Need input on a new desk!

[Dirtbag_Leader]

I'm about to move my computer to a different room, and that pretty much means I'm going to pop for a new desk in the process, and I'm having trouble deciding on what to look for. I kinda want to go in the simpit-ish direction, but I absolutely still do a bunch of other more 'normal' stuff on my computer also. Regardless, I absolutely need ways to mount my Virpil Hotas setup, a spot for the stream deck, a VESA mount for the 49" Ultrawide, and spot to put my BEER! So, you guys think some standard clamp-on Hotas mounts on a regular ol' Magnus Pro would do the trick?

Standing Desk | MAGNUS Pro Metal Desk | Secretlab EU

All desk, no cable mess. Standing desk engineered for superior cable management and performance, the stage is set for you to elevate your everyday.

secretlab.co

Or should I just open the wallet and start building a Monstertech. . .

MTS Configurator – MTSIM USA

Design your own cockpit from all MTSIM MTS modules. Whether Flight, Racing, Heli, Space or Office. Combine all modules and accessories to tailor your cockpit to your needs. Get started right away. MTS Base Frame Production time: ~[sc name="mts-production-time"][/sc] weeks MPS Production time...

www.mtsim.com

Or something else to recommend? Obviously will drink beer while both deciding and assembling!

 

[Duckforceone]

be sure to get the heavy duty arm and joint for the ultrawide. Myself i got the Ergotron HX with HD pivot.

 

[stockish]

O-Lefty would tell you yo get this and a butcher block from a hardware store for a more DIY approach. I have been looking at the Secret Lab desk myself as the features line up with what I want to have. If you do go all out on a simpit, I would see if you can find a local place that sells 8020 aluminum and build your own as well.

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[Shadow Reaper]

I’m convinced the magic is in the chair. The desk is a tray affixed that holds the keyboard and mouse. The chair holds the sticks and in a pinch you can do without a desk at all.

Get a comfortable recliner with drink holders to fit your sticks and work out how to swing around a keyboard and mouse when you need them. You don’t actually need a desk at all.

IMHO

 

[Mudhawk]

So, you guys think some standard clamp-on Hotas mounts on a regular ol' Magnus Pro would do the trick?
...
Or should I just open the wallet and start building a Monstertech. . .

Well that kinda depends on the available room and the monetary situation I'd say.
If you got the room to spare.
AND if you got the money.
AND if you wanna do Sim and Sim only...
Then build a whole damn 890J and hop into the repurposed drone seat to play the game.
Or grab some plywood, an old folding chair and some ducttape and do the full Drake conversion.
Beamers instead of monitors are great too by the way...

On the other hand if you do other games beside Sims or, heavens forbid, get some work done there too, by all means get that table.
Any table actually. You can still add nifty things for a more nerdy flair.
I like the idea of these mounts on rails here:
MONSTERTECH Rail Mounts
I'd grab me those IF my damn table was even as wide than 4 feet.

As for the beer:

PS: Why don't we have THOSE as merch?

 

[Dirtbag_Leader]

Oooh, OK thanks for all the feedback guys I think I've really narrowed things down now!
Unfortuantely:

On the other hand if you do other games beside Sims or, heavens forbid, get some work done there too, by all means get that table.

This is quite true, I'm probably only 'flying' a few hours a week, and maybe only about 1/3 of my overall in-front-of-computer time, so I'm leaning heavily towards the table.
And I think I'm for sure going to go for those slider mounts; I prefer the sticks mounted to the desk rather than the chair (I have tried both setups previously), and was planning on just getting the Virpil clamp-on supports but those sliders are WAAAY nicer, so big thanks for the tip @Mudhawk!

