The 20 MegaPixel Workstation

[kahm]

Hi!

It's come time to rebuild my workstation. I've been using the same set up for years, and it's starting to feel old and cramped.

Here are my 2012 pics:

http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1038212958&postcount=32

And the gaming PC:

http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1038212958&postcount=33

A few changes have happened since then, but not many. My original inspiration to change came from this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7588968@N07/5385441404/in/set-72157625772449579/

I had envisioned building a whole custom desk tailored for the room, will all sorts of neat built in gadgets and amenities. After about 4 months of planning, I ran in to an issue. Unfortunately, due to various circumstances it turns out that I'll be selling this house much sooner than expected - probably about 2 years from now. When one's plans include about a year of build time, things have to change.

So, my plans have largely been simplified, re-using what furniture I can and filling in the rest from Ikea. It's turning out sufficiently nice that I figured I'd share what I've gone through in the last month with you guys.

What I started with, keeping in mind that I had been doing a month of renovations before hand, so it's horribly messy:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1213SRQ2Dygzexj1APFzs9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

Where it's going to go:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eO8HOtf6zBV1IXBl8nb159MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

Oh, and that 20 Mpixel thing? Here's a sneak preview:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5fyxweV67omP0Du8gMglxNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[kahm]

The first step:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ElSAHgaulV5ojLa-vrH4dNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

The shelf came from behind my old gaming PC desk, and was built a couple of years back with farm-based construction acumen. IE - it's built of 2x4 and 3/4" plywood, weighs a ton, and doesn't have that much space to store things. On the up side, it's indestructible, and is a very handy frame for hanging stuff off off.

The lights are from Ikea:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/10139879/

They are both on the same dimmer switch with phillips 12.5w LED lights.
http://www.usa.philips.com/c/led-li...-a19-soft-white-dimmable-046677409906/prd/en/

I wanted upwards firing lights like this:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/50216540/

But they didn't use standard lightbulbs, and Ikea didn't carry dimmable LEDs in that form factor.

The TV is a 47" passive 3d model from Toshiba (47L6200U), and will be used as both a monitor shared between multiple computers, and for blu-ray. The rather poorly lit photo shows my old DVD player hooked up for testing. Regular dvds looked awful, and I decided to grab a blu-ray player on the spot Ended up with an LG BP325 "Smart" 3D blu-ray player. Neither the TV nor the blu-ray player are very smart, but it's not too important when I've got a full computer hooked up to it.

The TV does do Netflix reasonably well by itself, which is convenient, if nothing else.

 

[kahm]

On the other side of the room:

The shelf unit now behind the computer needs to be replaced. Since I'm short of storage space and don't need to build up, I went with the ghetto solution.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xed-kpei0e8UWru850SpcdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yJMAX4B3R9Y9AcS22qmkc9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4Rmp5V8rBTbhiu9OHEvmQtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

A pair of Micke drawer units with a 6' length of shelving between them. It gives me enough space to run cords underneath and put the power wiring in the space between them behind the desk.

Starting to look better at this point:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kE8x3g4p9LIUOZfM29DIqNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[kahm]

The game station is the easy part, relatively.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dZ2ySeupefInnShBcLojlNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

The middle monitor is the Asus Nvidia 3d 23" monitor. Before moving things, I had a pair of Samsung 21.5" monitors for the surround, but the size difference drove me nuts. Luckily, My 2 portrait monitors on the main workstation were also 23" Asus monitors (non-3d). They're a couple of millimeters bigger than the display area on the 3d monitor, but it's unnoticeable in use.

My desktop computer has found a temporary home on this desk while the main workstation is being rebuilt:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Gq3tdXx3JFMUYoaQOrLpEdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[kahm]

Starting to get some work done on the main workstation, here. Starting with the first 2 monitor arms.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xJhj1SpuRfV-SmkUT2MOI9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

And a preview of the rack:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vYA66xuR1d1XuoarLT-JmdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

Most of those cases have the wrong machines in them at this time. I've had rackmount computers for a while, but my main machines were all in regular cases. I'll be changing that and moving almost everything to rackmount for neatness.

The rack itself is surplus. It was an enclosed unit that used to have 8-blade P-200 computers in 5U cases. I've dumped the door and all the original cases except one which I stripped out to make a rail-mounted shelf.

