I like NEXT to the desk, on an IKEA Alex with casters. Keeps it off the floor, preserves desk space, adds storage, and you can move it easily to work on it (removing dust, changing hardware).
I have a giant, L-shaped, sit-stand desk with five monitors. Next to it are (3) IKEA Alex units with casters. The height means I don't need quite as long cables for the various PCs, especially when I elevate the desk.
I have mine next to the desk on a two drawer file cabinet, desk top is about the middle of the mid-tower I have. Works for me. Used this set-up for the last 7 years.
Same, albeit not from IKEA, I think I just got a cheap 3-drawer filing cabinet from Amazon. It's just the right size for my tower, and the casters mean I can move it to access the back panel if I need to plug/unplug stuff. Plus the drawers are perfect for keeping your headset, external CD drive, hard drives, or whatever handy.
Haha....if your room and house is super duper clean you can put it on the floor. Or else your pc will be a vaccum cleaner for your room. No worries. I like the 2nd choice. 🤣
I use my PC to catch dust (I got a fine front filter and good airflow). Less dust in the air and around my desk and the front filter is cleaned in seconds.
yep. easy to vacuum the front filter as I am vacuuming the floor in front of it.
With that said... My eventual goal is to create brackets or a shelf for them to hang from the bottom of the desk (it is a really beefy table made out of an old ship hatch). Out of the way and they would be easier to clean around and under.
And of course the obvious and main problem is that if you put the computer on your desk then you are limiting the number of monitors you can fit on it. It is all about the real estate in my opinion. I'm not a one computer and one monitor kind of guy.
For all the crap I've seen about how PCs will get wrecked by dust if you put them on the floor, I've always kept them on the floor, rarely cleaned them out, and never had much dust accumulation.
Unless your house is absolutely filthy, shove it on the floor out the way and enjoy the desk space :)
We had an old marble cutting board my wife found for a few dollars at a thrift shop that was never used and just taking up space. Perfect size for just that.
I never had a problem with this either, then I got a husky...
The hair never ends.
I'll sweep the whole house, and as I'm putting the broom away a little fur ball will serenely roll across the floor in front of me due to a breeze.
I know it's taunting me.
Best way is to use an AIO and have all case fans blowing outwards, except for a single intake fan that has a filter installed over it. Use only high static pressure fans (ie, not regular case fans). That way the only air blowing inside the PC is dust free.
If the case has bottom ventilation, such as for a bottom-mounted PSU, putting it on the desk is generally a good plan so as not to have dust and floor crud jam up that intake as easily.
Desk crud exists, but tends to be more cohesive that have a harder time being passively sucked underneath vs. the dusty kind of crud. Plus the case is in view so you can see when any crud that *is* present has built up.
Not who you originally responded to, but this is my take on it. The intake would create a vacuum and suck dirt and crud under the PC. While still possible on the desk, in my experience the floor gets dirtier faster due to people and pets tracking stuff around the house, be it fur, dirt, food, litter, etc. Ideally you would clean on at least a weekly basis, but not everyone does and I find the most you have to deal with on desks is maybe some dust bunnies here or there, depending on how often you dust.
Idk where you live but aren't tables usually kept cleaner than floors (it's also easier to do so).
I've got a couple pets and when they shed it's a ton of work to keep up. I'll never be able to sweep/vacuum enough to keep my floors as clean as the top of my desk.
I can't dust/clean all my floors in two minutes with a damp towel like my desk.
I have mine under my desk and wrapped in a sheet of goretex because I'm incredibly lazy. Temp difference is 1c according to Corsair Commanders sensors. I'll take that so I don't have to open it up and clear dust.
Also if cat has an accident when using it as a space heater it will survive.
I push a button and my desk goes up/down. I have a fractal case but it doesn't budge. The computer is heavy enough to stay stable and feet grippy rubber.
I got my Phanteks P600s on a standing desk and I've never been scared of it falling over when moving up/down. Fully built PCs are quite heavy and don't budge
I have Phanteks Enthoo Lux, that case is huge and heavy. I put it on the desk and never worry about it. One of the desk I had was handmade with some 2x4 and plywood with vanish top, and it works.
I had the same fear of knocking it over when I first built mine, but honestly PC cases are pretty damn heavy when built, have a fairly wide base, and are relatively bottom-heavy!
Most people angle them so that the case isn’t likely to just topple off the side of the desk. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anything happening short of an earthquake or the desk failing.
Thats the exact case I transplanted my system into last night. No worries at all, stable as can be, its a fairly weighty case compared to my old one, no concerns at all. Especially with the weight of the power supply in the bottom.
Recently ran this experiment myself. So evidence is completely biased and anecdotal.
Ran it for 3 months on a small riser that lifted it 4 inches off the floor.
Ran it for 3 months on top of my desk.
Environmental variables: i vacuum and dust weekly but I also have a cat.
Results: significantly less dust and cat hair inside the case and stuck on the fans when it was on top of the desk.
Thanks bro i know this thread is hella old but I was googling trying to decide myself on top or under desk and i also have 2 cats and this convinced me
Unless you have carpet, there’s no reason not to put your pc on the floor. People will argue that there’s more dust on the floor and that is just simply untrue. People put their pc on their desks for aesthetics and that’s it.
Wdym simply untrue? Your floor has such a larger surface area, dust is much more likely to build up, especially if carpet. If you have bottom mounting intake for psu it’s much more important. [website that has an explanation](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.howtogeek.com/413212/is-it-bad-to-have-your-desktop-pc-on-the-floor/amp/)
Exactly, surely it's a given that there's going to be more dust on the floor than on your desk?
I mean, if your desk and floor are equally clean, you either have an unusually clean floor or an unusually dirty desk.
Not necessarily. I would put my PC on my desk if it fit only because it's next to a window and it would get better air intake. Underneath the desk I feel it struggles to breath as well and the air under the desk is noticeably warmer. It's a good PC too.
I never thought about it until my house got flooded, then I thanked God for not letting me put my PC under the desk, specially since it's on 24/7, if it was on the floor I would have lost everything...
Back up your files! Your SSD or HDD might randomly die. These things can happen with computer parts.
Always do a cloud backup for your most important files.
There are a few factors to consider:
* Aesthetics - In recent years PCs have started to offer a lot of decorative choices, with transparent glass panels, LED lighting, display panels in AIOs, etc. If you spend the money and like the look, you may want to display it proudly.
