My main goals are to make it ergonomic, highly functional for productivity, and aesthetically pleasing. I’m still refining the setup, so any advice or suggestions for improvements would be greatly appreciated!
I was aiming for a clean, premium look that still feels usable day to day.
The RGB is there, but only as a small accent so the space stays calm and uncluttered. The keyboard detail is part of that balance, with the backlit metal keycaps blending into the overall setup instead of taking it over.
Do you prefer a workstation with RGB accents, or do you think a minimal lighting setup works better? I’d love to hear what you think or join https://forms.gle/8c9Y9udbsrp1g2qd6
Setup atual:
MacBook Pro M3 como máquina principal
Monitor externo como tela principal
MacBook em suporte como tela secundária
Teclado Logitech
Mouse Logitech
Microfone Blue Yeti em braço articulado para reuniões e gravações
Mousepad grande de mesa
Iluminação ambiente LED atrás do setup
Mesa de madeira com acessórios pretos
Setup focado em trabalho, produtividade, conteúdo e estética minimalista
Ainda preciso melhorar alguns pontos de organização e cable management, mas essa é a versão atual.
Asus tuf f16 laptop
Acer vg240y-something monitor
Nuphy air 75 v1 keyboard
Vxe r1 se mouse
Im studying industrial design, currently on summer break, this is a cool setup that me and my dad can use
Edit: i had the laptop setup like that so i could use the big monitor too look at art books and references
I'm looking for advice on the best way to wire the components of my desk setup to each other. I want a single cable to my computer which drives my monitor at 4k 120hz, connects to the various peripherals shown in setup 1, and charges the computer.
The monitor has two USB-A SS ports (I think 5Gbps) that a computer can use if using USB-C for video. If HDMI or DisplayPort is in use, the monitor has a USB-B SS port (I think 5Gbps) that can be connected to the computer/dock to run data to the ports. I use this port in setup 2, but "backwards", with the dock's host port going to it. Setup 1 is the same, just going to one of the monitor's USB-A ports instead. I did a basic test to verify set up 1 works, but haven't done in-depth performance testing. I can't test setup 2 since I don't currently have the required cable. These odd setups have some advantages, shown in my image.
Setup 3 is very different, basically a traditional setup, just using the monitor's USB-C video port (which outputs 90 Watts) as a power source for the dock/computer, rather than a wall power brick.
I'm looking for reccomendations on which to choose. Would any of the setups cause any issues with speed, reliability, functionality, or anything else? Are there any major considerations I'm missing from my list?
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Miscellaneous notes:
-The backup SSD makes backups once daily in the background, so speed is not very important. It's not like I'm editing video off of it or anything.
-I want only one cable going to the computer, so I don't have an option with computer to dock and separate computer to monitor.
-I know I'll receive comments that setup 3 will provide less power to the computer than setups 1 and 2, and it does (72W vs 90W), but my computer only accepts up to 70W, so this is irrelevant.
Details on the components:
-Computer: Macbook Air M4
-Docking station: MOKiN 15 IN 1 Docking Station With 8K Resolution (https://mokinglobal.com/products/15-in-1-usb-c-laptop-docking-station)
-Monitor: Acer Nitro XV275K P3 (running at 4k 120hz)
Details
Laptop - a Dell Inspiron 15 I got in 2021 , still works fine specifically for work and study purposes Desk - Ikea Dark walnut countertop with 2 black Alex drawers Monitor - MSI 255XF Keyboard and wrist rest - Keychron K12 Pro with keychron wrist rest Mouse - Master 3S Headphones - Sony 1000XM6 Desk mat - Keychron desk mat Chair - Also from a local store, pretty fine for what I paid. Google nest hub gen 2 - got it as a gift, use it mainly as a digital clock and reminders and Google calendar time table Light bar - Baseus IWOK 3 Monitor arm - North Bayou F80 Headphone holder, Phone holder and Cup holder also from a local online store here on Sri Lanka Soundbar - Fantech beatbar- use it casually for YouTube or movies when I don't feel to use headphones
Personally looking to upgrade,
Would love to know any good recommendations, also cable management is a mess behind there gotto sort that out 😅
zjay is a Guangzhou-based photographer and custom keyboard builder — a self-described homebody whose desk reflects exactly that: built to stay in, not to perform on a spec sheet. The warm-dark palette, autumn forest wallpaper, and industrial yellow keycaps read as a coherent aesthetic without needing explanation.
Gear:
- Desk: Hexcal height-adjustable frame with custom solid wood black top
- Keyboard: Matrix My2K 80 Industrial Yellow
- Mouse: Lofree
The Hexcal frame is the structural backbone here — the custom solid wood top does the rest.