 

[Duckforceone]

Oooh, OK thanks for all the feedback guys I think I've really narrowed things down now!
Unfortuantely:

This is quite true, I'm probably only 'flying' a few hours a week, and maybe only about 1/3 of my overall in-front-of-computer time, so I'm leaning heavily towards the table.
And I think I'm for sure going to go for those slider mounts; I prefer the sticks mounted to the desk rather than the chair (I have tried both setups previously), and was planning on just getting the Virpil clamp-on supports but those sliders are WAAAY nicer, so big thanks for the tip @Mudhawk!

if you need to save some money, and you have some tools and a just a bit handy, the slide rail itself and some if not most of the mount stuff, can be bought super cheap at a place that sells extruded aluminum.

 

[Dirtbag_Leader]

if you need to save some money, and you have some tools and a just a bit handy, the slide rail itself and some if not most of the mount stuff, can be bought super cheap at a place that sells extruded aluminum.

I may indeed go that route, but first step will indeed be to find a good local source!

 

[Cugino83]

if you need a cheap desk go the IKEA way: a couple of drawers some spacers and a good rigid tabletop will work very well for a desk and there a re a lots of colors and style combinations:

be aware to not use the fake cardboard wood: that's terrible and can't hold some clamp for HOTAS

 

[Raven_King]

Some great suggestions already. Now for an expensive desk suggestion. Good office-grade furniture tends to be expensive, but more robust than anything but the very, very best (and also most expensive) gaming furniture. I'm totally delighted with my Herman Miller Ratio 120° sit-stand desk. Corner - 3D Product Models - Herman Miller

It's big, and deep enough to have a big monitor, a keyboard or sticks, and for you to rest your arms on the surface while you type, and still have plenty of space for work stuff. It's built like a battleship, the laminate surface still looks new after three years of use, 9+ hours a day, and you can set the height controller up with different heights for gaming (low, for the HOSAS in my case), and sitting and standing for normal work.

I really like how robustly it's built - it'll take a LOT of punishment without a scratch, it's very heavy and rigid so it doesn't wobble when I type or lean on it or throw the sticks around to maneuver in SC combat, the top and legs are designed to be stiff enough for multiple monitor arms. It has good cable management underneath, plenty for three monitors, two USB hubs, a small network switch, two sticks, two sets of headphones (work and gaming), and a bunch of other gadgets and cabled crap that doesn't get tangled up with your feet when you raise or lower it. It doesn't have RGB lighting, go-faster stripes and flashy logos like a teenager's gaming rig, but they don't make your PC or your desk go any faster. This one's for grown-ups. The only downsides are the relatively high cost and that you'll need to find a 'commercial' supplier who'll deal with a single order to a home office, or try to find one second-hand. Herman Miller's sales people weren't really interested in selling to an individual when I asked, but they'll recommend someone locally who is. Then you can spec it up to suit you. Other shapes of course are available - loads of options.

 

[Mudhawk]

Ikea's all nice an clean.
Ideal for the likes of MSI orRSI.
And that Herman Miller desk looks suspiciously like something origin might place in the captain's quaters.
But if you're more of a Drake kinda guy then you might want to look into backyard or surplus sales for something held together with spit and ducttape.

Though for the real Drake experience you might as well just put an old door across 2 wooden trestles...

 

[Dirtbag_Leader]

@Raven_King : While I love it, this one's not going in corner this time!
@Cugino83 : For perspective, is that the 74" or 98" length top? Thanks again all!

 

[KuruptU4Fun]

Some great suggestions already. Now for an expensive desk suggestion. Good office-grade furniture tends to be expensive, but more robust than anything but the very, very best (and also most expensive) gaming furniture. I'm totally delighted with my Herman Miller Ratio 120° sit-stand desk. Corner - 3D Product Models - Herman Miller

