Glass desk: Monitor arm or another option?

5ubsonic

5ubsonic

5ubsonic

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I've upgraded my monitor from an old 24" AOC to the 27" AOC Q27G3XMN. So far the monitor has been great except for one thing; the screen is a lot further forward on the stand than the previous monitor, to the point where it feels on the edge of being too close to my eyes. It's a shame because the stand feels great quality otherwise and it's easy to make adjustments to height, tilt, angle, etc.

The desk is 70cm deep. I pushed the stand as far back as it would go without touching the wall behind. It still felt too close so I've pulled the desk away from the wall a few cms and pushed the stand back further so it's hanging off the edge of the desk at the back. I don't think I can go much further wihout it becoming unstable but that has given me a few extra cms. I'd say my eyes are currently around 50-60cm from the screen.

I've read that monitor arms are not always ideal for glass desks as the weight and pressure could shatter them so I was wondering what other options I could consider? The glass is about 8mm think. The options I can think of are:
  1. Monitor arm (risk of shattering the glass?)
  2. Wall mount (feels like a big job and the wall doesn't feel particularly solid)
  3. New vesa stand
  4. Just get used to being closer to the screen
Is there anything I've missed? What would you recommend?
 
Mcnumpty2323 said:
Option 3 would be my choice for you
Universal vesa stand with smaller base
Myself I would do Option 2
But I have confidence in my diy skills
Stuff I put up stays put up lol
Click to expand...
Thanks. I could probably get a friend to help me with the wall mount - I wouldn't trust myself to do it alone.

Would a wall mount allow the screen to get closer to the wall than a replacement stand? And can you still make minor adjustments with a wall mount (left/right & height) or are you restricted to where it's placed?
 
Depends what kind of wall mount you get
Basic cheaper ones usually have no adjustments
But if you get one with an arm
Similar to a desk mount
You get adjustments but it moves the monitor further
Away from the wall because the arm is between the mount
And the monitor

There might be some other sort of less basic mount
That allows some sort of adjustment
Would have to scroll through some on amazon etc
And see what's available

Edited
Yeah there are sort of in between options
Allow up/down and some amount of pivot and tilt
Though not seen one yet that also allows side to side movement
 
Last edited:
Mcnumpty2323 said:
Depends what kind of wall mount you get
Basic cheaper ones usually have no adjustments
But if you get one with an arm
Similar to a desk mount
You get adjustments but it moves the monitor further
Away from the wall because the arm is between the mount
And the monitor

There might be some other sort of less basic mount
That allows some sort of adjustment
Would have to scroll through some on amazon etc
And see what's available
Click to expand...
Thank you, I'll have a search!
 
I have the same dilemma, decided to walk mount my 57" samsung monitor, its too risky to mount it on my glass table even with those pressure distribution plates you can buy. If it was a lighter monitor I would have taken the risk as the glass table is quite thick. The only issue is if it does break my monitor and pc would both come crashing down, so not worth the risk in the long run.

You could also just buy a new wood worktop and attack it to the table? might involve some DIY but its a solution that does not involve wall mounting.
 
You can get decent quality gas sprung wall mounted monitor arms off the rainforest for about £30.

I just hung my monitors on the wall, one’s a 27” Alienware. The arm for the 27 was 3 screws into a block wall or stud.

If you’re anywhere close to being a competent DIY’er it’s not a big task at all.

The arm came with a cardboard template to tape to the wall, you drill through the holes in the template to the wall and the holes are then in the exact right spot.
 
ben1987 said:
You can get decent quality gas sprung wall mounted monitor arms off the rainforest for about £30.

I just hung my monitors on the wall, one’s a 27” Alienware. The arm for the 27 was 3 screws into a block wall or stud.

If you’re anywhere close to being a competent DIY’er it’s not a big task at all.

The arm came with a cardboard template to tape to the wall, you drill through the holes in the template to the wall and the holes are then in the exact right spot.
Click to expand...

That sounds interesting, I'll message you. It's a plasterboard wall I'll be dealing with.
 
Plasterboard wall
There's various methods to mount it
Plenty of heavy duty Plasterboard fixings available
Or put a batten between 2 studs and mount it to that
Or if you're very lucky
There might be a stud exactly where you need it

It's unusual
But there are some Plasterboard walls
Where there's no wooden studwork
A metal frame is used
You probably won't have that anyway it's pretty uncommon

As already mentioned
A mount with an arm will move the monitor closer to you
Might need to move your desk a bit further from the wall
 
Mcnumpty2323 said:
Plasterboard wall
There's various methods to mount it
Plenty of heavy duty Plasterboard fixings available
Or put a batten between 2 studs and mount it to that
Or if you're very lucky
There might be a stud exactly where you need it

It's unusual
But there are some Plasterboard walls
Where there's no wooden studwork
A metal frame is used
You probably won't have that anyway it's pretty uncommon

As already mentioned
A mount with an arm will move the monitor closer to you
Might need to move your desk a bit further from the wall
Click to expand...
Thanks.

Maybe a mount without an arm might be better then. I don't have too much room to move the desk out further.

I'll have to work out how to find where the wooden studs are. I've been tapping the wall but can't hear much/any difference. Might need to use a magnet.
 
5ubsonic said:
Thanks.

Maybe a mount without an arm might be better then. I don't have too much room to move the desk out further.

I'll have to work out how to find where the wooden studs are. I've been tapping the wall but can't hear much/any difference. Might need to use a magnet.
Click to expand...
If its a very strong magnet
Might pick up where the screws are

Usually I start from the corner of the wall
Measure in multiples of 600mm
Until I am roughly where I want to mount something
If 600mm doesn't work I do same thing but 400mm

Then I use the absolute thinnest precision screwdriver
Push it in and see if i hit the stud
If I miss the hole it leaves is minute
And as long as I am pretty close to the stud a few more attempts
Will find it
And what I am mounting will cover any tiny holes I made anyway
 
Mcnumpty2323 said:
If its a very strong magnet
Might pick up where the screws are

Usually I start from the corner of the wall
Measure in multiples of 600mm
Until I am roughly where I want to mount something
If 600mm doesn't work I do same thing but 400mm

Then I use the absolute thinnest precision screwdriver
Push it in and see if i hit the stud
If I miss the hole it leaves is minute
And as long as I am pretty close to the stud a few more attempts
Will find it
And what I am mounting will cover any tiny holes I made anyway
Click to expand...
Great tips, thanks :)
 
Stud walls should have the uprights every 400 or 600 mm depending on the materials used.

A couple of long wood screws should be fine to hold up a 27 inch monitor and an arm so long as you’re not trying to do pull ups off it.

The Alienware I hung last week only weighed 5 kg without its base.
 
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