Getting monitor closer to the wall (save desk space)

danlightbulb · 13 Feb 2023 at 14:54

Hi all,

My 24" monitor has a round base and I can't get it close enough to the wall as I would like.

The base itself protrudes around 220mm. The screen of the monitor is about 150mm forward of the wall. I want to get it a couple of inches closer and have a monitor base that is less intrusive on the desk. I don't think its helped by the circular shape of the base.

A monitor arm may work, but I don't want to pull the desk forward away from the wall to fit one.

What are my options please, budget ones preferred?

TheCSSDoctor · 13 Feb 2023 at 15:05

You have already given one solution in your post - fit a monitor arm to your desk

The other option would be to put a wall mount up, but that will likely still involve pulling your desk out to fit it anyway, so you might as well just get a monitor arm and have a bit more flexibility than a wall mount, and it will possibly be cheaper than a wall mount

danlightbulb · 13 Feb 2023 at 15:08

TheCSSDoctor said:
You have already given one solution in your post - fit a monitor arm to your desk

The other option would be to put a wall mount up, but that will likely still involve pulling your desk out to fit it anyway, so you might as well just get a monitor arm and have a bit more flexibility than a wall mount, and it will possibly be cheaper than a wall mount

Monitor arms seem to need extra space behind the desk to swivel backwards? I don't really need movement of the monitor, just want it low profile to the wall. A monitor arm would solve the issue of the base taking up desk space though.

Also I only have 45mm depth of worktop on which to mount a monitor arm, as my desk has a reinforcing beam under which would limit the mounting depth.

lsg1r · 13 Feb 2023 at 15:14

There are some monitor arm mounts that you drill through the table top to mount, place it in a corner and then 'side mount' the monitor (like the lg ergo range) to maximise space behind keyboard.

Realistically the cheapest option is a normal rear mount or you could just do vesa mount direct to the wall and have the wires hanging down, it wouldn't look as nice but it would do what you need.

If you wanted to get really janky.... saw off the rear of the base, just make sure it's not going to affect balance or electronics....

TheCSSDoctor · 13 Feb 2023 at 15:15

Just an example, but you could use this and by turning the pivot points you could have the monitor almost as far back as the back of your desk

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/koli...mount-matte-black-kl-m32g9ss-1-mo-001-kk.html

Tachyon · 13 Feb 2023 at 20:14

You could mount it to the wall using split battens, that would get you close.

danlightbulb · 13 Feb 2023 at 23:19

Thanks I'm not so keen on a permanent wall fixing, as I won't be able to move the screen if I need to.

Ideally a stand with a smaller footprint is what I need.

Or a fixed arm that lets me get the monitor further back but i only have 45mm to play with on the clamp depth.

Blueball · 13 Feb 2023 at 23:29

Frankly I would take a jigsaw and cut off the back of the stand so instead of being round it was D shaped.

danlightbulb · 14 Feb 2023 at 15:27

Blueball said:
Frankly I would take a jigsaw and cut off the back of the stand so instead of being round it was D shaped.

Possibly but if it goes wrong Im left without a base.

This is the underside. I would have to cut off to the red line to make it worth it, and only gains me 2".

Is it not easier (or at least it should be) to get a smaller footprint vesa mount base? Why do they need to be so large.

TheCSSDoctor · 14 Feb 2023 at 15:33

danlightbulb said:
Possibly but if it goes wrong Im left without a base.

This is the underside. I would have to cut off to the red line to make it worth it, and only gains me 2".

Is it not easier (or at least it should be) to get a smaller footprint vesa mount base? Why do they need to be so large.

You did say in your first post you wanted to get it a couple inches closer, so is it actually more than that you want to move it back, as your pic above says it gains you a couple inches?

In terms of size, they need to be big enough to support the weight of the monitor at the extremes to resist toppling over. If you made the base to that monitor half the size, it would be a lot easier for it to topple over and then everyone would complain about it

danlightbulb · 14 Feb 2023 at 15:40

TheCSSDoctor said:
If you made the base to that monitor half the size, it would be a lot easier for it to topple over and then everyone would complain about it

They could make them smaller and heavier.

Problem I have is I won't know how unstable it makes it until I do it. What if its too unstable with 2" cut off?

TheCSSDoctor · 14 Feb 2023 at 15:45

danlightbulb said:
They could make them smaller and heavier.

Problem I have is I won't know how unstable it makes it until I do it. What if its too unstable with 2" cut off?

If they make them smaller and heavier, expect the cost of shipping to go up drastically

You won't know unless you are prepared to try it, personally I don't think it will be very stable, but if you do chop it up, you have got a couple options

Glue it back together and hope it holds
Buy a monitor arm for the desk
Buy a wall mount and attach it to the wall

danlightbulb · 14 Feb 2023 at 15:52

TheCSSDoctor said:
Buy a monitor arm for the desk

If I could find a suitable arm, I would do this one anyway. I haven't found a suitable arm. I don't want to be able to pull the monitor out or angle it or whatever fancy moves, I just want a clamp arm that is vertical and with a simple low profile vesa plate on it.

danlightbulb · 14 Feb 2023 at 16:18

Here's the issue Im having trying to find an arm.

This style of arm would be perfect, but...

None of the descriptions give you the clamp depth (shown green below). Due to a support rail my desk has a max clamp area of 44mm.

And secondly the rear of the arm is protruded from the back of the desk by the adjustment knob, so I wouldn't be able to push the desk nice and flush with the wall.

Quartz · 14 Feb 2023 at 16:39

danlightbulb said:
Due to a support rail my desk has a max clamp area of 44mm.

Put a block of wood there to match the support rail.

Alternatively, there are monitor arms which rely on you drilling holes in the desk.

danlightbulb · 14 Feb 2023 at 16:53

Quartz said:
Put a block of wood there to match the support rail.

Alternatively, there are monitor arms which rely on you drilling holes in the desk.

The support rail is 10cm deep, so plus the desk itself I'd need a clamp capable of clamping a thickness of 14cm.

Drilling tabletop not an option, its my gf's solid wood table and she (and I) wouldn't want to make holes.

Quartz · 14 Feb 2023 at 17:26

danlightbulb said:
The support rail is 10cm deep, so plus the desk itself I'd need a clamp capable of clamping a thickness of 14cm.

Ah, I was expecting it to be 2-3 cm deep!

danlightbulb · 14 Feb 2023 at 17:33

I will give up for now. Not going to risk cutting my current stand just yet. Ive pulled the desk away from the wall by 1" to try and squeeze a bit extra room. Maybe best thing is to wait and upgrade the monitor in time for a 1440p with a small footprint stand.

Quartz · 14 Feb 2023 at 19:48

An off-the-wall suggestion: have you considered a projector?

Blueball · 14 Feb 2023 at 20:31

TheCSSDoctor said:
You did say in your first post you wanted to get it a couple inches closer, so is it actually more than that you want to move it back, as your pic above says it gains you a couple inches?

In terms of size, they need to be big enough to support the weight of the monitor at the extremes to resist toppling over. If you made the base to that monitor half the size, it would be a lot easier for it to topple over and then everyone would complain about it

Monitors tend to try to fall forward as the screen is usually forward of the mid point. You "shouldn't" lose stability by removing the back.