It's big, and deep enough to have a big monitor, a keyboard or sticks, and for you to rest your arms on the surface while you type, and still have plenty of space for work stuff. It's built like a battleship, the laminate surface still looks new after three years of use, 9+ hours a day, and you can set the height controller up with different heights for gaming (low, for the HOSAS in my case), and sitting and standing for normal work.
View attachment 26088
I really like how robustly it's built - it'll take a LOT of punishment without a scratch, it's very heavy and rigid so it doesn't wobble when I type or lean on it or throw the sticks around to maneuver in SC combat, the top and legs are designed to be stiff enough for multiple monitor arms. It has good cable management underneath, plenty for three monitors, two USB hubs, a small network switch, two sticks, two sets of headphones (work and gaming), and a bunch of other gadgets and cabled crap that doesn't get tangled up with your feet when you raise or lower it. It doesn't have RGB lighting, go-faster stripes and flashy logos like a teenager's gaming rig, but they don't make your PC or your desk go any faster. This one's for grown-ups. The only downsides are the relatively high cost and that you'll need to find a 'commercial' supplier who'll deal with a single order to a home office, or try to find one second-hand. Herman Miller's sales people weren't really interested in selling to an individual when I asked, but they'll recommend someone locally who is. Then you can spec it up to suit you. Other shapes of course are available - loads of options.

It also won't fit anywhere and not look odd in a corner or against a wall based on the angles

 

[Raven_King]

It also won't fit anywhere and not look odd in a corner or against a wall based on the angles

Reasonable comment, but actually it’s alright. My small home office has one long side of this desk along the wall, and the other jutting out into the room, with a little space behind it next to where the door is, but that means I’m not facing a wall head-on when I work or play, and neither do I have my office’s window directly behind or in front which can make it harder to see the screens well in bright natural light. The desktop shape makes both sides of the desk convenient to pivot to. It’s.a very ergonomic setup, even if it looks like it might not be. I’m sure it’s not to everyone’s taste, and that is fine!

 

[Dirtbag_Leader]

Well still waiting on the new Monstertech slider in order to mount my HOTAS, but other than that and a bit more cable-tidy-ing it's in!

 

[BUTUZ]

HOLY SHIT!!!!!!


YOU NEED MORE BEER!!!!!

 

[Dirtbag_Leader]

Fo sho! Fortunately, the kegerator is just around the corner, so was refilled promptly after the picture was taken!

 

[Richard Bong]

I'm about to move my computer to a different room, and that pretty much means I'm going to pop for a new desk in the process, and I'm having trouble deciding on what to look for. I kinda want to go in the simpit-ish direction, but I absolutely still do a bunch of other more 'normal' stuff on my computer also. Regardless, I absolutely need ways to mount my Virpil Hotas setup, a spot for the stream deck, a VESA mount for the 49" Ultrawide, and spot to put my BEER! So, you guys think some standard clamp-on Hotas mounts on a regular ol' Magnus Pro would do the trick?

Standing Desk | MAGNUS Pro Metal Desk | Secretlab EU

All desk, no cable mess. Standing desk engineered for superior cable management and performance, the stage is set for you to elevate your everyday.

secretlab.co

Or should I just open the wallet and start building a Monstertech. . .

MTS Configurator – MTSIM USA

Design your own cockpit from all MTSIM MTS modules. Whether Flight, Racing, Heli, Space or Office. Combine all modules and accessories to tailor your cockpit to your needs. Get started right away. MTS Base Frame Production time: ~[sc name="mts-production-time"][/sc] weeks MPS Production time...

www.mtsim.com

Or something else to recommend? Obviously will drink beer while both deciding and assembling!

I personally like these, but I can't fit them in my house. (I'd need 2 in the same room.)

Best Chairs for Work From Home! Work hard, Play longer, Enjoy Imperator

Imperatorworks Zero Gravity Reclining workstation game chair, Work hard, Play longer, Enjoy Imperator

imperatorworks.com

I went to IKEA, picked up a 5' long butcherblock desk top and 4 legs. Got 2 pieces of wire management racks, a pair of joystick mounts, a headphones hook and a coaster for the drink. Oh, and my tower and UPS are on CPU stands to elevate them slightly and get them off the floor.