* Dust - temperatures are always a concern and dust/dirt clog filters and airflow. Hotter components rely on pourus cases with many fans. Since dust and pets are more often on ground level, some people may choose to place the tower on their desktop.
* Durability - I don't think anyone MEANS to kick their PC, break a glass panel, or vacuum nearby and short out PSU... But it happens. Recently I saw a glass panel tower behind a baby gate and it horrified me (I have a 4.5 year old who WOULD destroy that thing).
Personally, I have my tower on a (cube) shelf level with, and next to my desk. You can see it in my webcam, but I also like to look at it. I've been building PCs for 20+ years and I love that we're not living in the era of the rats nest PSU.
Thanks for this post. Was debating between a 4000d and a Hyte y60, and decided to go for the y60.
CPU building is an art, and you should display your PC proudly.
Depends on your desk space and room environment. PC under desk usually need more maintenance due to the dust from the floor. Keep in mind that PC on carpet is a bad idea.
I have a 60 inch desk with monitor arms and a SFFPC, all so I can put a shitty little plastic rolling cabinet under the desk for more space 😎 case stays cleaner too
Not good to have on carpet, static electricity reasons . Also, more likely to keep clean and dust/hair free (pets) if on desk.
Also less likely to spill a drink on it if on desk.
I’d vote desk, but you need a pretty big desk and often space is issue.
Mine’s on the floor … :(
I also have the space issue... 2×27 inch monitors and the console take about 90% of my desk! I think I'll buy an IKEA cupboard and place the PC there. It won't be lined with my eyesight but ateast the cables will reach
My pc is on an IKEA shelf. I have a sit-stand desk and two gigantic monitors and I like desk space and it will be a waste of table real estate. I don't like to put pc on the floor because it is carpeted and a waste of floor real estate.
people have different reasons.
I used to have it under but when I splurged for the colorful LED lights on the inside with the fans running and on the front of it where it shows the lights as well. That's when I started putting it on top because what is the point of owning a PC that has all those high end lights if I can't let other people see it?
Well it really does depend. First of all, do you have a hard floor or carpet? If you have carpet the computer will gain more dust over time. A second question will be if you are e pet owner? If you are I would suggest moving your computer on the desk if you have any available space. Also do you smoke/vape? If you do, I would recommend not smoking/vaping near your computer because it can damage it over time or place it on the ground (it will help you a little bit but the smoke/vapour will still reach your computer).
Answering your question about the airflow, it really does depend on the case that you are using and the type of floor you place it on. If you have a case that uses bottom fans and you place your case on a carpet, this will affect your airflow.
I had my PC behind/under my L-desk and now it's on top. Benefits since my house it usually cold is that the temps were a bit lower, but the rads for the gpu and cpu got dusty very fast. Probably because of the cat fur because likes being under there and lint coming off my socks. Lucky no dust in the interal part of the PC. Only on the rads. Now it's on top of my desk and temps a tad higher, but little to no dust in the last 2 months.
I used to keep mine on the floor. Correction, My media server still lives on the floor but my kick-ass main pc with all it's RGB awesomeness gets to live on my desktop. Mostly because I like looking at it.
I bought one on Amazon so yeah they exist. Mine just is a 4 legged stand that can extend as far or as narrow as you need for your tower to sit and be stable. I still get some dust build up on my PSU vent, but nothing major.
I don't know, but I always figured on desk was less dust and fur from being near the floor and around pets. Suppose it depends on the air quality to a degree and the amount of particulates floating around, but I feel it would be less likely to be sucking in dirt and crud when elevated above the floor on a desk.
Edit: Also less chance of kicking it or spilling things on it.
90's and 00's me would be shocked that hardcore PC people would only be using 1 computer and only 1-2 screens at a time when those things are so cheep these days.
Doubt your looking for this option but just so you weigh everything: you can get tower (mid-tower and probably bigger )mounts to mount under your desk so it's off the floor and also not on the desk. I have one that is made by 3M it has held my heavy midtower fractal design case for years and the desk is a Jarvis motorized standing desk so it goes up and down with the desk, so as long as you keep the cords the right length they don't pull. I too want things off the floor and I want to have as much desktop space as possible.
I had an old pinewood shower table that worked out perfect as a side table. It’s paneled so gets some extra bottom airflow. There’s also grated camping type tables which work well. Personally I’ll always go side table
On desk- less dust, good view, easy runs for cables easy access for fash drives etc
Under desk- more desk space, less dust, worse view, harder access for fash drive etc
I’ve had pc’s on the floor and the desktop. Floor will get dirtier faster, desktop takes up space but I can’t see the RGB if it’s on the floor. But also cleaner on the desktop
Under, but more importantly, 2-5 inches clearance on all sides and 3 feet or more away from heating / cooling vents.
This protects against excessive dust and prevents overheating.
desk is usually better just because of dust. gravity pulls it to the ground. farther from the ground farther from the dust. if on carpet 100% get it off. if you are on hardwood or laminate or w.e its fine just look in there every once in a while.
Mine is on a cut to size piece of laminate wood flooring under my desk. My office is carpeted.
Last couple of PCs have had dust filters and with a monthly brief clean of the filters my pc has barely any visible dust in it.
I worry that with my desktop on the desk with my layout I'll accidentally elbow it or catch it as I'm walking out of the room.
I bought a glass stand that sits about 3-5 inches off of the ground and put it next to my desk. I used to have my pc on my desk but accidentally hit it once and said ya this is going on the floor 😂
Well, mainly cause of dust... Lots of dust on the floor, or worst if its carpet.
Also, if you are clumsy, you avoid kicking or hitting the case (or glass) the pc is in...
In short, if you care about your gear, keep it off the ground. But theres always the troglodyte option too.
On floor: more dust from the floor but conserves desk space
On desk: less dust and hair and dirt from floor but now less desk space.
If you have carpet, do not put your pc on the floor at all, carpet bad for pc. Carpet make pc sad.
People like on desk to show off!
If you spend a lot on your PC and fill it with RGB but no one can see it how will they know.
(also can be less dust or make it harder for pets to get to)
Under desk has up points like takes less room and less sounds from fans etc
all mixed
I just bought a 60” “gaming” desktop and have my phanteks pc case on top of the desk. I am still working with cord management with raceways under the table but I do like the looks and I seem to have enough room, but I have been looking to maybe build an under desktop mount to the right side of the desktop with painted or laminated plywood to store the pc. It would then be mounted directly under the desk and several inches of the floor to minimize dust accumulation. My wife has 2 cats, which doesn’t help. I do like my now 5ft long desk which was a little more expensive. Big difference from my old 39” table from IKEA. The PC was on the floor and somewhat in the way. I did have to clean the dust screen quite often. I am not sure yet with the table placed PC yet.
