

11:11

of 40 watts of heat

11:14

silently now obviously that's a long way

11:16

shy of the required 800 we need to get

11:19

rid of here and that's why I've bought

11:21

40 of them this is Possible only because

11:24

they are just so cheap as they are after

11:27

all from decommissioned servers and are

11:29

available online for pretty much nothing

11:32

in order to combine them together into

11:34

one giant heat sink though I've bought

11:36

some brass box sections to make a

11:39

massive heat spreader for them to attach

11:41

to as you can see these are completely

11:44

Hollow which is important as the idea is

11:46

to have the water that cools the

11:47

components flow through them to transfer

11:50

all of the heat into the brass to do

11:53

this effectively they each need some

11:55

holes drilled through them so that the

11:56

water can flow from one to the other

11:59

being brass they can of course be

12:01

soldered together really easily making

12:03

each join

12:04

watertight in order to provide some

12:07

water entry points I'm simply using some

12:09

Barbed elbow joints again using plenty

12:12

of solder to ensure that there won't be

12:13

any

12:14

leaks the intention with this is for

12:17

water to enter one port and go up and

12:19

down its entire length a few times

12:22

before exiting through the other Port as

12:25

the surface area of this new brass

12:27

construction is so large it basically

12:29

becomes a massive heat spreader which

12:32

allows all of the heat sinks to work in

12:34

tandem to remove all of the heat from

12:36

the water now it does end up being super

12:38

heavy but thankfully I don't have to

12:41

worry about this as the flexi spot desk

12:43

is happy with a load up to 160 kg so me

12:47

and my dad should weigh about 160 kg

12:50

together uh and the desk can handle it

12:53

no problem it goes so high you could

12:55

actually paint a ceiling really easily

12:58

with it way and this is a lot of weight

13:00

this is two people like it's it's a lot

13:04

so I don't think it's going to have any

13:05

problems holding those heat sinks having

13:08

so many heat sinks though does mean we

13:10

need quite a few fans to keep them all

13:12

cool with the idea being that they

13:14

should each work at a slow speed to

13:16

operate quietly in order to take

13:18

advantage of their bir directional air

13:21

output I've 3D printed some air ducts

13:23

that can take the rear output and push

13:25

it back towards the top heat sink so

13:27

they both get cooled at the same time

13:30

now wiring up so many fans has the

13:33

potential to be quite a tedious job but

13:35

my favorite method to speed things up is

13:37

to use strips of copper tape to make

13:39

some voltage rails with the third strip

13:41

carrying a Fane speed control signal

13:44

known as a pwm

13:46

signal after hooking up the custom brass

13:49

heat spreader to the main water cooling

13:51

Loop the whole thing is ready to be

13:53

filled with coolant as there hasn't

13:54

really been room for a proper Reservoir

13:56

inside the PC though I'm using an

13:58

external pump to force the water into

14:00

the system as it allows me to get rid of

14:02

any air pockets by temporarily looping

14:04

the coolant through the external plastic

14:07

container before we can test it out

14:10

though it does need closing up with the

14:12

bottom panel since you last saw this

14:14

it's had a variety of holes and cutouts

14:16

made in it most of which are for airflow

14:19

purposes and to allow for easily

14:21

removable covers for access to the

14:23

internal

14:25

components so although this is on the

14:27

bottom and won't really be seen having

14:29

it finished in this vinyl wrap makes it

14:31

look really rather smart and honestly

14:33

I'm pretty happy with how it's turned

14:35

out but before we flip it over and start

14:38

working on the top section which is of

14:40

course still raw aluminium I'm getting

14:42

fed up of it just being perched on top

14:44

of my workbench so I think it's high

14:47

time that it has its own legs and this

14:50

is where we're going to be installing

14:52

and integrating flexi spot standing desk

14:55

system now this is the E7 Pro and I've

14:58

made some slots for the legs to be

15:00

fitted into like so now if you weren't

15:04

integrating these into such a custom

15:07

