Three and a half years ago, when we launched Mezha, we didn't even dream of having our own office, although for some tasks, such as batch testing or photographing, especially large equipment, it would have been appropriate for us to have a shared space. But we were a small startup, so we set up our own workplaces at home. And although after joining Ukrainian Pravda we had the opportunity to work in the office in case of need, such as turning off the lights, preparing a video, etc., we don't often use this bonus, continuing to work from home.
We decided to talk about our own workplaces, the equipment and furniture we use. And we invite readers to share their own setups and workplaces in the comments, and later we will make a separate article with the best examples.
Taras Mishchenko, editor-in-chief of Mezha
Since working from home since the end of 2021, my workplace has already transformed several times, from working at a table in the kitchen, a simple table from IKEA to a full-fledged height-adjustable desk.
So, the basis of my minimalist setup is the Cougar Royal 120 Pure desk, because, firstly, it is a really cool model with two electric drives and sturdy metal legs, and secondly, it refuted my fears that such a desk would be too big for the room. I can't say that I work standing up every day, but when I have to sit at a desk for a long time, it is sometimes nice to stretch my legs.
When choosing a gaming chair, I settled on the ROG Aethon. This model does not have a hundred thousand adjustments, even the armrests are only adjustable in height and can also be rotated in different directions. The rocking mechanism is super simple, but the chair can be folded out to lie down in it. With all the limitations, the ROG Aethon won me over because it is medium-sized, and at the same time it fits my height perfectly. And the lack of a large number of adjustments is compensated by the fact that it has a comfortable fit by default, good lumbar support and a very comfortable complete head pillow. After almost a year of use, the main indicator of the correctness of choosing this chair was that when you sit in it for a long time, your back does not hurt.
The main accessory on the desk is the 4K IPS monitor ASUS ProArt PA279CV, an old model that has already been discontinued, but it still copes with both office work and photo editing perfectly. What's more, it supports USB Type-C connectivity and can charge the laptop at the same time, delivering 65 W. That is, connecting and charging the laptop is done with a single cable, which greatly simplifies cable management.
Apart from the test laptops, my main computer now is a 15.6-inch MacBook Air M2 in the basic 8/256 GB configuration. For basic tasks related to working with texts and photos, it is generally enough. But if I were to upgrade now, I would definitely look at models with at least 16 GB of "RAM".
Most of the time, my laptop sits on my desk in a closed position, connected to a monitor. The passive cooling system of the MacBook Air M2 allows me to use it in this way without risking overheating. And since this mode of operation closes the keyboard and touchpad, I use a Logitech MX Master 3 mouse and an MX Keys Mini for Mac keyboard. I've had the mouse for 6 years, and if it breaks, I haven't seen a better alternative yet, and I'll most likely buy the same one, perhaps a newer model.
The MX Keys Mini keyboard is a relatively recent addition, I bought it after using mechanical keyboards for some time. However, when you periodically type on laptop keys, it is more convenient to return to a similar keyboard. So I put the mechanics aside for now, maybe I will return to it later.
In general, this is my entire work setup, I like that at the right moment I can take my laptop with me to the office or to a meeting, while at home I can work on a larger screen.
Oleg Danylov, editor of Mezha
In September 2023, I finally decided to upgrade my home system, which I use as a gaming and workstation. I have detailed the criteria I used during the upgrade, so I will not dwell on it again, but only recall the configuration of my PC.
This is a Windows 11 Pro system with an Intel Core i5-13600KF 3.5GHz s1700 processor on an ASUS TUF Gaming B760M-Plus motherboard (which, by the way, has already been repaired once, due to a failure caused by strange factory BIOS settings), with 32 GB of Kingston FURY 32 GB (2x16GB) DDR5 5200 MHz Beast Black RAM, an ASUS DUAL-RTX4070-O12G graphics card and two Samsung 980 Pro 2TB M.2 NVMe SSDs, in an old (about 12 years old) Fractal Design Define Mini case with a new 860W Fractal Design Ion+ 2 Platinum power supply and BE QUIET cooling! Dark Rock Pro 4. I use my relatively new (four years is not an age for a monitor!) 27" LG UltraGear 27GN850 monitor with a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels.
The oldest piece of hardware in my setup is the Canon PIXMA MP280 (4498B009AA) multifunctional device. As I said, it's the best $50 investment I've ever made in my life, the "hardware" has been working for 13 years without any complaints, consumables for it are still available for sale, as are continuous ink supply systems and cartridge refilling. I don't use continuous supply because after my daughter graduated from university, we don't print as much, but I refill the cartridges from time to time.