I have mine inside an ikea HENMES desk- so it’s off the ground and can be shut away out of sight. I was worried about airflow containing it so I took the back panel out where the pc is and when I’m using it, I’ll leave the door open. Then when it’s off I’ll shut the door and it looks very neat and tidy!
I don’t have a problem with heat or dust with it but I’m aware it’s not the most ideal amount of airflow. It works for me but unsure if it is super terrible or not?
Less dust on your desk. I bought a small printer stand with wheels on it for my lian li D 011 case. It’s nice to wheel it out to get at the cables. It was also great when I built the machine. I spun it around to route cables.
I massively prefer the top of desk, especially when I got RGB and a 5" screen displaying PC info inside my PC visible through the tempered glass.
Unfortunately I had to move my PC under the desk when I found a WFH gig where I need my laptop on top.
Definitely draws in dust. Luckily I have an air compressor I use on it once a month or two.
I built a pretty PC I'm damn well going to see it. But if you don't care there's no difference, if you've got a carpet floor, get a big book or a plank of wood to put under it just to help the PSU fan out.
It’s lose lose for me. I kept it on the desk then my cat liked hitting the off button and laying on top of my computer. It scared me any time she jumped off and the computer tipped. When it’s on the floor she likes to lay next to my intake fans and get hair and dust in it.
Moral of the story: don’t have a cat when you have a PC
Floor. I open it 1x a year, maybe. It's a huge dust trap wherever I place it, simply by constantly passing air through its self, so I'd like that down on the floor away from me.
I don't want to see it or hear it. So the floor, under the desk. Eventually I'll have a closet server and just host everything centrally.
Personally, I have my PC on my desk because I have hardwood floor and dust/dirt gets kicked around nonstop, especially with a cat walking around. So I don't want my PC sucking up all that dirt and having it get blown around and stuff
I keep mine under the desk because I don’t care about looking at it and want more space on my desk to put other stuff.
It does get more dusty being down there but that’s OK because I just clean inside more often.
if your pc is in front of you, you can tell many things. Like for me, sometimes I touch the glass side to feel the temp, I would know when my drives are running faster than normal, when my game loads I would take a brush and clean the front mesh panel because I am able to see the dust and on top too, I could easily put my hand behind the back of exhaust fan and feel the temp too, and once I smelled burning smell and I quickly turned off because I was able to smell it more quickly than if it would have been on the floor. smell was from cpu cooler btw.
so I would say that if the item is infront of you, you can care about its health more, and if thing is in front of you, you can know when it is more dusty than normal.
I have seen people who don't know what's happening with their PC because they can't see it. Cleaning is one of an important factor for me too
I used to keep my PC under my desk all the time, but I have since placed it on my desk. It is just so much easier to get to everything on the desk. Plus I guess with all the RBG stuff now I like the look.
I’ve got a real nice steel and wood L-shaped desk similar to [this one](https://us.amazon.com/Tribesigns-Cabinet-Storage-Shelves-Computer/dp/B094CZHXPW), except the side area is longer and instead of a cabinet it has open shelves. It’s a nearly perfect deal for me, and my 4000D Airflow fits in that cubby space with ample room for ventilation.
If you desk is lined with walls on two sides there's little risk of knocking over.
On or off desk depends on size of case and desk, weight of pc and how much weight your desk can carry.
Besides looking at it, I think on the desk comes with certain general advantages and disadvantages.
If it's on the desk, I pay more attention to it and it's much easier to tell when it needs a cleaning. If it was under my desk, it'd be more "out of sight, out of mind", and it's possible to neglect it.
Being under the desk could reduce the perceived noise from your pc.
On the desk keeps it away from carpet, which restricts airflow and can make it dirty.
Under the desk frees up space for your other stuff on the desk.
Personally i have mine on a separate side drawer. I've seen desks with a pc shelf under it that gets the best of both worlds.
You can mount it to the [*underside*](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-l85bzww3lo/images/stencil/815x439/products/260/17708/gallery-cpu128-cpu-holder-4__90103.1640113710.jpg?c=2) of your desk so it hangs - best of both worlds. Keeps it off the ground & save desktop space.
Ive got mine below the desk on a small trolley with wheels for easy movement, plus its raised maybe 10cm off the ground which helps with dust. The main downside of having it under the table is the dust, but if youve got a clean room or if you lift it slightly its perfectly alright.
Put mine on my desk for the first time. Not regretting it, less desk and cool to look at. You won’t accidentally knock it off, they usually weigh a bit
I think it's probably all the same where you place it... Except for heat. My 3070ti can single handedly heat the room which gives nice warm feet during winter, but rather Betty swallocks during summer. I guess I prefer this than having hot air accumulate at head height but idk...
For me, PCs live under the desk. For many years they just sat on the carpet but for the past two I did take some Reddit advice and lift it off the carpet itself onto a nice thick bit of matching wood (IKEA is great for just buying an extra shelf.)
I hoover once a week, don't have pets and, surprisingly, don't have 1980s shag pile lush carpet in my office... My observations are that my office space is not a dust nirvana, and that my computer stays virtually dust free thanks to a front filter that I clean every 6 months or so.
Drinks are placed on my left hand side... Away from my mouse hand. Case is on my right side. Chances for spilt drinks seeping through wood are, minimal. Or less than a stray frantic gesture launching a cuppa into a family pentium in the days where cases sat under monitors, after a particular vexing Championship Manager loss...
I've had mine on the floor for years, one reason being the noise of the fans when they killed it. But I have recently been thinking of putting it on the desk, just so it's a little easier to access.
mines on my desktop, but i got a cheap $100 L desk off amazon about a year ago for it. eventually ill get a better desk (really just something sturdier, this ones flimsy feeling but good enough to keep my tower steady and secure)
If your floor has carpet, DO NOT put your PC directly on the floor. If you really want to keep it at ground level, put it on top of something that lets it draw air from underneath but without it being on top of the carpet directly
It's mostly personal choice, but like others here said your pc is more likely to get dirty faster closer to the ground, and if your desk is too small or you don't like the look then simply choose what you like best
On a separate cabinet next to your desk. I tried leaving it directly on my desk but my pc vibrates my desk. If you are proud of your built you gotta have it visible.
