The Best PC Setup for Height Adjustable Desks: Floor Trolley vs Desk Mounted

PC housing options (left to right) full PC trolley, 1-2 PCs that raise with the desk and 1-2 PCs in expandable PC trolley

As sit-stand trading desks become more popular among financial professionals, a practical question has emerged: Should your PC rise with your desk or stay grounded on a PC trolley?

PC placement can affect ergonomics, cable management, ease of IT access, and even productivity. Whether you're a day trader with six monitors and 2-3 PCs or use one PC with a couple of high-resolution monitors, understanding the trade-offs of PC positioning can help you make a more informed setup decision.

Below, we explore the pros and cons of both configurations—PCs that move with your desk and those that remain stationary on a trolley—to help you decide what suits your setup best.

A dynamic PC cabinet housing up to two PCs that rises with the desk

PCs That Rise With Height-Adjustable Desks

Pros

1. You can use standard length cables

When your PC is mounted to rise with a height-adjustable desk (usually via a dedicated under-desktop dynamic PC housing), standard length cables for your equipment are usually sufficient as they only need to reach the PC directly beneath the desktop.

2. Easier IT installation

Since the cables don’t need to run through cable chains down to a floor-mounted PC, installation is much simpler. If a cable fails later, it’s easier to install a replacement.  Accessing the PC is more convenient too, you can raise the desk to a standing position and work on the PC while seated, rather than having to crawl under the desk.

Raised desk showing roll-out PC trolley and cable management to desktop

3. Reduced chance of Cable Strain

By mounting the PC to rise with the desk, you can keep your cables at a fixed length and position. This setup helps prevent common issues like cables getting tugged, snagged, or accidentally unplugged during desk movement.

4. Better management of connected devices

If your PC rises with the desk, it's physically closer to your connected devices, such as monitors, keyboards, and webcams. This allows you to use shorter USB 2.0, USB 3.0, and display cables.

For example, modern high-resolution monitors typically use DisplayPort (DP) connections. If your PC is on the floor, you may need long and expensive active DisplayPort cables, especially when using daisy-chaining to connect multiple monitors. These active cables are often required when cable runs go beyond 4-5 metres.

Dell suggests keeping DisplayPort cables under 1.8 meters, since going longer might lead to data loss and lower display quality.

The same issue applies to USB 3.0 devices, such as trading keyboards or high-speed communication tools. While USB 3.0 allows fast data transfer, it's more sensitive to cable length—signal loss can occur beyond 3 metres, compared to 5 metres for USB 2.0.

By keeping your PC close to these devices, you reduce the need for long, high-spec cables and ensure more stable, high-speed connections.

5. Cleaner airflow for Improved Cooling 

Elevating your PC off the ground keeps it away from dust that accumulates near floor level. If your office is carpeted or prone to dust, mounting your PC directly below the desktop rather than on a floor trolley may lead to cleaner airflow and better long-term performance.

Cons

1. Added Desk Weight

PCs, especially full ATX towers, can weigh 10 to 20 Kilograms or more. Mounting one or two to your desk puts added load on the lifting actuators. Cheaper desks may even struggle to lift consistently.

2. Limit to the number of PCs

If you need to use more than two full-sized PCs, it's usually easier to keep them on a floor-based trolley as two PCs is considered the maximum for a dynamic cabinet and adding a third will mean the cabinet depth encroaches on legroom under the desk.

3. IT access

Although user access to a PC is easier if the desk can be lifted up with the PC, if a technician needed IT access, the user would have to leave the desk briefly to facilitate this.

Desk with roll-out PC trolley expandable from 1-2 PCs

PCs on a floor-based PC Trolley

Pros

1. Less Load on the Desk

Keeping your PC on a floor-based trolley allows your height-adjustable desk to focus on lifting only your monitors and devices, especially if you’re using multiple heavy monitors.

Quick release PC trolley with quick release cabling

2. Easier to Relocate Users

With the PC on a mobile trolley, it's faster to remove the PCs to move a user to a different desk. There’s no need to manually lift out the PCs from a cabinet or re-route cables under the desk, making desk sharing or office reorganisation simpler.

3. Supports Larger or more than two PCs

Trolleys can often handle more than two larger full-tower PCs or two systems side-by-side. This is ideal for multi-PC trading or workstation setups where under-desk space would otherwise be too limited or interfere with legroom.

Cons

1. Longer Cables and Signal Issues

When your PC stays on the floor and your desk moves, you’ll need extra-long cables for your monitors, keyboard, mouse, and other devices. This will mean using non-standard cable lengths, especially for USB 3.0 and DisplayPort, which are both sensitive to signal degradation over distance.

For example:

• USB 3.0 cables longer than 3 metres can suffer from data loss or device instability.

• DisplayPort cables may need to be active (rather than the normal passive cable) if stretched beyond 4–5 metres, which adds cost and complexity.
  
  

2. Cable Management Challenges

Longer cables also create more complicated cable management. Since the desk moves but your PC doesn’t, cables must be routed carefully, often using cable trays and cable chains to avoid pulling, snagging, or accidental unplugging during height adjustments.

Without proper planning or kit, this can lead to a cluttered workspace, increased wear on cables, or sudden disconnects when the desk moves.

3. Dust Buildup

PCs on the floor are more likely to accumulate dust, especially on carpet or in high-traffic areas. Dust can clog fans and vents, leading to thermal throttling or hardware damage if not cleaned regularly.

4. Port Accessibility

With the PC on a trolley, reaching USB ports or power buttons can be awkward, especially if you’re standing. Unless you use a USB hub or dock on your desktop, routine access to your PC is a little less convenient.

Final Verdict: Which Setup Wins?

Ultimately, the choice between a PC that rises with your desk versus one that stays grounded comes down to a few key factors:

• Desk strength and motor capacity: If your desk is high-end and can handle the extra weight, rising PC setups are more feasible.

• Ease of Installation and Access: Desk-mounted PCs are generally easier to install and maintain. Their cables require less routing and they are easy to access by raising the desk to standing height. In contrast, floor-mounted PCs can be harder to reach for troubleshooting or accessing ports, often requiring you to crouch or get under the desk.
  

• Ever-increasing data bandwidths: Mounting the PC below the desktop allows you to use standard length USB 3.0 and DisplayPort cables, helping maintain signal strength and full performance. Floor-mounted PCs require longer cables, which are more prone to signal loss or instability, especially with high-bandwidth devices.
  

• Cable length and access: Long cables mean more cable management is needed. These longer cables often require careful routing through cable trays or chains to prevent tangling, strain, or disconnection during desk movement, making them difficult to install and replace
  

• Cooling and Dust Management: Desk-mounted PCs tend to stay cleaner and cooler since they're elevated above floor level, reducing exposure to dust, especially in carpeted or high-traffic environments. In contrast, floor-mounted PCs are more prone to dust buildup, which can clog vents and fans over time, potentially impacting performance.

• Weight and Practicality: Desk-mounted PCs add extra weight to the desk. Floor-mounted setups keep the lifting load light, making them more practical for some multi-PC configurations or when using desks with limited weight capacity.

Conclusion

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to PC placement with height-adjustable trading desks. Understanding your specific needs, such as ergonomics, ease of maintenance, and cable length capacities and logistics, will guide you toward the setup that maximises your workflow and comfort. Whatever system you choose, a well-thought-out plan will ensure your trading or work setup is both functional and future-proof.

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