Other peripherals include an Anker PowerHouse 757 charging station; a HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless Black headset and a HyperX QuadCast S microphone for meetings, podcasts, and online interviews; a Logitech MX Keys Wireless Illuminated Graphite keyboard, which I think is about time to replace; a Logitech MX Vertical vertical mouse (here I'll explain what it is and why you need it); a Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition joystick for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and a Microsoft Xbox Series X|S Wireless Controller Carbon Black gamepad for Euro Truck Simulator 2, Farming Simulator 25, racing, and other games that are better played with a gamepad. The picture is completed by the tiny, but quite powerful and, in my opinion, high-quality F&D V620 Black speakers and a RZTK Map 900 × 400 × 4 mm megamat with a world map without Russia.
Network – dual-band WiFi router – ASUS RT-AX58U, LAN port speed 1 Gbps, standards 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). Provider – Lanet, GIG package – 1000 Mbps.
As for my actual work "nook". Even when this apartment was being built 20 years ago, we knew where my workplace would be, so we equipped it with additional sockets, including network ones of two different types - coaxial and twisted pair. And accordingly, we selected furniture for it - a corner table with a separate cabinet for a multifunctional device, an internal cabinet for a system unit, shelves for game boxes, and a cabinet "for wires", consumables and small things. Plus, this set (although kill me now, I'm unlikely to remember the manufacturer) was in harmony with the custom-made shelves/niche for the TV, games and books on the wall opposite.
For 18 years I have had almost no complaints about furniture, except for the fact that the niche for the computer on the right side (it is a shelf/niche, the PC does not stand on the floor) determined the maximum dimensions of my PC case, but the Fractal Design Define Mini solved this problem, and it fit nicely into the reserved space. Everything changed after the upgrade. The system with the Intel Core i5-13600KF 3.5GHz s1700 turned out to be so hot, especially in the summer, that I could not stand the flow of hot air into my right knee for long. So I had to move the table from the corner and put the system unit on the other side behind the table wall. The system became several degrees cooler!
The Canon multifunction device moved to a cabinet, all the furniture in the room moved a little, which made room for the palm tree. As it turned out, this was a good decision, plus the Anker PowerHouse 757 charging station "conveniently" sat next to it, which really helped me work normally and even play in the summer of 2024.
Regarding the office chair. For a long time I used a comfortable Italian wooden chair in a vintage style with fabric tapestry upholstery, but it was already a little worn out. About five years ago I got a Herman Miller Aeron office desk. Such chairs are used in fashionable IT companies and cost over $1,500, but I was lucky and got the chair for free, it was written off due to a gas lift defect - the chair bounces too sharply when you get up. You can order pneumatic cylinders for the Herman Miller Aeron on eBay for $45-75, plus shipping, but this gas lift defect does not bother me at all, so I do not see the point in it. If it gets worse, I will make a replacement, but in five years there have been no changes in the chair's behavior.
And finally, about lighting. My workplace is right in front of the window, and on sunny days in spring and summer, the sun bothers me a little for a few hours. But I'm an "owl", so I don't work from the very morning, plus this is easily solved by partially closing the curtains. At night, when I usually play, the HyperX QuadCast S microphone acts as a nightlight and a lava lamp, which is very convenient. Additional blue backlighting is provided by the F&D V620 Black speakers. I am quite satisfied with my workplace and system and I don't plan to change anything in the near future.
Serhii Svitlychnyi, editor of Mezha
I work (and play) on a desktop PC - laptops are "not my thing". At the same time, my computer has not seen a full upgrade for many years: the last time I updated the platform was at the end of 2017, when I "moved" to an Intel Core i7-8700.
But despite the fact that it is already a very old processor, it is still enough for me - for my tasks, the main thing is that it is compatible with Windows 11 (it seems that this is probably the oldest processor with its support). In my work, processor power is practically not important, and in 1440p games its impact on overall performance is not so critical that I would think about upgrading the entire platform, including the motherboard and memory modules.
So the only components that have been upgraded recently are the RAM – 16 GB is already not enough, so I upgraded to the G.Skill DDR4-3600 Ripjaws V 32 GB, and the video card. The old GeForce RTX 2070 Super still more or less "pulled" modern games at medium settings, but the purchase of the Meta Quest 3 VR headset quickly forced me to replace it with the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super Windforce Max OC 16G. This model has high-quality and quiet cooling, and at the time of purchase, thanks to promotional discounts, it cost almost the least among all video cards on this chipset, including the most budget options.
The computer is assembled in a case that is even older than the processor - Fractal Design Define R5. A very successful model that has remained from the previous platform: thanks to its optimal dimensions and well-thought-out internal space, it still remains relevant and can easily accommodate a rather large video card.