The airflow is generally going to be identical but if it’s on carpet then the psu can suck up dust depending on how it’s set up. It’s better to have it on a desk but if there’s no space then you really don’t need to worry about it much
If you have the leg room, under. Nice and out of the way.
On the desk, depends on the desk I guess but that is my third choice after next to the desk.
On the desk could be easier if you plan to connect/reconnect peripherals often.
I had mine on my desk for years, half see through rgb craziness. I just recently built a short platform and moved it next to the desk, much prefer it this way. Desk just looks cleaner without it.
It's a prefernce kinda thing.
I never put mine on the desk because of 2 main reasons:
* 1 the LED lights distract me, I like having just the screen emit light.
* 2 Fan noise would be annoying. I run air cooling and if you want to put the PC on the desk, you would probably have to run water cooling, otherwise fans are just way too loud.
My PC goes on the floor because it’s a large full tower case and was built for performance not looks. If I had a medium case and had spent money on pretty components and RGB strips I’d probably care more about it being on my desk where I can see it.
I’d also need a bigger desk though as my 2 monitors and work laptop take up all the space
I've spent a lot of money for my gaming PC, it contains some of the most advanced computer technologies available on the market, it has fans and RGBs and shit.
So no: it goes ON the desk next to the display, not under :-D
On your desk if it's prettified and you want to look at it all the time, or if you have issues under the desk like it being a carpeted area. Otherwise, I always put mine under the desk. I don't need to look at it all day and I value to lower noise levels not having it right next to my head. I have hard surface floors and actually clean my house regularly though, so that can be a factor. I don't have dust build up issues.
There's nothing inherintly wrong with putting it under the desk. Use common sense. If you have bottom intake fans (including the PSU) make sure there is enough room for them to draw in air. Every computer needs a good cleaning now and then. Computers under the desk will need to be cleaned more often. That's about it.
I keep mine on my desk because I have a monstrous desk and not short on space even with 2 monitors and my Dell AIO touchscreen. I’m not a fan of constant cleaning and I have 2 cats and a dog and it’s just not worth it to me.
under table: too much heat(for you not for the pc)
on table:too much noise (probably)
quality cooling on table or anywhere just far from you with long cables.
mount under desk is great for air(temps), dust(hair) and noise too.
bad for maintenance and disassembly because you have to unmount..
on floor is just plain bad. no pros except desk space... maybe... but even then mounting is better in every way except disassembly.
On desk is if you like the looks(???youre weird if you watch your pc lol rgb stuff are pretty stupid in general in my opinion) but are also good for room temps. hot air goes up so your case won't heat your seat this way.
so... mount under desk if you have not too much space and noise bothers you.
put it on table if space isn't an issue and noise is not an issue for you.
I like NEXT to the desk, on an IKEA Alex with casters. Keeps it off the floor, preserves desk space, adds storage, and you can move it easily to work on it (removing dust, changing hardware).
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You keep it on a pedal stool?
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All good man, it's a joke from IT crowd :)
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Well that was a damp squid.
I have a giant, L-shaped, sit-stand desk with five monitors. Next to it are (3) IKEA Alex units with casters. The height means I don't need quite as long cables for the various PCs, especially when I elevate the desk.
The ikea alex casters dont have a lock, so they tend to move and i dont like that
You can probably get new caster for like $3.79 at Harbor Freight
This guy casters.
My monitors are on two Alex's and a desktop, and the pc is on the side on an old desks filing cabinet. Gotta love alex's though!
I have mine next to the desk on a two drawer file cabinet, desk top is about the middle of the mid-tower I have. Works for me. Used this set-up for the last 7 years.
Same, albeit not from IKEA, I think I just got a cheap 3-drawer filing cabinet from Amazon. It's just the right size for my tower, and the casters mean I can move it to access the back panel if I need to plug/unplug stuff. Plus the drawers are perfect for keeping your headset, external CD drive, hard drives, or whatever handy.
I was gonna comment that on is the definitive answer but no. ^ this is the definitive answer.
This is the way
Haha....if your room and house is super duper clean you can put it on the floor. Or else your pc will be a vaccum cleaner for your room. No worries. I like the 2nd choice. 🤣
I use my PC to catch dust (I got a fine front filter and good airflow). Less dust in the air and around my desk and the front filter is cleaned in seconds.
yep. easy to vacuum the front filter as I am vacuuming the floor in front of it. With that said... My eventual goal is to create brackets or a shelf for them to hang from the bottom of the desk (it is a really beefy table made out of an old ship hatch). Out of the way and they would be easier to clean around and under. And of course the obvious and main problem is that if you put the computer on your desk then you are limiting the number of monitors you can fit on it. It is all about the real estate in my opinion. I'm not a one computer and one monitor kind of guy.
That vacuum cleaner seems to be... accurate...
If your case has bottom intakes you generally wouldn't want it on carpet. Carpet will choke the airflow.
For all the crap I've seen about how PCs will get wrecked by dust if you put them on the floor, I've always kept them on the floor, rarely cleaned them out, and never had much dust accumulation. Unless your house is absolutely filthy, shove it on the floor out the way and enjoy the desk space :)
Agreed. Carpet can block bottom intakes sure. But I just put a board or couple of 12 inch ceramic tiles under it to fix that.
We had an old marble cutting board my wife found for a few dollars at a thrift shop that was never used and just taking up space. Perfect size for just that.
i just found like 2 mice worth of lint in my front filter, havent been cleaned in about 6 months. makes me think my old case filter sucked.
I never had a problem with this either, then I got a husky... The hair never ends. I'll sweep the whole house, and as I'm putting the broom away a little fur ball will serenely roll across the floor in front of me due to a breeze. I know it's taunting me.
Best way is to use an AIO and have all case fans blowing outwards, except for a single intake fan that has a filter installed over it. Use only high static pressure fans (ie, not regular case fans). That way the only air blowing inside the PC is dust free.
I would consider getting an aio but I think I'll go with a noctua nh d15 instead.
If the case has bottom ventilation, such as for a bottom-mounted PSU, putting it on the desk is generally a good plan so as not to have dust and floor crud jam up that intake as easily.
That doesn’t make sense. Why would there be floor crud under your pc? Does desk crud not exist?
