I put my PC on the floor, but not without this $14 stand

Sorry, but I just can’t deal with a big, bulky PC on my desk. I’m already juggling a pair of 27-inch monitors, a couple of boxy Bluetooth speakers, a full-size mechanical keyboard–not to mention I also need space for the occasional connected laptop. Cramming a PC case next to those other components is just too much. 

But putting your PC beneath your desk comes with its own set of problems, as my colleague Dominic Bayley learned the hard way. Cutting to the chase, I’d never put my PC on the floor without a stand; many makes and models are available on Amazon, but I settled on this Io Crest tower stand, which costs a reasonable $14. 

Ben Patterson/Foundry

Why does a PC under a desk need a stand? Even if your PC case has its own feet (which have an evil tendency to fall off), your system will be just millimeters away from the floor, and that means dust, bugs, and spiderwebs, all conspiring to block your PC’s airflow. 

The situation gets worse if your floor is carpeted. Even low-pile carpet can clog a PC’s air vents, and as your CPU and GPU heat up, they’re prone to throttling. That’s bad news for gamers. 

One more threat to consider for PCs on the floor: moisture. My office is in the basement, and we’ve had our fair share of water seepage over the past few years. Even less than an inch of water could be enough to short-circuit your PC’s power supply. 

I’ve purchased three of these $14 Io Crest stands, one for each of the PCs I’ve built, and they’ve served me well over the years. The stand is best described as a plastic, X-shaped bracket with a width that can be adjusted from 6 to 10 inches. The bracket feels thick and sturdy; I’ve never had any concerns that my PC was in danger of tipping out of the stand. 

Ben Patterson/Foundry

A set of casters is included, and with those installed, the bottom of your PC would be a good 4 inches off the floor, high enough to keep your system’s air vents clear even if you have high-pile carpet. Personally, I leave the casters off, and even then, my PC is still roughly two inches off the floor. 

Even if the $14 Io Crest stand isn’t to your liking, there are plenty of alternatives on Amazon, and trust me—you need something for your PC to sit on if it’s going on your desk, unless you like the idea of dust bunnies cozying up to your graphics card.