From the peripherals, I will mention the Logitech MX Keys keyboard - it is the best I have seen for fast typing, plus it also suits me quite well in games. Another advantage in my case is the ability to connect to three systems simultaneously with quick switching between them with literally one button.
The thing is that I regularly perform tests of video cards and motherboards, and the test system – either in the form of an open stand (which you can see in the photo) or in an assembled PC – is connected to my main monitor LG 27GL850… and to the keyboard – via Bluetooth. Unfortunately, it is not possible to completely get rid of the second keyboard – it is needed to enter the BIOS – but at least for most of the work with the stand, only one keyboard is on the table.
The aforementioned VR headset can also be conditionally called a "workplace" - thanks to it I wrote several articles and reviews. It connects to the PC via Wi-Fi - a wired connection is completely inconvenient for active games, and besides, there is not enough space near the computer, so you have to play in another room.
Fortunately, my ASUS RT-AX56U router, although relatively new, supports Wi-Fi 6 (not needed at the time of purchase), so the wireless connection is fast and without delays.
After joining "Ukrainian Truth", we had the opportunity to photograph devices in a full-fledged photo studio equipped with everything we need - but in most cases it is easier and faster to do it at home. So I now use "off-site photo sessions" with the involvement of our videographer Volodymyr Dyachenko occasionally, mainly for large photos such as TVs or projectors, and I continue to photograph the rest of the devices at home, alone.
I take all the photos with a Canon EOS 200D "SLR" - despite its budget specifications and respectable age, it completely satisfies me with its ergonomics and almost completely with its photo quality. The background is either a white vinyl background for object photography, or... a TV - a 65-inch Samsung Q60R screen does a good job of acting as a "photo wallpaper" for relatively small objects.
As for furniture at the workplace, I once preferred IKEA products. The MARKUS chair is very simple, but for me it is comfortable and practical. However, after many years of use it has already worn out, so now I am slowly preparing myself to replace it. The table is MALM, also very simple, but again convenient for a desktop, with minimal cable management and no unnecessary elements.
PS: reminded in the comments. My PC speaker system is a USB DAC Topping D10 and Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 computer speakers - at one time it disappeared from sale in Ukraine, so in the early 2010s I had to turn to eBay. In my opinion, this is the most musical computer speakers, and the best sound on a PC can only be obtained if you turn to real Hi-Fi. Diana Krall's music suits me best for work - her contemporary jazz creates just the perfect atmosphere. As for the sound for relaxation - this is a home theater based on a Denon AVR-S650H AV receiver, an SVS SB-1000 subwoofer, DALI Oberon 1 front speakers, a DALI Spektor Vokal center channel and DALI Spektor 1 rear speakers.
Mykyta Kazymyrov, author of Mezha
Life as an internal refugee twice – first from Donetsk in 2015, then from Kharkiv in 2022 – has taught me to be mobile and not to be tied to things and places. That's why the basis of my work corner is my laptop.
Since 2021, I have been using the ASUS 2021 TUF Dash F15, which runs on an Intel Core i5-11300H processor and an Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card. It's definitely not the most powerful setup in the world, but it can handle work and even gaming tasks quite well even in 2025. For 2021, it was more than enough.
Of course, there were some nuances. The version from the store came with 8 GB of RAM, which severely limited performance in programs like Adobe Premiere Pro. Even Google Chrome worked so-so. Buying an additional 32 GB stick with a frequency of 3200 MHz solved all the problems.
Also, I finally decided to buy a monitor recently. After all, when editing videos (subscribe to the channel, by the way) and streaming (you can also subscribe here), one 15-inch screen was not enough. Therefore, now the 27-inch MAG 274QRF QD E2 helps me in work and entertainment. The workplace has become almost three times larger, no minuses have been found. Although it definitely still needs to get used to and adapt.
ASUS didn't build a camera into this laptop for ergonomics and space optimization. That's why I use a separate one - Lorgar Rapax 701. It's enough even for streaming, but unfortunately, there's no point in recording full-fledged footage for video.
Also, the TUF Dash F15 had a very strange problem for a long time. The laptop could completely spontaneously go into BSOD due to some internal problems with the video card drivers. I was far from the only one who encountered something like this, but after another driver update – about a year or two or even three after purchase – the problem automatically disappeared. Working became much more pleasant.
Other important elements of the workplace: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio 3rd Gen sound card and MXL 990 studio microphone. Very powerful tools for working with voice, sound and music, which constantly help me. They were taken in 2020 "for growth", because I don't use some of their features even today, but I'm definitely not disappointed with the purchase. Especially considering that professional equipment for working with audio is only getting more expensive.
