hot topic.. where to sit your computer safely

[Sarrkazztic]

I was thinking about this so I thought I would ask the first question...Is it safe to sit the computer on the floor if your computer room or office has carpeting...my case has plastic legs on it but the carpet is still long enough that it would make periodic contact with the case. I am concerned with static discharge....should I put either a piece of plastic or wood between the case and the carpet? both materials are non conductive. I currently have 1 sitting on a shelf below my desk...the machine in question sits on a modified milk crate... I do know that it is not recommended to put a computer in the "cubby hole" in the newer desks that have the door on the front because this keeps all the heat inside.....what are your thoughts and suggestions.

[J A L]

Hi,
ASOLUTLY PERFECTLY SAFE TO PUT IT ON THE CARPET!! I have seen older at cases that had holes underneath them for ventilation but that was 6 years ago! The cases then as well as now are grounded. There won't ever be a problem with static electricity buildup unless your building/houses slides off the foundation and severs the ground wire. Don't sweat it, put it on the carpet. The only thing I can think of is the air is cooler on the ground then on top of a desk due to the fact heat rises! So putting it on the carpet as opposed to your desktop is still a better idea!

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GO MARINERS!!

[John Runion]

I agree with JAL to a point. The only thing I would like to add is that with the case being on the floor you will need to be sure to vacume it out more often to avoid build up of dust and lint on the chips. Lint and dust make very nice blankets that hold in the heat that the chips produce and will cause premature failures and lockups.

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If it's not broken don't fix it.

[DrMDJ]

The problems of putting a PC directly on the floor, or especially a carpet, are as John Runion said. It is far easier to have dust and carpet fibers drawn in to the machine. Things are always being stirred up down there (by foot traffic). I've worked on many a machine that sat on carpeting and seen many filled with fuzz when opened up.

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[Spog]

I try and put machines on of something (little wooden boxes 4" high seem to do the trick).

You get a little less crap in the PC.

The 'feet' of the case don't leave those marks on the carpet.

You're less likely to smack into the cse with your feet or swivel chair.

And it looks a little nicer too - which is always important

Spog

[Opovet]

1. Some cases draw some of the intake air from the bottom of the front plastic cover so make sure yours is not that kind.

2. If you was as fat as me you would find bending down to use the box a pain in the ****.

3. I leave mine on the top of the desk so I can leave the side cover off to make it easier to plug other drives up to channel 2 for working on them and reason #2.

4. Almost forgot, if it is on the floor, it is too easy for the dogs to hike on the box.

Opovet

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REAL FRIENDS do not ask friends to fix a Packard Bell or an old Comcraps!!

[Ridgerunr]

Shop around the discount stores or used furniture stores,flea markets. Look for one of those cheap tv/vcr stands. The one i use is only about 18 inches from floor to tv shelf. It's 28 inches wide,18 inches deep and holds my full tower,2 drawer file cabinet,printer on top of file cab,scanner on PC tower with good air flow all around.

Castors on stand let me roll it out to get at rear plugs and put it wherever i want with no hassle.

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God Bless America!!

[Sarrkazztic]

Opovet...Love the quote
REAL FRIENDS do not ask friends to fix a Packard Bell or an old Comcraps!!

I only have female dogs....no hiking...would not even think about putting anything of value on the floor if there was a male dog in the house Thank you all for your comments and suggestions...I think I will continue using the milk crate for now....maybe put a colorful towel over it or something ...hmmm maybe I could mod the milk crate with some neon or something
I am thinking about adding on to the computer desk with some oak shelves and may have to do something like a cpu holder on the outside of the right side of hte desk. Probably not tho because I want to have access to the side panel if I need to get in there for some reason....and I usually do try to clean out the dust from inside every month or so and not let it build up at all.

[Train]

sarrkazztic
The shelf I knocked together for a friend was wider than the computer was long. Ohh yes, it slides out on roolers. He was happy to buy the longer parallel cable needed.
Just a idea.
They do sell cpu stands that have rollers. Work great.

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[Sarrkazztic]

I fancy myself as pretty handy with the wood and hammer a mouse sander....even tho this no priority at this time I am scraping together ideas for something....You can feel the oak trees trembling from here..Tim the Toolman Taylor is on the loose.....You get me around powertools and its kinda like Maxx with the emachines.

[Train]

And I was thinking of going to Portland!

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[Opovet]

1. We had an old female dog that would hike as good as any of the males.
2. Hope you are not using a real milk crate as that is not lawfull. A better solution is a FEDEX crate. They are hard to find but are the right size for a flatbed scanner and would be more stable than a square milk crate. We used to have them for foot rests also but higher management did not like us using a compiter's equipment.
3. I picked up a desk/computer table at a DAV store that someone had built. It is big enough that I have a mid tower and an old IBM 17" (big case) monitor sitting one one side over the cabinet that was made for a desktop to sit in and a printer. Now it just holds a HP lazer 5p. I got the IBM Monitor for cheap because it was missing a base and standard bases will not fit. No problem as now I have a use for that old IBM desktop pent 1 box. Still have the left side open for a desk writing area or work bench.

Got to go storms moving in from GreenGoose1's area, torando watch and t'storms warning.

Opovet

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REAL FRIENDS do not ask friends to fix a Packard Bell or an old Comcraps!!

[Sarrkazztic]

Hit the storm cellars....anyway not a real milk crate...it is the same width as a milk crate but about twice the length. Just a temporary solution