*Setup Festival 2026 · r/SetupFestival*
5600x + TUF RTX 3070 + 4x8Gb 3200Mhz + B550 + 60hz 1080p
This is my back-to-school (for engineering) setup. It's located in my sewing room. I tried as much as possible to use things I already had: old laptop, an old broken monitor with a permanent black bar, jbl speaker instead of computer speakers.
I'm just happy to have a spot of my own and wanted to share it.
What was wrong with offering a workstation and letting the user swap out the desktop? Now I feel like I'm being forced to choose between two different OS. Am I overthinking this? IS the new Fedora 44 offerings (workstation and desktop) the same thing, just different desktops?
I already know I want to use KDE. Everything time I try Gnome, I go back. I wish I could run KDE on my Windows machines too.
So I just upgraded from an ancient rig (i5 4560 + GTX 750 Ti) to a Ryzen 5700G + RX 5700 XT build… and it made me realise something about myself.
I don’t “upgrade PCs.” , I create victims.
Every single time, it starts the same way.
I tell myself: “Okay, this time I’m being responsible. I’m just getting an office PC. Something simple. Something normal.”
You know…
Excel. YouTube. Maybe a movie here and there ,a calm peaceful existence.
Then about 2 days later I’m standing there like..“You know what this thing needs? …16GB RAM.” The PC is like..“Why?”
And I’m already halfway into installing some GPU that looks like it came off Noah’s Ark.
This card has seen things. This thing mined coins before crypto even had a name.
Now the office PC is confused, It’s like..“I was built for spreadsheets… why am I suddenly rendering explosions?”
Then we get to cooling, now a normal person would say ..“Let me improve airflow properly.”
Not me, No no I grab loose fans, cable ties, and pure confidence.
Now my PC looks like a backyard mechanic tried to build a jet engine from scrap.
Fans sideways, Fans upside down, Fans zip-tied to places they were never meant to exist.
Airflow is not designed**,** Airflow is negotiated.
Then I check temps, and I go..“Hmmm… a bit hot. I know what will fix this… more power.”
Overclocking begins, because obviously, the solution to heat… is to push it harder.
I’m sitting there like..“Let’s just give it a little extra…” Meanwhile the PC is like..“Brother, I am fighting for my LIFE.”
The fans spin up, and I don’t mean “PC fan noise.” I mean Boeing 737 preparing for takeoff in my home-office.. Dust inside the case? GONE..That thing creates a localized dust tornado. NASA could study the airflow patterns.
Then I do the final crime. I install a modern game.
On hardware that was already struggling when that game’s predecessor came out.
And I’m like..“Why is it lagging???”..The PC..“I couldn’t run this WHEN IT RELEASED.”
And then one day…Your Still playing Flight-Sim 2020 and you start smelling something off..the game starts to lag..screen goes black..and then with one last puff of smoke from the PSU and it's gone...
Well.. Atleast the upgrade should run well for a while...
Recently upgraded from IKEA micke to an IKEA standing desk - thoughts? Anything I can improve?
Items in pic
IKEA desk chair
IKEA standing electric desk
MacBook Air m4
Twelve south stand - white
32 inch Phillips monitor
Royal kludge rkl75 keyboard
Mx master 3s
Xiaomi light bar
Basic ikea desk mat - plastic - likely replace with beige nordik 80x40cm mat
MagSafe dual apple charger in the middle
Lego baby groot
I have a 1200×600mm height-adjustable desk placed almost against a wall/back panel, so there is no rear gap for a clamp mount.
I use a 27-inch monitor and want to install a gas spring monitor arm using clip/grommet mount. Where should I place the clip/grommet hole so the monitor doesn’t come too close to my eyes but can still rotate left sometimes for movies?
The image attached is an example of how it is now.
Thanks
What do you guys think about my ultra portable office?
- Surface Go4 (connected via remote desktop to my home server)
- Cheerdots2 bt mouse
- Quark BT type Cover (inverted and folded over the Go4)
- Xreal One Pro in ultrawide mode
Edit: For anyone wondering, my home server is a Ryzen 7 mini PC with 32GB of RAM. This turns my puny Surface Go4 into a high end power house laptop without the EUR 1,000+ investment.
Been slowly refining my workspace setup over the past few weeks and finally added a soft cyan/light-blue under-desk glow today.
At first I was worried it would make the setup look too “RGB gamer”, but keeping the brightness low completely changed the feel of the desk.
Current lighting layers:
Warm ambient behind monitor (amber) pointing left
Bias white light behind monitor pointing down
Monitor light bar for task lighting
Soft blue underglow beneath the desk
The contrast between warm upper lighting and cool lower lighting gives the setup a surprisingly cinematic atmosphere at night.