Mouse – Logitech G403 Hero, which was purchased with the laptop and is already frankly battered by life, but still works adequately. Headphones – HyperX Cloud Stinger Core, also included with the laptop. Usually I regularly break the connecting bracket in any headset, but this one still holds up well, pleasantly surprised. Router – Archer C6 V4, which, unfortunately, only supports the Wi-Fi 5 standard, not Wi-Fi 6, so you won’t be able to use the gigabit Internet to the maximum.
I'm sitting at some random dining table in a rented apartment. I took the chair myself from Jysk, model VOEL. It's not the best equipment for back health, but it's not particularly a problem, because I don't sit at my workplace much at home. If there are any difficult and long tasks, then I go to the office, where there is all the necessary and comfortable furniture.
And in addition, I am helped out by the 2022 MacBook Air with the M2 processor. Still a representative of the best series of laptops for work, which I actually use exclusively for work, to separate personal and professional matters. There is absolutely nothing to complain about, the laptop is almost perfect.
My workplace also doesn't overlap with gaming, as I almost always play on my PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch OLED in the living room. Perhaps that's why my workplace is designed to be minimally comfortable, rather than comfortable in every way.
Dmytro Dzhuhalyk, journalist for Mezha
The heart of my workstation is a 2023 ROG Zephyrus G14 laptop, equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, and 16 GB of RAM, which I plan to increase to 32 GB within the year.
I would like to mention one problem with the Zephyrs G14 right away – for several months now, the laptop keyboard has not started up with the laptop itself. Instead, the device has to be put to sleep for a few minutes, after which it turns on. No forum or thread on Reddit has helped fix this, nor has changing the BIOS settings or reinstalling the operating system.
At the center of the desktop is the 23.8-inch AOC 24G2/BK/01 monitor. The 1920×1080 pixel resolution is a pretty noticeable degradation against the QHD screen of the laptop when working and watching media, but it doesn't have a too critical impact on the gaming experience and even helps to get a little more fps.
From the peripherals I use a HyperX Alloy FPS Pro mechanical keyboard. The choice of mouse is somewhat unusual - it is Keychron M3. I was superficially familiar with the company's keyboards and decided to try their mouse, and while its functionality suits me quite well, the creaking that appeared in less than a year of use is a problem. Where there are no problems at all, it is with Logitech G PRO headphones, which completely cover all my needs.
The biggest drawbacks of my workplace are a chair from an unknown brand, which I bought in a hurry and almost immediately regretted, and a TP-LINK TL-WR940N router, which I am already looking for a replacement for. Problems with coverage in the house and frequent signal losses significantly interfere with both everyday work and online gaming.
Dmytro Kuryatnyk, author of Mezha
My initial workplace was quite spacious – an almost two-meter, custom-made, tabletop, the same shelves, because you need a lot of space to place equipment and various geeky junk, and a Noblechairs HERO chair. The current system unit was assembled six years ago and has survived both several forced upgrades (due to power surges, I had to replace the power supply and all the hard drives that burned out, and recently the RAM, because one of the HyperX Predator strips failed), and one completely conscious one, when I replaced the video card with a more powerful one. The rest of the components can already be considered somewhat outdated today.
So, we are talking about the Core i7-9700K processor on the MSI MPG z390 Gaming Edge AC motherboard, the MSI GeForce RTX 4080 Ventus 3X OC 16GB video card, Kingston Fury DDR4-3600 32GB Renegade RGB RAM, a Samsung SSD bundle – 860 EVO 1TB, 870 EVO 2TB and 980 SSD 1TB NVMe M.2 in a Fractal Design Meshify S2 case. Monitors – a pair of office 25" Dell UltraSharp U2518D. Windows 11 Pro operating system. Peripherals… a lot. Two keyboards – Razer BlackWidow TE Chroma v2 TKL with orange backlights for work and play at night, Razer BlackWidow Elite with green backlights for daytime use, Razer Orbweaver Chroma Gaming Keypad for shooters, mouse – Razer Basilisk, which has been with me for 8 years, and a replacement for it in the form of Basilisk V3, Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition joystick for Microsoft Flight Simulator, Logitech Momo Racing wheel for racing games, Razer Seiren X microphone and SteelSeries Arctis 7 headset.
