Battlestations

I've got a lot of devices that need to plug into an outlet at my desk. Right now, I have 2 surge protectors completely full.

I wanted to get a smart surge protector to auto turn off/on devices I don't want left on all the time (ex: speakers, monitor, DAC/AMP, printer). But the smart surge protectors have fewer outlets than my current one.

My question is, how do you manage your outlets when you have a lot of devices that need to be plugged in? I don't want to have 3 surge protectors plugged into the wall. I'm already drawing a lot of power in my home office with my mini fridge also plugged in (on the opposite side of the room).

I've also heard of something called UPS. Would that be better than plugging it into a surge protector?

For those curios, the devices I have are:

• Two monitors
• Speakers
• DAC/AMP
• Router
• Modem
• Printer
• Ethernet Switch
• PiHole
• Solar panel monitor
• NAS
• Landline phone
• Backup external hard drive

I finally upgraded my desk and I want to have appropriately clean cable management. I would need probably 4 of the option shown here, and that's unnecessarily expensive, so I'm hoping yall have some ideas.

Also, ideally they wouldn't be out in the open, since I've got a nibbly cat.

[](<a href="https://ibb.co/j4DbhFT"><img src="https://removed/j4DbhFT/IMG-20240212-232703-058.jpg" alt="IMG-20240212-232703-058" border="0"></a>)

PC: 5900x + 32GB memory + 6800XT + Pop!_OS

Monitors:

• Top left: 1600x1200 from 2006
• Left, right: 4k 60hz
• Middle: 4k 144hz

Desk: Made this myself during COVID :)

Bottom of desk: Not shown for your safety

I'd like to get a Kvm or hub so I can connect two monitors with displayport, then switch them back and forth between a desktop and a laptop. The desktop only has 1 display port and 2 HDMI ports whereas the laptop only has 2 display ports.

I'd also like to switch my mouse/keyboard between the two machines too. Are there any recommendations that aren't crazy expensive but are still reliable?

PC

• Nobara Linux
• Fractal Torrent
• Asus Proart B550
• AMD Ryzen 5800X3D
• Noctua NH-D15
• GSkill 2x16GB DDR4-3600
• Powercolor Hellhound 7900XTX
• Sabrent Rocket 4.0 1TB
• Crucial P3 Plus 4TB
• Asus WiFi 6E card
• Be Quiet Dark Power 13

Husky height adjustable workbench

• DT770 Pros
• AT2040 Mic
• Yamaha MG06X Mixer
• Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 3rd gen
• Drop BMR1 speakers
• P.I. Engineering L-Trac
• ESP32-S3-Box3
• Sony Dualsense
• BenQ lightbar

Glorious GMMK Pro

• GMK WoB
• holy pandas + tealios v2

Monitors

• Gigabyte M27Q-X
• LG Dualup

Camera

• Sony a5100
• Sigma 16mm f/1.4
• no-name LED panel
• Amaran 100d

I have a two monitor set up going right now hooked up to a dual display KVM switch. Sadly, a recent power outage has caused some finicky behavior in either my KVM or my secondary monitor, since it comes in and out. Will get around to debugging my setup once I have some time this holiday season, but I was also debating on switching to a single ultrawide monitor setup. I'm a software engineer by trade, and I get the most use out of the second monitor while working. However, when I'm doing literally anything else, the second monitor just tends to be Spotify, discord, or some background video or podcast.

What's your preference? Anyone switch from one to the other? How do you use your setup?

Before:

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Full view of my makeshift L-desk now:

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2nd desk is also a bedside table in my bedroom.

I decided few months ago to downsize as I find myself needing my 2nd desk for other stuff other than for my GPU-passthrough VMs and laptop setup, but I still want the option to do that, so I got myself an LG DualUp, since it's one of the monitors that can do proper 16x9 when split and would require very minimal amount of config when going from full size to picture-by-picture.

I work from home and I’m going to school so I spend a lot of time at my desk. I can’t work if it’s cluttered and these cables are driving me crazy.

I built a custom desk using IKEA countertop and file cabinets that runs the full length of my wall. One half is for computer and one half is for other projects that need space!

I love it except the cables are wild and have a mind of their own. I’ve been researching methods so I was wondering:

How do you manage cables?

PS! All your stations have been awesome so far. I’m jealous!

Monitor: Gigabyte M34WQ

Keyboard: GMMK Pro

Mice: G Pro X Superlight / MX Master 2S

PC: FormD T1 / i5 12600K / RTX 3080FE

Most proud of the refinished butcher block desk that I got at a liquidation sale for $50.

What was the worst permanent / semi-permanent / temporary but went on forever... computer setup you used?

I'm not a huge gamer anymore so I actually reduced my setup from 3 16:9 monitors to a single 21:9 monitor. I find myself more focused on the task I am doing when there isn't the distraction of so many open windows.

I recently got this new solid walnut tabletop which is much heavier than the old IKEA tabletop I had that could be pushed around.

Obligatory cat. 🐈

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https://marko.tech/uses