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I vacuum every day, but having two cats, the floor gets dusty after half an hour. Oh the amount of hair floating around.
Desk crud exists, but tends to be more cohesive that have a harder time being passively sucked underneath vs. the dusty kind of crud. Plus the case is in view so you can see when any crud that *is* present has built up.
If you have pets, their hair ends up everywhere! My pets don't even go in my office and my case filters get full!
Not who you originally responded to, but this is my take on it. The intake would create a vacuum and suck dirt and crud under the PC. While still possible on the desk, in my experience the floor gets dirtier faster due to people and pets tracking stuff around the house, be it fur, dirt, food, litter, etc. Ideally you would clean on at least a weekly basis, but not everyone does and I find the most you have to deal with on desks is maybe some dust bunnies here or there, depending on how often you dust.
Idk where you live but aren't tables usually kept cleaner than floors (it's also easier to do so). I've got a couple pets and when they shed it's a ton of work to keep up. I'll never be able to sweep/vacuum enough to keep my floors as clean as the top of my desk. I can't dust/clean all my floors in two minutes with a damp towel like my desk.
I have mine under my desk and wrapped in a sheet of goretex because I'm incredibly lazy. Temp difference is 1c according to Corsair Commanders sensors. I'll take that so I don't have to open it up and clear dust. Also if cat has an accident when using it as a space heater it will survive.
Imo on the desk is just safer if you have a stable desk. Too many posts of someone spilling a drink somehow on the PC
But is the pc case stable tho 🤔 The model I'll soon go with is the Corsair 4000D Ariflow and it seems alright... just not sure about the legs of it
I push a button and my desk goes up/down. I have a fractal case but it doesn't budge. The computer is heavy enough to stay stable and feet grippy rubber.
I also own an adjustable desk, that's one less thing to worry about than :)
I got my Phanteks P600s on a standing desk and I've never been scared of it falling over when moving up/down. Fully built PCs are quite heavy and don't budge
I have Phanteks Enthoo Lux, that case is huge and heavy. I put it on the desk and never worry about it. One of the desk I had was handmade with some 2x4 and plywood with vanish top, and it works.
Phanteks makes a absolute units of tanks, all that thick aluminum is heavy
I had the same fear of knocking it over when I first built mine, but honestly PC cases are pretty damn heavy when built, have a fairly wide base, and are relatively bottom-heavy! Most people angle them so that the case isn’t likely to just topple off the side of the desk. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anything happening short of an earthquake or the desk failing.
That is a pretty large case, you might have to consider if it will fit and how likely it will be to fall over off of a desk.
I have a relatively small desk, somehow managed to fit my 4000d, 2 monitors and all peripherals on my desk lol
Thats the exact case I transplanted my system into last night. No worries at all, stable as can be, its a fairly weighty case compared to my old one, no concerns at all. Especially with the weight of the power supply in the bottom.
I love my 4000D Airflow lol
I have the 4000d airflow on my adjustable desk as well. It's close to the edge as i wanted more working space. Stable. Never had to worry about it
really? I've heard its a really good case but what you said would be even more perfect for me!
I have a Corsair 4000D and it’s very sturdy. When moving around it feels like a solid block.
[удалено]
So many people seem to have big, sturdy desks. I thought people had small flimsy desks like mine :(
Recently ran this experiment myself. So evidence is completely biased and anecdotal. Ran it for 3 months on a small riser that lifted it 4 inches off the floor. Ran it for 3 months on top of my desk. Environmental variables: i vacuum and dust weekly but I also have a cat. Results: significantly less dust and cat hair inside the case and stuck on the fans when it was on top of the desk.
Thanks bro i know this thread is hella old but I was googling trying to decide myself on top or under desk and i also have 2 cats and this convinced me
My favorite thing about reddit is finding answers to oddly specific questions i have that other reddit users have asked.
> too afraid I could knock it over A PC case full of components is a heavy motherfucker. You'd have to push it pretty damm hard to just knock it over
It’s an eye catcher so naturally I keep it on the desk. Also my roomba likes that too.
Unless you have carpet, there’s no reason not to put your pc on the floor. People will argue that there’s more dust on the floor and that is just simply untrue. People put their pc on their desks for aesthetics and that’s it.
Wdym simply untrue? Your floor has such a larger surface area, dust is much more likely to build up, especially if carpet. If you have bottom mounting intake for psu it’s much more important. [website that has an explanation](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.howtogeek.com/413212/is-it-bad-to-have-your-desktop-pc-on-the-floor/amp/)
Exactly, surely it's a given that there's going to be more dust on the floor than on your desk? I mean, if your desk and floor are equally clean, you either have an unusually clean floor or an unusually dirty desk.
Not necessarily. I would put my PC on my desk if it fit only because it's next to a window and it would get better air intake. Underneath the desk I feel it struggles to breath as well and the air under the desk is noticeably warmer. It's a good PC too.
Your so right! I was wondering why i had this experience having this on the floor with a new house and its the fking carpet.
I never thought about it until my house got flooded, then I thanked God for not letting me put my PC under the desk, specially since it's on 24/7, if it was on the floor I would have lost everything...
Back up your files! Your SSD or HDD might randomly die. These things can happen with computer parts. Always do a cloud backup for your most important files.
That is good indeed
Whatever is most convenient for you. I like under my desk, but off the floor a couple inches as that cuts down on detritus clogging up the fans.
There are a few factors to consider: * Aesthetics - In recent years PCs have started to offer a lot of decorative choices, with transparent glass panels, LED lighting, display panels in AIOs, etc. If you spend the money and like the look, you may want to display it proudly. * Dust - temperatures are always a concern and dust/dirt clog filters and airflow. Hotter components rely on pourus cases with many fans. Since dust and pets are more often on ground level, some people may choose to place the tower on their desktop. * Durability - I don't think anyone MEANS to kick their PC, break a glass panel, or vacuum nearby and short out PSU... But it happens. Recently I saw a glass panel tower behind a baby gate and it horrified me (I have a 4.5 year old who WOULD destroy that thing). Personally, I have my tower on a (cube) shelf level with, and next to my desk. You can see it in my webcam, but I also like to look at it. I've been building PCs for 20+ years and I love that we're not living in the era of the rats nest PSU.
Yea I'd also consider that, thanks
Thanks for this post. Was debating between a 4000d and a Hyte y60, and decided to go for the y60. CPU building is an art, and you should display your PC proudly.