The Internet connection is provided by a mesh network built on the Asus ZenWiFi XT8, and additional disk space for files and the family media library is provided by a Synology DS220j network storage. The audio system is a prehistoric F&D IHOO MT 5.1 and a small soundbar with a Razer Leviathan subwoofer, because at some point I needed optical and Bluetooth connections, and I couldn’t find an easy way to add them to the existing system. The atmosphere is created by a pair of Philips Hue Play Light Bar LED panels. From the completely non-gaming, but working, MFP Xerox WorkCentre 3025NI, which turned out to be much more useful than I initially thought. It seems that I didn’t forget anything, and if I did, it wasn’t really used. Consoles and accessories for them are not included in this list, because they are located in the living room.
However, one day this man cave underwent an upgrade and instead of computer hardware, a changing table, diaper packs and other themed gadgets were placed on the tabletop and shelves, and the computer moved to a corner behind the closet, which has a serious shortage of work surface, so most of the accessories had to be hidden with the expectation that they would be reached for when necessary. The reality turned out to be that I simply stopped playing racing, MSFS and shooters on the PC and moved to the console. Which, by the way, also moved from the living room to the farthest corner of the house from the child and instead of the TV are now connected to a Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 monitor.
However, downgrading the workplace is not a big problem, because in recent years I have only played very "heavy" AAA games on the desktop, which are not released often, and I work even less. Even before the power outages, I switched to my work Macbook Pro 2020 on M1 for almost all tasks, which, together with the Ecoflow River Pro charging station, provides fantastic autonomy even now, when the battery is noticeably "worn out", for older and less demanding games I use Steam Deck and my own ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 GA503QR laptop. Ryzen 9 5900HS, 32GB of RAM and GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU are enough to produce decent FPS even in new games. Of course, without ray tracing and provided that you play with headphones, or you can ignore the noise of the coolers, which covers the sound produced by the frankly terrible speakers of this piece of hardware.
By the way, I don't recommend Noblechairs HERO, if there have been no problems with the mechanism so far, then the foam in the seat and the upholstery cracked after the first year of use, so now I have a regular and smaller office chair from Nowy Styl. The only noticeable inconvenience is the lack of space for painting miniatures, so I organized an improvised painting station from improvised materials right on the storage chest behind the workplace. You won't be able to paint for a long time like that, but you won't waste time on preparation either, everything is always at hand.
Kyrylo Balalin, author of Mezha
Over 20 years ago, I was lucky enough to start my career as a columnist for the magazine "Domashniy PK" and, together with like-minded people, to promote my own hobby - case modding and extreme overclocking - to the Ukrainian audience for the first time. A certain DNA of today's setup was laid back then. The main direction of my professional activity has long since changed to another within the IT industry and now I work as a Business Analysis Practice Lead in an outsourcing company, but I am still lucky enough to sometimes write about computer hardware, including on the pages of "Mezhy".
The very old hobby of case modding has transformed over the decades into setup building on a global scale, when not only the PC case, but also the entire work/gaming space (actually, the "setup") or the entire room can be built according to one's own aesthetic taste. As a full member of the Royalty.RGB setup building community, I even feel the need to bring these ideas to the masses again... From my other hobbies, I have long understood that using quality tools brings not only better results, but also more pleasure in the process, so this approach also applies to computer equipment, with which I spend a huge amount of time every day.
My work-gaming space is located in a country house in a separate office measuring 3×3 meters. The literal basis of this space is an L-shaped table, which is custom-made and fixed to the walls. Also, long shelves are attached to the walls, covering most of the perimeter of the room. This makes it possible to place all the necessary equipment and favorite collectibles. The stylistic feature of my setup is the "Lian-Li x Razer" concept. I once introduced these brands to the Ukrainian market precisely because I liked them and this attitude has remained until now. For example, Razer Chroma is objectively the best implementation of the LED control system in a PC.
So, for games and work on articles, I use a desktop system assembled in a Lian-Li O11 Dynamic Razer Edition case. Its feature is support for Razer Chroma and a design with the Razer logo. The motherboard is ASRock Z690 Taichi Razer Edition, which also stands out with Chroma lighting and Razer-style elements. Inside the system unit is an Intel Core i9-12900K processor, an ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Super 12 GB OC Edition video card, 32 GB of Kingston Fury DDR5-6000 RAM and three 1TB SSDs. Power is provided by the Chieftec Atmos CPX-750FC unit.
I paid special attention to the cooling system and visual effects. The Lian-Li Galahad II 360 LCD SL-INF all-in-one system has a 2.88-inch display on the pump, which allows you to display system status, time or your own images. It is installed in such a way as to hide the hoses to the radiator as much as possible, but the backlit fans, on the contrary, should be clearly visible in the upper part of the case. They work on the exhaust, and on the intake - on the side there are three Lian-Li Uni Fan TL LCD 120 Reverse fans with built-in 1.6-inch IPS displays (!), on which you can also display system indicators or even short videos. Another element is an 8.8-inch HDMI display with a resolution of 1920×480, located in the lower part of the case under the vertically installed video card. And, of course, a couple more devices are responsible exclusively for the backlight inside the case.