project they'd normally be installed

15:09

onto their robust steel frame which is

15:11

how flexispot have managed to maximize

15:13

rigidity on all of their desks this

15:16

steel frame also houses the control box

15:19

with a smart magnetic cover keeping it

15:21

all neat for me though I've housed this

15:24

control box inside the spare chamber

15:26

opposite the PC components where all the

15:29

cables for it can be plugged in so with

15:32

the feet added the next job is to get

15:34

this upright and uh I think it's a bit

15:37

heavy for me to do on my own so I'm

15:40

going to employ some

15:43

help oh

15:45

nice that's good look how solid that

15:50

is hey look at that how cool is this now

15:55

let's try out the uh flexi spot legs oh

15:59

yeah all that's

16:01

smooth check that out so I've just

16:04

adjusted it up and it should be about

16:07

the right height to use as a sit down

16:10

desk which it is but what if I want to

16:12

stand and do some work standing up which

16:14

I personally actually prefer a lot well

16:17

with the push for button I can actually

16:19

raise this up and uh it becomes a

16:21

standing

16:23

desk look at that and if you're

16:25

particularly tall uh it can go really

16:29

High it just keeps

16:31

going and

16:33

going and

16:36

going and we're done so it goes comes to

16:39

a nice stop now um as you can see the

16:42

raw aluminium doesn't really suit being

16:44

a desk surface so we need a way of

16:46

covering it with a much more suitable

16:48

material I've encountered this problem

16:50

before of course as the original

16:52

invisible PC was also constructed out of

16:55

aluminum which I gave a wood appearance

16:57

by gluing thin wood V on top to disguise

17:00

it this hasn't really stood up to the

17:03

test of time though as some parts of it

17:05

have started to peel away so this time

17:07

round I've ordered some massive Oak

17:10

planks don't worry I'm not about to

17:12

stick these on top and call it a day I

17:15

took them to a joiner to have them

17:17

divided up into many smaller and thinner

17:20

lengths compared to veneer these are

17:22

still much thicker though and are

17:24

actually structurally sound and will

17:26

make a much more robust covering for the

17:29

desk I'm using some ct1 glue here to

17:32

stick them down to the aluminium being

17:34

extremely careful to make sure that they

17:36

fit nicely around the monitor hatch and

17:39

the keyboard platform another advantage

17:41

of using thicker wood compared to veneer

17:44

is that it's possible to Route out some

17:46

patches of it underneath to make room

17:48

for any elements on the desk that are

17:50

proud of the main aluminium surface like

17:52

the back of the monitor's wiring and

17:54

some of its threaded

17:55

Noggins if you're wondering what the

17:57

white patches are that's actually wood

18:00

filler which goes into any gaps or knots

18:02

to make them smooth once it's sanded

18:05

down so with all of the wood added it

18:07

really hides the aluminum well but what

18:10

about the front and sides due to all of

18:13

the mechanisms that have been jammed

18:15

inside the desk it's not actually super

18:18

thin but to make it appear much thinner

18:20

and more elegant we can employ another

18:23

illusion tapered edges as you can see

18:26

these have an angle to their unders side

18:29

which means that once they're glued to

18:31

the Outer Perimeter they give the desk a

18:33

much thinner appearance with only the

18:35

thinner forward Edge being visible very

18:38

cool the MIT joints in particular are a

18:41

really nice touch and I've got my dad to

18:43

thank for these as he made these extra

18:45

sections and that's why they're so

18:47

precise as he's a much better woodworker

18:49

than I am after giving it a thorough

18:51

sanding down it looks absolutely

18:54

fantastic and the final job is to give

18:56

it several thin coats of oil to bring

18:58

out the richness of the wood when

19:01

putting oil on Oak it can end up with a

19:03

pretty bold honey colored finish which

19:05

I'm personally not a fan of So to avoid

19:08

this I'm using a combination of two

19:10

types of oil to give it a lighter

19:12

appearance the difference with this

19:14

technique makes it look almost like a

19:16

different type of wood and is definitely

19:18

more to my tastes being oiled gives the

19:20