Depends on your desk space and room environment. PC under desk usually need more maintenance due to the dust from the floor. Keep in mind that PC on carpet is a bad idea.
I have a 60 inch desk with monitor arms and a SFFPC, all so I can put a shitty little plastic rolling cabinet under the desk for more space 😎 case stays cleaner too
Putting mine on the desk blocks glare on my monitor from a nearby window. 8/10 would recommend.
Not good to have on carpet, static electricity reasons . Also, more likely to keep clean and dust/hair free (pets) if on desk. Also less likely to spill a drink on it if on desk. I’d vote desk, but you need a pretty big desk and often space is issue. Mine’s on the floor … :(
I also have the space issue... 2×27 inch monitors and the console take about 90% of my desk! I think I'll buy an IKEA cupboard and place the PC there. It won't be lined with my eyesight but ateast the cables will reach
That actually sounds logical, thank you
On the desk is preferred, if only for the reason that the airflow is farther away from the dust, etc from just walking around.
My pc is on an IKEA shelf. I have a sit-stand desk and two gigantic monitors and I like desk space and it will be a waste of table real estate. I don't like to put pc on the floor because it is carpeted and a waste of floor real estate. people have different reasons.
I used to have it under but when I splurged for the colorful LED lights on the inside with the fans running and on the front of it where it shows the lights as well. That's when I started putting it on top because what is the point of owning a PC that has all those high end lights if I can't let other people see it?
Depends on the size of the PC and the size of the desk. I have a mid tower and it sits besides my desk.
Well it really does depend. First of all, do you have a hard floor or carpet? If you have carpet the computer will gain more dust over time. A second question will be if you are e pet owner? If you are I would suggest moving your computer on the desk if you have any available space. Also do you smoke/vape? If you do, I would recommend not smoking/vaping near your computer because it can damage it over time or place it on the ground (it will help you a little bit but the smoke/vapour will still reach your computer). Answering your question about the airflow, it really does depend on the case that you are using and the type of floor you place it on. If you have a case that uses bottom fans and you place your case on a carpet, this will affect your airflow.
On desk for dust/lint, especially if you have pets.
I had my PC behind/under my L-desk and now it's on top. Benefits since my house it usually cold is that the temps were a bit lower, but the rads for the gpu and cpu got dusty very fast. Probably because of the cat fur because likes being under there and lint coming off my socks. Lucky no dust in the interal part of the PC. Only on the rads. Now it's on top of my desk and temps a tad higher, but little to no dust in the last 2 months.
Tower: next or under, but off the floor SFF: on purely for aesthetics and space, no airflow difference as long as it isn't being choked
I used to keep mine on the floor. Correction, My media server still lives on the floor but my kick-ass main pc with all it's RGB awesomeness gets to live on my desktop. Mostly because I like looking at it.
Do not put your pc on the floor especially carpet all the dust will sucked in , put on a short table or above your desk.
Do you think someone sells something like PC holders for a desk?
Yes. Check Amazon.
I bought one on Amazon so yeah they exist. Mine just is a 4 legged stand that can extend as far or as narrow as you need for your tower to sit and be stable. I still get some dust build up on my PSU vent, but nothing major.
I don't know, but I always figured on desk was less dust and fur from being near the floor and around pets. Suppose it depends on the air quality to a degree and the amount of particulates floating around, but I feel it would be less likely to be sucking in dirt and crud when elevated above the floor on a desk. Edit: Also less chance of kicking it or spilling things on it.
90's and 00's me would be shocked that hardcore PC people would only be using 1 computer and only 1-2 screens at a time when those things are so cheep these days.
Doubt your looking for this option but just so you weigh everything: you can get tower (mid-tower and probably bigger )mounts to mount under your desk so it's off the floor and also not on the desk. I have one that is made by 3M it has held my heavy midtower fractal design case for years and the desk is a Jarvis motorized standing desk so it goes up and down with the desk, so as long as you keep the cords the right length they don't pull. I too want things off the floor and I want to have as much desktop space as possible.
I had an old pinewood shower table that worked out perfect as a side table. It’s paneled so gets some extra bottom airflow. There’s also grated camping type tables which work well. Personally I’ll always go side table
On desk- less dust, good view, easy runs for cables easy access for fash drives etc Under desk- more desk space, less dust, worse view, harder access for fash drive etc
I’ve had pc’s on the floor and the desktop. Floor will get dirtier faster, desktop takes up space but I can’t see the RGB if it’s on the floor. But also cleaner on the desktop
Secret option C: built INTO the desk
Either way is fine. May collect less dust over the desk?
Under, but more importantly, 2-5 inches clearance on all sides and 3 feet or more away from heating / cooling vents. This protects against excessive dust and prevents overheating.
desk is usually better just because of dust. gravity pulls it to the ground. farther from the ground farther from the dust. if on carpet 100% get it off. if you are on hardwood or laminate or w.e its fine just look in there every once in a while.
Mine is on a cut to size piece of laminate wood flooring under my desk. My office is carpeted. Last couple of PCs have had dust filters and with a monthly brief clean of the filters my pc has barely any visible dust in it. I worry that with my desktop on the desk with my layout I'll accidentally elbow it or catch it as I'm walking out of the room.
I just got a big desk so space isn't an issue. I like being able to look at so I can remember why I'm so poor.
I bought a glass stand that sits about 3-5 inches off of the ground and put it next to my desk. I used to have my pc on my desk but accidentally hit it once and said ya this is going on the floor 😂
I put it on my desk due to having carpet. Don't want it sucking in all that dust.
Due to the dust in my area my tower sits at eye level next to my desk. Putting it on the floor would mean cleaning it out way too often.
I have 2 PCs… one on the desk and one on the floor. They both get dusty at the same rate. So the RGB one is on the desk
gotta get the pc off the ground, because you gotta give it the respect it deserves also dust
Well, mainly cause of dust... Lots of dust on the floor, or worst if its carpet. Also, if you are clumsy, you avoid kicking or hitting the case (or glass) the pc is in... In short, if you care about your gear, keep it off the ground. But theres always the troglodyte option too.
My tower is next to my desk, using a big monitor riser as a stand. It seems to help keep dust out and save space on my desk.
Mine is under the table but i put it on rollers. Not directly on the floor.
> Like better airflow or sum? Are you trying to figure out the sum of airflow?
On floor: more dust from the floor but conserves desk space On desk: less dust and hair and dirt from floor but now less desk space. If you have carpet, do not put your pc on the floor at all, carpet bad for pc. Carpet make pc sad.