The main monitor is an ultrawide MSI MAG 401QR with a diagonal of 40 inches, a resolution of 3440×1440 and a refresh rate of 155 Hz. It was he who determined the requirements for speed: i9-12900K and RTX 4070 Super are completely enough for my gaming needs. Additionally, MSI Pro MP225 monitors are located vertically on the sides, and another 27-inch one hangs on top for service tasks such as the always-open Youtube Music player. The topic of switching to ultrawide as the main monitor is interesting enough to devote a separate article to it. Of course, all monitors are hung on VESA mounts, because standard stands are unable to provide the necessary flexibility of placement.
As for peripherals, for everyday tasks I use the Razer Basilisk V3 mouse with the Razer Mouse Bungee V3 Chroma cable holder. And for long games there is the PMM Zen 8K: this is a custom tuning kit for the Razer Viper V3 Pro, which reduces the weight of the mouse from 54 to 33 grams. The keyboard is the Razer Blackwidow V4 75%, which I tuned with additional noise isolation, self-lubricated silent HATOR Aurum Milky Way switches, and Ukrainian-language HATOR keycaps in the OMA profile. HATOR Icefall Pro Wireless and Quasar 3 Ultra 8K appeared recently, when I realized the need for dedicated peripherals for the test bench. For games I sometimes use the Razer Tartarus Chroma keypad. The space on the desk is occupied by several surfaces: the main one is the Razer Firefly V2 Pro with 15-zone ARGB lighting, as well as the Lorgar Steller 913 under the keyboard and the Lorgar x LazerCats Mouse Pad on the left (plus the Razer Goliathus Chroma XXL simply illuminates the bedside table under the desk).
The audio system is represented by a Razer Leviathan V2 soundbar with a subwoofer. For video communication and recording, there is a Razer Kiyo webcam and a Razer Seiren microphone. The headphones are Razer Kraken V4 Pro, which are placed on the Razer Headset Stand Chroma stand on the PC. I really hope to add a cape to the Razer Freyja chair with the Sensa HD Haptics haptic feedback system in the near future, then similar capabilities of the Kraken V4 Pro should reveal themselves in compatible games.
I have had the Razer Iskur gaming chair for over 4 years and I have never regretted buying it. Its feature is advanced lumbar support, which can be adjusted in a wide range. The chair is complemented by the Razer Head Cushion Chroma headrest with backlight. It is not at all necessary to repeat my choice, but a quality chair is the key to long-term health and you should not save on it!
The overall atmosphere of the workspace is complemented by several lighting elements from Nanoleaf, Divoom, RZTK and Nous in various places. Most of them are controlled via a smartphone. A very important element is hanging from the window – a cat hammock.
For corporate work, I use a separate setup centered around a MacBook Air M2 with a connected 27-inch Thunderbolt display, a Razer Pro Type Ultra keyboard with HATOR keycaps, a Razer Pro Click mouse, and a Razer Pro Glide mousepad.
In another corner of the office is a retro gaming setup from the mid-2000s with a 17-inch 4:3 Viewsonic monitor, early Razer peripherals, and a system unit in a Lian-Li PC-777 case (inside: Athlon XP, ASUS GeForce 3 Ti 200, and Zalman Reserator 1 water cooling).
Internet connection is provided by Starlink, which I have already reported on in detail on Mezha. In terms of energy efficiency, we had to go a long way during the three years of the war, which was also written about separately (three times: here, here and here), but now the power supply is provided by a 6 kW Deye hybrid inverter, a 5 kWh Deye LiFePo battery and 4 kW of solar panels.
Yevheniia Hubina, editor of Mezha
When it comes to work, I always pay attention to details. This also applies to my workplace, because here I prepare journalistic inquiries, conduct online interviews, write articles and news. It is important to me that everything is convenient and at hand.
A minimum of items on the table: a laptop, smartphone, voice recorder, headphones, spare batteries, a mobile battery, a USB Type-C cable, a pencil, a notepad, and glasses. All this helps to organize work and be prepared for emergencies.
A voice recorder is my must-have during interviews. I usually record the conversation on my laptop, but I always double-record it on the voice recorder - just in case. And for good reason: there have been two such cases recently, so it has been a great help.
The rest of the things are important too. A mobile battery to charge your smartphone in case of possible power outages, a cable to access the internet on your laptop via your smartphone, and a pencil and notepad for scribbling when you need to get a little distracted.