From Top to Bottom:

1)Rail-mounted shelf with a Silverstone "breadbox" PC.
2)Behringer 7 channel USB mixer with line level inputs, used to connect the PCs to the sound system without constantly changing volume and inputs
3)4U case, future home of my desktop
4)4U case, future home of my 2nd Desktop
5)4U case - rescued surplus that will house my OSx86 system
6)1U case - linux server for testing purposes

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/M9rdBBd-f7MEXPCeI2csz9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[kahm]

Now, I want the rack to be self-contained: Wiring this sort of set up is a nightmare, and I'd like to cut down on my rat's nest as much as humanly possible.

First order of business - Power.

Now, the rack is steel with enclosed sides, not leaving me much room to hang stuff on it.

Solution: Wood! I've been doing renovations on my place for quite a while at this point, so I have plenty of bits laying around.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/E7-7LvLXE7YGUhhE8RoIpdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_mfJ1B3h2juwRLGDqvjC0tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

Ended up going with the double-barrel approach. The two boards aren't restricting access to the back of the cases.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PkANNZqr9L2zlj4MmWoH3NMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

That's all for now. More pics later.

 

[kahm]

I want to strap as much as possible to the shelving unit - makes things neater and easier to move around.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/f7XSvPSZMDV71czLC-QdC9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

The monitor arm is supposed to be clamp-mounted, but I don't have a suitable surface. Fortunately, removing the bottom half of the clamp leaves me with 6 convenient mounting holes.

I got the Monster surge suppressor for cheap, and I've got the TV, blu-ray, and amp hooked up to it.

The home theatre receiver is an RCA 5.1 unit I picked up refurbished a few years back. Makes for fantastic computer audio. Because I'm running the main audio through the mixer it's only stereo. I'm using the receiver to dupe the channels to all 5 speakers. I prefer it this way - when I had it hooked up through the optical, I found that videos with 5.1 audio would co-opt the whole sound system, preventing any other audio until I closed them.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/To-wutZJseY7iG9VdUG4S9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

The stapled down line is an HDMI cable that runs from the TV down to this:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yyeX0b28zV2qFG4UMOtPitMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

Which is at desk height behind the main monitor, and gives me easy access if I need to throw something on the desk to work on.

The other desk-heigh convenience I'm adding is "built-in" power sockets. I wanted ones with one socket replaced by a USB charger, but I couldn't find them. Had to settle for and add-on one.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WflYp3Jkuf1PaU9BlgtMTNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Khs0lyEb_vIo-GFtLB9cUtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4qLnvVDS0E_WXCJR-IoJqNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/c_KkiQ3JTxzwexsCQQT80tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

All the bits mounted:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/RB1-1CBTWSFoHrDVlTjg0dMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[kahm]

Rear speakers are up. They're mounted on a beam running behind the desk, firing down at an angle.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2kHXstOW7XKU2Dt8jA4Rm9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

They're remarkably stable and vibration free, despite free floating on the screws at that angle...

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GV0jLMmMq748yFu6H3vXb9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SD1jze1r_DV_Qr7oluRzpNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

Ethernet running to the game PC and the speaker cables are running through conduit from Ikea

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XWlOH26WqIwUM1eqxt0a7dMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[kahm]

I need a place to stuff my switch. Technically, it came with rackmount gear, but do you think I can find it? Bah.

There's a nice space for it in the gap created by the Mixer at the back of the rack.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/R6ejNsNOWVXrwlg10e8S6NMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

So I scrounged some more wood bits (at 4am, so I had to use what was laying around)

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rJrlf293TYPndhTr4m8kydMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

It seems quite happy there. It'll do until I pick up my 24 port managed switch.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/d6s5_8XciYLF2exzJntY4tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[kahm]

I have a bunch of things that I want to put somewhere (KVM, external HD boxes, etc), and no place to put them. I also need somewhere to hang my headphones, but the most convenient place is the side of the steel rack. Not the most convenient place to put a hanger.

Enter this:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tUelsmZnNu2eQ8mPHH3rHtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

It was a shelf that went on top of the hutch over my old computer desk, and it works out to be a near-perfect fit for the top of the rack.

Headphone hook, solved:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8i1c1PwN5ehvQCs3C1gB2dMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_4d0OJsRh81bvSVr9mOLXdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[compslckr]

Not my style at all, but props on getting the area cleaned up and having a vision.

