Update - Since writing this article I have made several hardware upgrades, specifically the MacBook Pro (including Radeon Pro Vega graphics) and my custom-built PC. As a result, this article has been updated to reflect the changes.

Final Update - Please refer to the article “My Setup (Q3 2023)” for a summary of my latest setup.

Home Setup

At home, I switch between three devices. My daily driver is a 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display (OCT-2018). It’s primarily used for productivity tasks, software development, and photo editing. The full specification can be found below:

  • 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display (OCT-2018)
  • 2.9GHz 6-Core Intel i9 (Turbo up to 4.8GHz)
  • 32GB 2400MHz DDR4 RAM
  • 1TB PCIe SSD
  • Intel UHD Graphics 630 and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 4GB HBM2
  • 15.4-inch IPS Display (2880x1800, 220PPI)

I also have a 13-inch Surface Pro 2, which is a secondary device and primarily used for work, allowing me to natively interact with the Windows eco-system. The Surface Book 2 is a nice device, with great build quality, but limited by the surprisingly poor storage performance (300MB/s sequential write) and lack of Thunderbolt 3. The full specification can be found below:

  • 13-inch Surface Book 2
  • 1.90GHz Quad-Core Intel i7-8650U (Turbo up to 4.2GHz)
  • 16GB 1866MHz LPDDR3 RAM
  • 512GB PCIe SSD (Samsung PM961)
  • Intel UHD Graphics 620 and NVIDIA GTX 1050 2GB GDDR5
  • 13.5-inch PixelSense Display (3000x2000, 267PPI)

Alongside my notebooks, I have a custom-built PC. The specification (listed below) is a couple of years old but still provides excellent overall performance. It is used for gaming (including VR), game development (GameMaker Studio 2), video editing, after effects and virtual labs.

  • Asus Maximus VIII Hero Alpha (Intel Z170)
  • Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz @ 4.6GHz
  • Noctua NH-D15 CPU Cooler
  • Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB DDR4 PC4-24000C15 (15-17-17-35)
  • PNY GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB XLR8 Gaming Overclocked Edition
  • Samsung 950 Pro 512GB M.2 PCI-e NVMe SSD
  • EVGA SuperNova P2 1000W ‘80 Plus Platinum’ PSU
  • Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ATX Mid Tower Case
  • Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 Speakers

In total I have three displays, two 27-inch Dell U2718Q IPS HDR 4K monitors used for productivity and colour accurate work, as well as one 27-inch Dell 144Hz G-Sync monitor used for gaming. The exact model numbers are highlighted below:

  • 2x Dell U2718Q IPS HDR 4K (3840x2160 / 60Hz / 5ms / HDR10)
  • 1x Dell S2716DG TN G-Sync (2560x1440 / 144Hz / 1ms)

My workspace is kept fairly minimal, with all monitors mounted on third-party stands to help maximise desk space.

My Setup

As you can see, for input, I primarily use the Logitech Craft and Logitech MX Anywhere 2S. These peripherals were selected as they include “Easy-Switch”, which makes it simple to toggle between multiple Bluetooth devices.

The image below provides a closer look at the two Dell U2718Q IPS HDR 4K monitors and peripherals.

My Setup

The far end of the desk provides access to the Dell S2716DG G-Sync monitor, which can be pushed flush against the wall. You can also see the Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 Speakers, which are connected to the PC and Mac. The flat desk edge provides a clean surface for additional peripherals, such as my flight controller (Saitek X-55) and steering wheel (Logitech G29).

As highlighted in the image below, the PC is hidden under the desk, with the case door exposed providing easy access to the components.

My Setup

The desk itself and matching pedestal is from Three Counties Office Furniture. They are both designed for corporate use, therefore are hard-wearing and include integrated cable management.

Finally, I use a Herman Miller Setu chair, which includes the Kinematic Spine to control resistance and automatically support your weight as you recline.

Work Setup

At work, I use the 15-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch Surface Book 2 (depending on the workload). The MacBook Pro connects to two 27-inch LG UltraFine 5K Monitors, offering an impressive 5120x2880 resolution and P3 wide colour gamut.

The Surface Book 2 is generally used independently, as Windows support for high-DPI scaling and wide colour gamut remains frustratingly poor.

Office Setup

The desk is electric height adjustable and therefore can be used from a seated or standing position. Similar to home, it is kept very minimal.

I also use a Herman Miller chair at work, however, due to the long hours, it is the more robust Mirra 2. This chair includes a phenomenal amount of adjustment, ensuring all-day comfort.

hardware apple mac pc my_setup minimal