surface a cohesive finish with the hatch

19:23

barely being visible now except the back

19:26

edge of course as the hinge point is

19:29

below the surface of the wood a Groove

19:31

has had to be made to prevent the wood

19:33

from intersecting and jamming as it

19:35

opens to make it completely invisible

19:38

I've made a little spring loaded insert

19:41

that can fill the Gap with the idea

19:43

being for it to move out of the way as

19:45

the hatch opens and pull itself back in

19:48

when closed and it's surprisingly

19:50

effective and with that the end game

19:53

invisible PC is complete just looking at

19:58

it you wouldn't assume that there's an

19:59

entire PC setup here the thought that

20:02

there's a monitor keyboard mouse and a

20:05

fully water cooled selection of ultra

20:07

high-end components right here in front

20:09

of you is kind of wild even if you did

20:13

know it was here though how on Earth is

20:15

it supposed to be opened well this

20:17

secret lies with what appears to be a

20:19

silver paper weight it might appear

20:21

rather ordinary but it's actually a

20:23

super strong magnet of course it's not

20:26

attracted to the aluminium at all so

20:28

even when resting on the desk it doesn't

20:30

give any clues away but earlier I

20:32

embedded a steel sheet into the top edge

20:35

of the monitor hatch underneath one of

20:37

the bits of wood this gives the paper

20:39

weight a specific area to be strongly

20:41

attracted to allowing it to become a

20:43

sort of key that can be used to open the

20:45

system up thanks to the internal sliding

20:48

rail mechanism this opening action

20:50

brings the keyboard platform up to be

20:52

flush with the rest of the desk's

20:54

surface and because it moves so

20:56

thoroughly out of the way when closed

20:58

the space for pretty much anything you

21:00

can think of here I've not only got my

21:03

full-sized mechanical keyboard and mouse

21:06

but I've built a little speaker system

21:08

and dock as well even headphones and an

21:11

audio interface can be fitted here all

21:13

to be made invisible with one simple

21:17

movement that this works so well is

21:20

hugely satisfying especially having

21:22

spent so many weeks making sure that

21:25

this mechanism works properly and that

21:27

it's on Flexi adjustable height desk

21:30

system gives it that final level of

21:32

Polish now one aspect of the build that

21:35

hasn't been tested yet is its cooling

21:37

system which is rather unusual so let's

21:39

put it through its paces and make sure

21:41

that it can actually keep the hardware

21:43

in check for this I'm running two bits

21:46

of software at the same time Prime 95

21:49

and furmark these stress the CPU and

21:52

graphics card respectively to push them

21:54

to their limits for maximum power draw

21:56

the heat from which has to be gotten rid

21:58

of by the cooling system as the

22:00

components have used are pretty much the

22:01

highest end parts you can get right now

22:03

it's a lot of heat to contend with and

22:06

ideally we're looking for them to

22:07

Flatline in temperature but disaster

22:11

they don't the temperatures of the

22:13

components keep going up and up

22:16

ultimately reaching their maximum and

22:18

throttling to keep themselves from

22:20

overheating and what's worse is that

22:22

this is with the fans at full pelts

22:24

making a lot of noise now this is

22:27

supposed to be the end game invisible PC

22:30

so that its cooling system isn't working

22:32

anywhere near where it should is pretty

22:35

annoying so what on Earth is going on

22:38

here and what can we do about it well

22:40

after some experimentation it appears

22:42

that the issue lies with the airflow

22:44

path of the fans being too restricted by

22:46

things like the air duct and ironically

22:49

the fine fin structure of the heat sinks

22:51

resulting in them barely moving any air

22:53

at all it's actually so bad that I think

22:56

the best course of action is to compl

22:58

completely remove this version of the

23:00

cooling setup and come at it from a

23:02

different angle this time swapping out

23:04

the small bidirectional fans for some

23:07

normal 140 mm PC fans you know there's a

23:11

reason why they use them in PCS and

23:13

sometimes just sometimes it's worth

23:16

going with the crowd and not

23:17

experimenting too much they do of course