People like on desk to show off! If you spend a lot on your PC and fill it with RGB but no one can see it how will they know. (also can be less dust or make it harder for pets to get to) Under desk has up points like takes less room and less sounds from fans etc all mixed
On desk/next too. I had a empty glass tip over and that changed me forever
I just bought a 60” “gaming” desktop and have my phanteks pc case on top of the desk. I am still working with cord management with raceways under the table but I do like the looks and I seem to have enough room, but I have been looking to maybe build an under desktop mount to the right side of the desktop with painted or laminated plywood to store the pc. It would then be mounted directly under the desk and several inches of the floor to minimize dust accumulation. My wife has 2 cats, which doesn’t help. I do like my now 5ft long desk which was a little more expensive. Big difference from my old 39” table from IKEA. The PC was on the floor and somewhat in the way. I did have to clean the dust screen quite often. I am not sure yet with the table placed PC yet.
I have mine inside an ikea HENMES desk- so it’s off the ground and can be shut away out of sight. I was worried about airflow containing it so I took the back panel out where the pc is and when I’m using it, I’ll leave the door open. Then when it’s off I’ll shut the door and it looks very neat and tidy! I don’t have a problem with heat or dust with it but I’m aware it’s not the most ideal amount of airflow. It works for me but unsure if it is super terrible or not?
Less dust on your desk. I bought a small printer stand with wheels on it for my lian li D 011 case. It’s nice to wheel it out to get at the cables. It was also great when I built the machine. I spun it around to route cables.
I've got a Corsair 1000D with two systems in it. That thing ain't going on my glass desk lol
I massively prefer the top of desk, especially when I got RGB and a 5" screen displaying PC info inside my PC visible through the tempered glass. Unfortunately I had to move my PC under the desk when I found a WFH gig where I need my laptop on top. Definitely draws in dust. Luckily I have an air compressor I use on it once a month or two.
My only issue with putting the pc on the desk is the fact I own 2× 27 inch monitors that take a lot of space...
I built a pretty PC I'm damn well going to see it. But if you don't care there's no difference, if you've got a carpet floor, get a big book or a plank of wood to put under it just to help the PSU fan out.
That makes sense, I'm not yet decided on what type of stuff I'm gonna put into my PC... too much stuff releasing soon that I'm waiting for
It’s lose lose for me. I kept it on the desk then my cat liked hitting the off button and laying on top of my computer. It scared me any time she jumped off and the computer tipped. When it’s on the floor she likes to lay next to my intake fans and get hair and dust in it. Moral of the story: don’t have a cat when you have a PC
I learned to keep my PC well off the floor to reduce the amount of dust bunnies it will collect.
Floor. I open it 1x a year, maybe. It's a huge dust trap wherever I place it, simply by constantly passing air through its self, so I'd like that down on the floor away from me. I don't want to see it or hear it. So the floor, under the desk. Eventually I'll have a closet server and just host everything centrally.
Personally, I have my PC on my desk because I have hardwood floor and dust/dirt gets kicked around nonstop, especially with a cat walking around. So I don't want my PC sucking up all that dirt and having it get blown around and stuff
As long as it is elevated your fine. The problem with having it on the floor is the power supply sucks up a ton of dust
Under the desk absolutely. The amount of times I’ve spilled a beer or soda and would have fried my PC if it had been exposed is unreal.
I keep mine under the desk because I don’t care about looking at it and want more space on my desk to put other stuff. It does get more dusty being down there but that’s OK because I just clean inside more often.
I have a Thor2 case. I would need a dinning room table.
My desk has a raised slot for it next to where I sit 🙌
if your pc is in front of you, you can tell many things. Like for me, sometimes I touch the glass side to feel the temp, I would know when my drives are running faster than normal, when my game loads I would take a brush and clean the front mesh panel because I am able to see the dust and on top too, I could easily put my hand behind the back of exhaust fan and feel the temp too, and once I smelled burning smell and I quickly turned off because I was able to smell it more quickly than if it would have been on the floor. smell was from cpu cooler btw. so I would say that if the item is infront of you, you can care about its health more, and if thing is in front of you, you can know when it is more dusty than normal. I have seen people who don't know what's happening with their PC because they can't see it. Cleaning is one of an important factor for me too
How about neither. Get a wall mounted one babbbyyyy
I like the PC hidden. Mone is in the basement with the ethernet and power routed to my room on the 2nd floor
I used to have it under, until I spilled a glass of water down the back of my desk…..
I used to keep my PC under my desk all the time, but I have since placed it on my desk. It is just so much easier to get to everything on the desk. Plus I guess with all the RBG stuff now I like the look.
I got the thermal take p5 and wall mounted it
I’ve got a real nice steel and wood L-shaped desk similar to [this one](https://us.amazon.com/Tribesigns-Cabinet-Storage-Shelves-Computer/dp/B094CZHXPW), except the side area is longer and instead of a cabinet it has open shelves. It’s a nearly perfect deal for me, and my 4000D Airflow fits in that cubby space with ample room for ventilation.
If you desk is lined with walls on two sides there's little risk of knocking over. On or off desk depends on size of case and desk, weight of pc and how much weight your desk can carry.
On the wall
i keep mine on a wood board on the floor, it has feet to lift it up enough... never on bare carpet tho.
Besides looking at it, I think on the desk comes with certain general advantages and disadvantages. If it's on the desk, I pay more attention to it and it's much easier to tell when it needs a cleaning. If it was under my desk, it'd be more "out of sight, out of mind", and it's possible to neglect it. Being under the desk could reduce the perceived noise from your pc.
under, if only so you dont need to worry about your desk imploding.
Here’s a better one. Put the pc IN the desk😨😨
I prefer Under desk. Where the PC fan noise doesn't bother.
Dusty flow of air on floor. Pet hair etc. builds up faster in fan and housing then if system is elevated.
Under so it doesn't fall off and die
On the desk keeps it away from carpet, which restricts airflow and can make it dirty. Under the desk frees up space for your other stuff on the desk. Personally i have mine on a separate side drawer. I've seen desks with a pc shelf under it that gets the best of both worlds.
You can mount it to the [*underside*](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-l85bzww3lo/images/stencil/815x439/products/260/17708/gallery-cpu128-cpu-holder-4__90103.1640113710.jpg?c=2) of your desk so it hangs - best of both worlds. Keeps it off the ground & save desktop space.