 

[kahm]

Here I'm test fitting the monitors. The arm I reused on the right side isn't adjustable enough, so I'll have to spring for one that matches the left.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TG0BrEWlPwIv9uy7MDGO19MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

Another Micke drawer set is going between the desk and the bookshelves. It's on castors so I can move it, even though I don't go into those shelves often. I was expecting to have to put a monitor on it, which later turned out not to be the case.

Here's the trusty antique oak desk that's going back in. It's been my computer desk for the last 20 or more years. I was hoping to finally retire it with this project, but it's got a stay of execution for now.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uD7vujYy1fjcf15zhSJYG9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

More monitor test-fit. Almost the full set. The silver arm on the left reflects too much on the tv and will have to be replaced with a matching clack one.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pWq_EelNdl8Czt1oBO5629MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[kahm]

Jumping around a bit, the next thing I built up was my collectible nook.

Mucked out the space:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5Lc1gNEnMofw3b-8mVPhJNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

Set up a Vittsjo shelving unit:

http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/20213312/

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hNW7oMrapPlyMgWyutp6PdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

The background sheets behind the shelves also came from Ikea, but I don't know what they are: they were given to me several years ago.

 

[kahm]

I need to take some more pics before I can continue on the workstation, so here's the laptop charging station I did in the space vacated by the old desk.

Made from the Stolmen system from Ikea.
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/categories/departments/bedroom/19087/

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZczUhwAHI504udEUspKlKdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

You can see where I extended power from this room to the new computer room. 2 separate circuits had to be put through a 14" beam.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iSQoqKyYD3UPB9euaafVKtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Wb_oUHzO2XmMM0sxAanwItMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

I'd like to say that I managed that 1/8" gap between the cabinet and the wall entirely on purpose, but I'd be lying.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gBDwNdB3NoouQITeJTJiutMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

The holes I ran power through could be neater, but they took ~45min each with a high power drill and boring bit. They don't build houses like this any more!

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BrHW-VJb3JXuO5jVkX3_0tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

2 screws on each pole into a stud on the roof, and a zip tie slipped into the collar on the pole to keep the 2 parts from rattling.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/CyKye-OkBI_pZf0jEO1FZdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jdhKTIZ7FzgFqMWOtlZLkdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cn5h_anQrwWMiPIRHf3nbtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

3 socket power bars were put onto each shelf, mounted with 3m double sided tape and a pair of screws...

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/L35ndyt3X7eee4sR3ON1W9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

Experience the power of this fully operational laptop charging station! (cord untangling currently optional)

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MjBM7GOpBIf8auUc_E8c09MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[Hokies83]

Woah that is alot of stuff i like it!

 

[ekuest]

more more more!

 

[Luciel]

The geek inside me is loving all this kit but the OCD besite it thinks that it could all look much much more neater, still, great props!

 

[Jorona]

The geek inside me is loving all this kit but the OCD besite it thinks that it could all look much much more neater, still, great props!

Then my internal grammar Nazi explodes at your OCD side for not being OCD enough. "Much more nearer" Really?

OP: Needs more monitors.

 

[Luciel]

Then my internal grammar Nazi explodes at your OCD side for not being OCD enough. "Much more nearer" Really?

OP: Needs more monitors.

I double checked, it says "Much more neater", not nearer, actually the fault is before that, it says besite when I meant beside,

Aside from that, is the phrase "much more neater" incorrect? If so I apologize, I am Spanish and while I´ve been learning english for years, I still make mistakes

Un saludo!

 

[Jorona]

I double checked, it says "Much more neater", not nearer, actually the fault is before that, it says besite when I meant beside,

Aside from that, is the phrase "much more neater" incorrect? If so I apologize, I am Spanish and while I´ve been learning english for years, I still make mistakes

Un saludo!

Figures I can't spell either.

It's "Much neater" or "Much more neat" not "Much more neater"

It's okay, I'm just an asshole american.

 

[Luciel]

Lol, thanks for the correction thought, it got me wondering

 

[kahm]

There are more monitors coming.

I'm also going to be making things neater, but for the moment it's taken so long to get to this point that I just need the thing together and working.

More photos coming, probably in a day or 2.

Glad you guys like it

 

[kahm]

Okay - one last push till the end.