Another thing that is familiar to me is a cup of coffee. Sometimes two. Or three. It depends on the complexity of the text: the more difficult the article, the more cups "grow" on the table. Sometimes it seems that this is no longer a workplace, but a full-fledged coffee shop!
Sometimes this work routine changes – due to shelling. During each dialogue, I warn the interlocutor that in case of alarm I can go to the corridor or shelter. Then the conversation has to pause.
This has happened before: once during an interview, I started to get anxious, and I went out into the hallway. Sitting on the floor, I continued to ask questions until there was a "thud" somewhere nearby. It was nerve-wracking, but we decided not to stop. By the way, the interview turned out to be great.
I have to work in the corridor not only during the day. When the Shahadas fly in the evening, I spread blankets on the floor, take my laptop and pillows, and the dog lies down next to me. Then I start writing a new article, sometimes until the very morning.
In some cases, I take my "tailed bodyguard" and go to work in a shelter. It's cold there, but quiet. And as safe as possible.
Oleksandr Chub, editor of Mezha
My old desktop PC with Intel Core i5-3570K and GeForce GTX1070 is hopelessly outdated and now is not the best time to build a new one. Therefore, as my main working tool, I use an ASUS ROG Flow X16 laptop with a ROG XG Mobile docking station. USB transmitters, an audio interface and a network cable are connected to the docking station.
The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS processor with 32 GB of RAM and the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT graphics accelerator with 12 GB of GDDR6 video memory in the dock are quite enough for work tasks, basic modeling in Blender (although rendering takes a long time), and occasional sound recording. For modern games, this is no longer the most comfortable configuration, but the main gaming platform for me is the PlayStation 5, so it is not critical.
The monitor is a 49-inch curved Samsung Odyssey G9 of the first generation. It uses a VA matrix with Quantum Dot and HDR10+ support. The refresh rate is 240 Hz and the pixel response time is 1 ms. There is support for FreeSync Pro and NVIDIA G-Sync. The resolution is DQHD (5120×1440). Such a monitor gives more space for a large number of simultaneously open windows. It is also convenient for Photoshop, Blender and sound recording software. Of the minuses, one can note the backlight, which is slightly visible on a black background. But this is generally a problem with curved VA matrices.
From the periphery, I use a wireless mechanical keyboard Epomaker EK68 of 65% format, which I am very used to and do not want to switch to larger options. I had only one complaint about it: after about half a year of use, the keyboard began to periodically lose connection. This applies to both 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth. The mouse is a wireless Logitech G305. Although I do not really like it because of its symmetrical shape, it has served me for many years without problems. And most importantly, it is without wires.
Instead of standard built-in audio solutions, I use a first-generation Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 USB audio interface. It works both as a standard audio card and is used for recording. The audio interface, in turn, is connected to a Yamaha receiver and old, but pumped up by resoldering and replacing the woofers, Amfiton 25AC-027 speakers.
I take the vast majority of my review photos at home in a makeshift photo booth made from a white cabinet, table, and laptop box. It's not the most convenient solution, but it saves me time on trips to the studio and scheduling.
As for the rest of the little things. Huawei AX6 router with Wi-Fi 6 support. I have been sitting on an Anda Seat Kaiser 3 XL chair for a couple of years. It suits me in almost all respects. Except that in the summer it is a little hot on artificial leather. But the option with fabric is less practical, because artificial leather is very easy to clean.
Oleksiy Kuprienko, author of Mezha
Since Covid, the workplace at home has begun to have a slightly different meaning for each of us. And with the beginning of my short career as the author of "The Border", my gaming place has also become a workplace. For many, this is the same place in the house - where the computer and monitor are. I have two of them. After all, I spend most of my gaming time behind a setup of several consoles and a TV.
The flagship here is the PlayStation 5 Pro, which was my first article on the site, the DualSense Edge gamepad for shooters and other online games, and the PlayStation Portal for playing away from the TV. Also on the stand is a docking station for charging gamepads and a Sony INZONE H7 headset.
For Game Pass and Microsoft Studios exclusives that haven't yet been released on PlayStation, and are available at no extra cost with a subscription – Xbox Series X. The Xbox Controller Elite (Series 2) gamepad is also upgraded. According to reviews, it's of rather mediocre quality, but I was lucky and I don't play on Xbox that often, so it's been working properly for more than 5 years. The headset is the branded Xbox Wireless Headset. An interesting thing about both pairs of headphones: they have Bluetooth and can simultaneously connect to the console and, say, to the phone. This allows you not to miss important notifications during gaming sessions, listen to music or audio messages in the background.