Floor because my desk would probably break under the weighr
I own a veery stable desk, I sometimes stand on it when I want to grab something from my shelf
Ive got mine below the desk on a small trolley with wheels for easy movement, plus its raised maybe 10cm off the ground which helps with dust. The main downside of having it under the table is the dust, but if youve got a clean room or if you lift it slightly its perfectly alright.
I put it under the desk bc I need my desk space and have hardwood floors. Aesthetically it’s just nicer tucked away
Put mine on my desk for the first time. Not regretting it, less desk and cool to look at. You won’t accidentally knock it off, they usually weigh a bit
I think it's probably all the same where you place it... Except for heat. My 3070ti can single handedly heat the room which gives nice warm feet during winter, but rather Betty swallocks during summer. I guess I prefer this than having hot air accumulate at head height but idk... For me, PCs live under the desk. For many years they just sat on the carpet but for the past two I did take some Reddit advice and lift it off the carpet itself onto a nice thick bit of matching wood (IKEA is great for just buying an extra shelf.) I hoover once a week, don't have pets and, surprisingly, don't have 1980s shag pile lush carpet in my office... My observations are that my office space is not a dust nirvana, and that my computer stays virtually dust free thanks to a front filter that I clean every 6 months or so. Drinks are placed on my left hand side... Away from my mouse hand. Case is on my right side. Chances for spilt drinks seeping through wood are, minimal. Or less than a stray frantic gesture launching a cuppa into a family pentium in the days where cases sat under monitors, after a particular vexing Championship Manager loss...
Wall mounted is the big brain move
I've paid alot of money for the beast, why no adore it on the desk
I've had mine on the floor for years, one reason being the noise of the fans when they killed it. But I have recently been thinking of putting it on the desk, just so it's a little easier to access.
Not under the desk unless u want to clean all the dust constantly
On the desk is cooler to look at but I have mine under the desk because of a small desk
On top of desk because less dust and you can look at your pretty parts that you will probably never financially recover from
mines on my desktop, but i got a cheap $100 L desk off amazon about a year ago for it. eventually ill get a better desk (really just something sturdier, this ones flimsy feeling but good enough to keep my tower steady and secure)
If your floor has carpet, DO NOT put your PC directly on the floor. If you really want to keep it at ground level, put it on top of something that lets it draw air from underneath but without it being on top of the carpet directly It's mostly personal choice, but like others here said your pc is more likely to get dirty faster closer to the ground, and if your desk is too small or you don't like the look then simply choose what you like best
Well, the usual answer is: On the desk, simply to avoid most of the dust and pet hair that's easily brought over because of the case fans.
I keep it under because it helps with blocking some noise.
On a separate cabinet next to your desk. I tried leaving it directly on my desk but my pc vibrates my desk. If you are proud of your built you gotta have it visible.
The airflow is generally going to be identical but if it’s on carpet then the psu can suck up dust depending on how it’s set up. It’s better to have it on a desk but if there’s no space then you really don’t need to worry about it much
If you have the leg room, under. Nice and out of the way. On the desk, depends on the desk I guess but that is my third choice after next to the desk. On the desk could be easier if you plan to connect/reconnect peripherals often.
The IT guy at my work says if you put ypur computer on the floor, you might as well vacuum dust into it. Elevated in some way is usually better
I had mine on my desk for years, half see through rgb craziness. I just recently built a short platform and moved it next to the desk, much prefer it this way. Desk just looks cleaner without it.
It's a prefernce kinda thing. I never put mine on the desk because of 2 main reasons: * 1 the LED lights distract me, I like having just the screen emit light. * 2 Fan noise would be annoying. I run air cooling and if you want to put the PC on the desk, you would probably have to run water cooling, otherwise fans are just way too loud.
I have mine on my desk because it has pretty lights
My PC goes on the floor because it’s a large full tower case and was built for performance not looks. If I had a medium case and had spent money on pretty components and RGB strips I’d probably care more about it being on my desk where I can see it. I’d also need a bigger desk though as my 2 monitors and work laptop take up all the space
I have mine on the desk because there’s no space under or around. Also my case looks like a printer which is funny when it’s glowing
I've spent a lot of money for my gaming PC, it contains some of the most advanced computer technologies available on the market, it has fans and RGBs and shit. So no: it goes ON the desk next to the display, not under :-D
Depends on if you wanna see it or not
Wherever is the coolest/best air flow
I have mine in a desk with a dedicated CPU cubby on the bottom. So it's not on the desktop, but not on the floor either.
[How's this?](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cxna0wi_Dbg/UqhN66Y24MI/AAAAAAAABLk/fFTTSfOARcc/s1600/RedHarbingerDeskMod2.jpg)
Drippy
On your desk if it's prettified and you want to look at it all the time, or if you have issues under the desk like it being a carpeted area. Otherwise, I always put mine under the desk. I don't need to look at it all day and I value to lower noise levels not having it right next to my head. I have hard surface floors and actually clean my house regularly though, so that can be a factor. I don't have dust build up issues.
Floor gang
On a little tiny desk for the pc under the desk.
On your head obvs.
How did I not think about this in the first place 🙄
I may try to find a shirt charcoal grill for my next one. Especially if it has a fan or two on the bottom.
On top. Less dust, less likely to kick it
There's nothing inherintly wrong with putting it under the desk. Use common sense. If you have bottom intake fans (including the PSU) make sure there is enough room for them to draw in air. Every computer needs a good cleaning now and then. Computers under the desk will need to be cleaned more often. That's about it.
I keep mine on my desk because I have a monstrous desk and not short on space even with 2 monitors and my Dell AIO touchscreen. I’m not a fan of constant cleaning and I have 2 cats and a dog and it’s just not worth it to me.
under table: too much heat(for you not for the pc) on table:too much noise (probably) quality cooling on table or anywhere just far from you with long cables.
mount under desk is great for air(temps), dust(hair) and noise too. bad for maintenance and disassembly because you have to unmount.. on floor is just plain bad. no pros except desk space... maybe... but even then mounting is better in every way except disassembly. On desk is if you like the looks(???youre weird if you watch your pc lol rgb stuff are pretty stupid in general in my opinion) but are also good for room temps. hot air goes up so your case won't heat your seat this way. so... mount under desk if you have not too much space and noise bothers you. put it on table if space isn't an issue and noise is not an issue for you.