Right hand monitor mount, using the silver monitor arm that started on the left side of the TV. You can see where I moved it back and forth a few times before I was happy with the placement.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nH5_Szw9c18ykUANDPLAntMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/C6yCP8LOe_XdzUhw0be9kNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

I've got an Acer touchscreen that runs off my 2nd desktop computer, mostly for the fun of seeing how useful it is. It rotates, and can be used in either portrait or landscape mode. The computer itself is running Win 7 in Japanese, but I may try Win 8 at some point.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mncNF3QxepNqpS__kqpf3NMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/an-dJMBwC5-IzlqPknr5KtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[kahm]

The monitors to the left of my desk are being mounted to an Ikea Vika Alex storage unit:
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/60192826/

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QNbPDD7gdgPSlp9_oL_suNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

I reinforced the mount point for the dual monitor arm inside, and it's assembled with wood glue.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nXgGnUCZqxEwK0TOE8hxJ9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

I'm missing a good in progress pic of the setup, but I've got 2 samsung 22" 1080p monitors in portrait mode mounted on a dual monitor arm.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1W-4bTqLjCgOsv3NEx8PA9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3RjQD-o7jot_uVzlk5i1ZNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

href=https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WV1hGhkjyYnzYkVDFkVTNNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[kahm]

Some bits and pieces before I show off the final result.

The amplifier is tucked behind the monitor out of site, which makes it a bit hard to use the remote.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xOxUwiNY9rJFH4oVcOSzQdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

My temporary solution is a hard drive anti-static bag strategically place to bounce the IR off of.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Y-m6jlf_jDXQzd3Yi8ABp9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

My rack gets the addition of a worklight bolted to the shelf

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7OmoqP_IQj_t1GQbmLGdd9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

The TV is run off of a 4 port DVI KVM switch. The 2nd keyboard and mouse on the desk are run from here, and it is attached to the OSX86 box, file server, and both the primary and secondary desktops.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QX62LGRQQlFbE-J_qOtuv9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

Clearance from one side of the room to the other came down to 1/8". The rolling drawer unit on the right clears the display cabinet with no space to spare, and the door on the left side of the room clears the rack only by turning the know so that the latch is retracted.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pjsKso_UC1X1KCR_z_1Cl9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

There are some hazards with using so many Ikea parts. I wonder how many of these things end up in landfills every year?

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1sN1cX7XlqfXwOmeKaiheNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[kahm]

Here's the computer guts running the Op, so you can make fun of my bad cable management.

The before, with 2x5770

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nNsihiYeDsDszsf4-JKAhNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

Out with the old

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UFyqfsShIYoSuKaABhGLxNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

In with the new

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YzS9syFfkExfwdtFdNtLutMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kh31rGo9-m6XLPGEMZfNitMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

The business end of an 8 monitor, 22 million pixel workstation.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Xc21J_J6tiJeAiq7a4zfJtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

This 120mm fan dropped my CPU temps by 20 degress celcius under load. I drilled a hole through one of the PCI retention brackets on the case stiffening bar, and the other end is actually duct-taped to the indent over the motherboard ports. Cheap 4U cases don't deal well with the thermal load of a modern PC...

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bKSpJWlAFl62UkTl72c9yNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

The other computer of note is the file server - 11 hard drives in an Antec case. It's powered by a measly Pentium Dual-Core (neutred Core 2 duo) 2.5ghz with a couple of add on SATA cards. It's not a serious server - it's actually a temp setup intended to make the data off my old drives accessible so I can sort it and move it to near line storage.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NP7WbdOGsnsBY9hFgby9X9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

File server in its home. Three more HDs can be connected using the external USB3 and eSata HD docks.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/q4Ln8R6LOOeIj4JFmGQEGdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[kahm]

My Laptop desk - another Ikea unit. It floats around from room to room and side to side to give me extra work space and a spot for my laptop that isn't obscuring monitor space.

Super cheap ikea furniture, assembled with wood glue to give better structural integrity...