The console corner is assembled around the Philips 55OLED718/12 TV with a 120 Hz matrix and support for VRR and HDR to better reveal the latest generation of consoles. This is especially true for the PlayStation 5 Pro, where many games have modes with 40 FPS, or with an unlocked frame rate. In addition, Philips TVs have a cool immersive Ambilight backlight technology, analogues of which, although they exist, do not work as well and require additional manipulations to make it work correctly.
A separate place in this corner on the cabinet is occupied by laptops. I have a whole set to have access to different ecosystems. The collection includes the Steam Deck OLED Limited Edition with a transparent case, the older Asus ROG Ally model on the AMD Z1 Extreme chip, the Nintendo Switch OLED and the aforementioned PS Portal with Sony's PULSE Explore headphones. Sometimes one of them is moved to the desktop to have something to play during short breaks at work. More details about laptops and what to pay attention to when choosing will be in a separate article on "Mezh".
Next is a separate, more working place in the traditional sense. There are 2 computers here. The first is a laptop for working on my main occupation, developing under Windows. It is already old, but in 2021 I managed to choose a fairly powerful one by those standards, and still, despite the already old RTX 2070 Super video card. This is the MSI GS66 Stealth 10SFS with an i9-10980HK, 32GB of DDR4 RAM and 8GB of GDDR6 video memory. It has a fairly effective dual-fan cooling system, which is very necessary for this "hot" processor. However, you can't call it quiet, and at the slightest load you can already hear the noise of the coolers. An additional plus when choosing, I saw the absence of a rudimentary numeric keypad, which improves ergonomics. The laptop has a 15.6" FullHD IPS matrix with a frequency of 240 Hz. I never considered esports as an option, but even in working, non-gaming mode, seeing such a smooth picture is a pleasure. The main drawback was the battery life, which is still typical for gaming laptops. A couple of hours from a freshly charged battery is not a record for autonomy.
The main computer for non-coding tasks is a system based on the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, assembled back in 2020. However, during this time this PC has gone through several incarnations. Currently, only the processor, 32 GB DDR4 memory from Kingston and a couple of old SSDs, which have been transferred to file storage and some games, remain from the original assembly. The computer received its current appearance last year during a mini project "to assemble the same hardware in a miniature case". Now there is a newer GIGABYTE B550I AORUS PRO AX motherboard, a Samsung SSD 980 PRO with 2TB, a COOLER MASTER V750 SFX power supply and low-profile ID-Cooling IS-55 cooling. All this fits tightly into an ultra-compact SFF case of the Fractal Design Terra format, which is just a little larger than the Xbox Series X.
Both PCs are connected to the LG UltraWide 34WP75CP 34" ultrawide monitor with a resolution of 1440p. The monitor is simple, but it is capable of HDR, 160 Hz, and FreeSync Premium. It also connects via USB Type-C, which is convenient for laptops and other portable devices. An LED lamp from Baseus is attached to the top, which illuminates the workspace on the desk quite well.
There are many peripherals, for different occasions and conditions of use. The main keyboard is a mechanical Keychron Q1 QMK with brown switches. For a different mood, I also have a Ducky One 2S and Logitech MX Keys Mini for quiet operation. All in a compact format, without a numeric keypad. There are two manipulators: a Razer Mamba Wireless gaming mouse, and a Logitech MX Ergo trackball for non-gaming use. Both are already old, because they were bought in 2019-20, but they work properly and hold their battery charge well. The main gamepad for the PC is the Google Stadia Gamepad converted to Bluetooth mode, which was bought for a few pennies after the end of service support, and turned out to be very convenient to use. In addition to the gamepads of Sony and Microsoft consoles, there is also a Steam Controller, but it is more like a collector's item, because its ergonomics are very specific and require constant getting used to after a regular gamepad.
Finally, about the furniture. Everything here is from IKEA. This is a small MITTZON table with headphone hooks, holes and a cable case, plus a place for a power filter recessed into the tabletop. The classic chair is MARKUS. Very comfortable and durable. The previous one lasted more than 5 years of daily use, but in principle it serves in some military headquarters, where it was given after buying a new one. There was a choice to buy a more expensive chair and use it both at the table and in front of the TV with consoles. Or take a regular and inexpensive MARKUS and something for the TV. This something turned out to be a small DYVLINGE swivel chair. Unexpectedly very comfortable and inexpensive, for this type of furniture. And finally, about the console cabinet, BRÄNNBOLL. I accidentally saw a video with this transformer and decided that it would make a good setup in conditions where there is no space for a full-fledged TV cabinet. It fits both large consoles, accessories, and portables on top.
And what is your setup, dear readers? Add it in the comments along with a photo, we will select the most interesting setups for a separate article.