23:20

protrude beyond the bottom of the desk

23:22

now but I don't think that this will be

23:24

too much of an issue as they are at the

23:26

back after all and will never really be

23:27

seen these obviously can't be made to

23:30

work with the old heat sinks so I'm

23:31

swapping them out as well in favor of

23:33

some that have a significantly wider

23:35

thin spacing as well as a taller height

23:38

and this should help keep airflow

23:40

restrictions to a minimum these heat

23:42

sinks are also from decommissioned

23:44

servers and are even cheaper than the

23:47

first set despite being much larger and

23:49

arguably nicer looking thanks to their

23:51

nickel plated finish from here it's

23:53

pretty much the same as before the heat

23:55

sinks can be placed side by side right

23:58

along the back of the desk with the

24:00

custom brass heat spreader being

24:01

sandwiched in between them it looks kind

24:04

of wild and I've never seen so much heat

24:07

sink surface before this might seem a

24:10

bit over the top but the thing is these

24:12

heat sinks have cost less than a single

24:15

computer radiator so in terms of value

24:19

they're actually excellent but will they

24:21

fix our cooling issues there's only one

24:25

way to find out well uh yeah

24:29

yeah they do perhaps a little

24:31

unsurprisingly this quantity of heat

24:33

sinks absolutely obliterates any heat in

24:36

the system and it's able to keep all of

24:38

the components cool without even

24:39

breaking us sweat I mean the fans are

24:42

turning at about 400 RPM and yet they're

24:45

keeping 800 WS of PC cool silently and I

24:50

really do mean silently here's a little

24:54

example so you're presently listening to

24:56

the audio output from this studio grade

24:59

microphone so if the PC is making any

25:01

noise you should be able to hear

25:07

it I can barely hear

25:15

anything that's absolutely fantastic so

25:19

remember this is running thermark and

25:21

Prime

25:23

95 I'm happy with that now although this

25:26

heat sink setup is far larger than the

25:28

old one it's not at all visible unless

25:31

you're literally on the floor so there

25:33

really is no compromise for getting

25:35

pretty much the ultimate in cooling

25:37

performance as it can handle anything

25:39

that's thrown at it while remaining

25:41

inaudible speaking of compromises there

25:43

are certainly none here we've got Ultra

25:46

high-end components driving an ultra

25:49

wide OLED monitor with a full-sized

25:51

mechanical keyboard and mouse and would

25:54

you know any of it was here at all I'll

25:57

let you be the judge

25:59

of course we can't forget the ergonomic

26:01

benefits of it being on a flexi spot

26:04

adjustable height desk system which

26:06

allows it to just simply become a

26:08

standing desk with the Press of a button

26:11

which is really good for your health now

26:13

if you want to get a standing desk

26:15

system for yourself actually flexis

26:16

spots right now have their brand Day

26:18

deals on and using the code DIY perks

26:21

you can actually get $50 off their E7

26:23

Pro or E7 plus standing desks there's

26:27

plenty of different desks tops to choose

26:29

from as well so you can select something

26:30

that matches your decor and it really is

26:32

one of the best value upgrades you can

26:34

have to your setup that will have real

26:37

world implications for your well-being

26:39

so highly recommended I love these

26:42

things so check them out through the

26:44

link down below but other than that I

26:47

really hope you've enjoyed seeing this

26:48

endgame invisible PC it's been a wild

26:53

one it's taken so much effort but I

26:56

think it's been worth it because this

26:57

thing I think has the highest end Finish

27:00

of anything I've built now a quick shout

27:03

out to basically homeless for setting

27:05

the par high for me to re revisit this

27:08

topic again um and yeah I wonder what

27:11

he'll do next um but other than that I'm

27:14

Matt you've been watching DIY perks and

27:16

I hope to see you next time

27:19

goodbye for now

27:22

[Music]

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Tags associés
DIY ProjectInvisible PCCustom DeskOLED MonitorWater CoolingFlexispot DeskMechanical KeyboardErgonomic DesignHeat SinksPC Cooling
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