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sVbqHeoXHFbF5GXYC9Mr0dMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6GhzcEYpntpXFQWA7L8jxNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

It has a power bar permanently mounted in the cord tray.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xVAqCRAxrZWUubDEccyvDtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[kahm]

And finally - the completed workstation.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/F34lT0IOaKCEOrSezHCOhdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/s9b71Q0QEt0LC1uWYcxHPtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6jJaqOvr5CDnqzyy7P75_dMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

From left to right.
8) 47" Toshiba TV 1920 x 1080 (mounted upper middle)
7) 22" Acer 1680 x 1050 (mounted upper left)
1 and 4) two 22" Samsung 1920 x 1080 in portrait
5) 24" Samsung 1920 x 1200
2) 27" Korean Matrix IPS 2550 x 1440
3) 24" Samsung 1920 x 1200
6) 22" Samsung 1920 x 1280 (mounted upper right)

That's 18,338,400 pixels. The Acer touchscreen on the 2nd desktop is an additional 2,073,600 pixels, for a grand total of 20,412,000 pixels.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5fyxweV67omP0Du8gMglxNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

The Rack.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PVE9te8V9jNfVIBduQFXkdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

The Video walkthrough:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOezROYlV9U

Turn 180 degrees from the main workstation and you find my gaming PC.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/J1ia-7BpGCdescll_X2EgtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite
[img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KXV52h7uhjw/UUZqWtPcFTI/AAAAAAAAARk/nZU484auodc/s800/P1000492.JPG

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nQZvbitBhsQi5DhMcA9d99MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite

 

[sun_bean]

Nice Stuff

 

[rtangwai]

20 megapixel workstation is a misleading title - you have 2 computers driving your monitors.

 

[Temo Vryce]

Personally I see a workstation as a place to sit and work. I can also see you're point where you see the term workstation as the computer that you're working on. Either way you have to admit that this is quite the setup to have.

 

[rtangwai]

Personally I see a workstation as a place to sit and work. I can also see you're point where you see the term workstation as the computer that you're working on. Either way you have to admit that this is quite the setup to have.

Oh, no question about that. I was just hoping all the monitors were plugged into one computer because I wanted to compare notes. When you start pushing that many pixels out you run into problems that more conventional workstations never see and I don't know too many other people who are driving 20 megapixels on a single computer, especially to a non-uniform pool of monitors. I'm also very curious what the workstation is used for as I cannot fathom why he laid out his monitors the way he did.

 

[Wahoomcdaniel]

Wow! I wasn't expecting that array of monitors and computing power.

We talking about 1.21 Gigawatts of power required to run this setup or is a flux capacitor not included among the gear?

 

[houkouonchi]

Nice. My workstation at work is 17 megapixels but I am doing it with only 3 monitors =P. I run linux though with X set at 75 DPI so smaller fonts/menu's which means its probably more desktop real-estate than you are getting with 20 megapixels.

 

[rtangwai]

What resolution are your monitors to get 17 megapixels on 3 displays? Do you have two 4K's and a small 17" 1280x1024?

 

[jackofalltrades]

Impressive, but I don't see the point of all of them.

 

[houkouonchi]

What resolution are your monitors to get 17 megapixels on 3 displays? Do you have two 4K's and a small 17" 1280x1024?

22.2 inch 3840x2400, 27 inch 2560x1440, 30 inch 2560x1600:

 

[rtangwai]

Too bad they don't make the T220/T221 anymore, although I personally wonder how you can read text that small. Are you lining up for 4K?

 

[Robertmarcus]

22.2 inch 3840x2400, 27 inch 2560x1440, 30 inch 2560x1600:

i don't think you have enough pixels...

 

[houkouonchi]

Too bad they don't make the T220/T221 anymore, although I personally wonder how you can read text that small. Are you lining up for 4K?

Yeah although I think this year is finally the year some equivelent size/ppi monitors are going to come out with much better/newer technology (atleast I hope!).

I think I just got acclimated to small text at a young age. My dad was a developer and always got the highest resolution possible and I got good monitors when he upgraded and stuff. I am 27 years old now.

I was using a 17 inch (16 viewable) 1600x1200 CRT when I was 13-14 years old.

I also used a 22 inch CRT (20 inch viewable) @ 2560x1920 resolution from like 16-21 and then I finally upgraded to an LCD later that year (dell 3007 WFP) and shortly after got a VP2290b. The CRT was already 160 PPI and that was actually pretty blurry. Never had problems with the T221. I will admit that I sit a bit farther fro my macbook retina and its slightly smaller (214 ppi) so I do sometimes have problems with that at my normal viewing distance.