Since I first came into the ergonomic industry, I have found that there are many computer peripheral products that bring added value beyond imagination, and the gas spring monitor arm is one of them. When building a workstation with ergonomics in mind, the seat, keyboard position (desk height) and monitor height are the trinity, complementing each other.
However, the monitor arm desk mount is not suitable for every user and has many limitations in use. This article will point out the seven major shortcomings of using a monitor arm and the corresponding solutions, in the hope that you can fully understand the product features and determine whether the monitor arm desk mount meets your needs in terms of ergonomic settings.
7 Problems and Solutions For Monitor Arms
- Monitor must have VESA standard mounting interface
- Stability issues
- Weight limitation
- Screen size limitation
- Difficult to adjust the screen position
- Dumb cable management system
- Lack of flexibility in mounting methods
#1 Monitor must have VESA standard mounting interface
Over the years of promoting monitor arm desk mounts, I have found that the most common question I get is "how do I connect the screen to the mount? For people who don't know anything about monitor arms, "VESA Standard Interface" is like a Martian word that is difficult to understand and may even be mistaken for something related to VISA credit cards…
The VESA standard for monitors refers to the four M4 or M5 size screw holes reserved by the manufacturer at the center of gravity on the back when designing the case.
Even the major brands of monitor manufacturers do not include VESA in every product. Apple is widely recognized as one of the most unique brands, with few products in the iMac and Pro Display product lines featuring a VESA interface.
#1 Solution for monitors without VESA standard
Please check the back of your monitor to see if it has a VESA standard mounting interface. Some monitor brands hide the VESA hole for aesthetic reasons or make it as an accessory when designing the case.
According to the design principle of VESA standard mounting interface, it is usually located at the center of gravity on the back of the screen, so you can remove the cover near the center of the back first. If the manufacturer provides a movable stand, the VESA interface is usually located at the connection between the original stand and the screen.
ULTRARM often receives questions from consumers asking "Does my monitor have a VESA standard?" and we don't usually have that monitor on hand, but by searching for "monitor brand + specs" and using Ctrl + F to search for keywords such as wall mount, VESA, 75, or 100, you can confirm from the brand's official website if the monitor has a VESA standard mounting interface.
If your monitor does not have a VESA interface, don't despair, because there are already many non-VESA adapters on the market that can attach your non-VESA monitor to the VESA monitor arm.
However, most of these products are designed with claws to hold the bezels of the display, which is not very aesthetically pleasing and may block the screen or the ports at the back during installation. More importantly, the VESA adapter increases the overall weight of the monitor, so pay special attention to the weight limit of the monitor arm desk mount when purchasing.
#2 Stability issues
I don't think anyone would want to use a computer in a moving vehicle if they could. The slightest wobble is distracting when you are concentrating on the task. The high mobility of the monitor arm comes with the problem of wobble, and the severity of the problem is greatly increased when using both the standing desk and the monitor arm desk mount.
Through the simple principle of leverage, we can learn that the longer the arm of the computer monitor arm is extended, the easier it is to experience screen shake when using it. Inevitably, the more inexpensive and poorly made monitor arms are chosen, the more the shake will intensify.
The advantage of a monitor arm is that it frees up more desk space. Compared to the original monitor stand, the c-clamp or grommet mount on the monitor arm only takes up about the size of an iPhone 14 Pro Max. What's more, the mounting position is usually at the edge of the desk, not stuck in the frequently used area of the desktop. This is one of the reasons why the monitor arm is so popular among users, as it allows flexible use of desktop space.
Because the mounting base is away from the ideal viewing position, we have to extend the arm to reposition the monitor. Depending on the table depth and usage habits, the monitor may need to be brought closer by 25 to 35 centimeters. Such a setup will inevitably create a slight natural shaking of the screen due to the weight of the levers.
#2 Solution for stability issue
To be fair, screen shake is an unavoidable flaw of monitor arm desk mount products. After testing nearly fifty types of monitor arms in the market, our only feeling is that you get what you pay for. But it doesn't mean that we can only judge by price alone, we cross-compare the specification and price to come up with a way of judgment for reference only:
The higher the price and the weight of the bracket, the higher the stability of the product will be.
The reason for the wobbling of the monitor arm is the stacking of materials and design of each component. Through a large number of measurements, we reasonably judge that the price is the key factor affecting the materials. Also, the load weight is a sign of absolute confidence in the product based on the high-quality materials used.
Finally, there are two practical tips to shorten the arm extension distance and reduce the wobbling problem caused by the weight of the screen lever.
- Purchase a gas spring monitor arm with a pole.
- Use a grommet mount.
Although the wobble when using a monitor arm is a kind of personal perception, if you are already typing very hard, perhaps the only way to solve the workstation wobble is to change your habits.
#3 Weight limitation
Most of the monitors on the market now use LED panels, and the average weight of the monitors has been significantly reduced. However, since the price of monitors is becoming more affordable, the size of monitors that can be purchased at the same price point is getting larger and larger.
And in recent years, 21:9 and 32:9 ultra-wide monitors are gradually emerging, making the weight of new screens increase instead of decrease, so the weight limit of the monitor arms is still a major problem.
The design principle of an ultra-wide monitor is composed of two panels with the same specification. The feature is to allow users to use two monitors without bezels at the same time, enhancing work efficiency and gaining an immersive experience when gaming. For example, a 49-inch 32:9 ultra-wide monitor is actually made up of two 27-inch 16:9 panels, allowing use of two monitors without bezels at the same time to enhance work efficiency.
If a 22-inch screen is sufficient for your requirements, there is no need to worry about weight restrictions. However, if you are considering or using an ultra-wide screen, you need to pay more attention to it. In particular, the weight of an extra-wide screen's levers can cause screen droop and may even affect the life of the product.
#3 Solution for weight limitation
The most annoying thing about purchasing a monitor arm desk mount is that although the specifications meet the requirement, after installation, problems such as the screen drooping and not being able to maintain a fixed height emerge.
If you can return the product, it's a great blessing, but you have to go through the torture of disassemble the whole thing, repacking it, and arranging the return, which is a waste of time and effort.
Regarding the weight of the monitor arm, we have compiled a list of situations and solutions to minimize the risk of purchasing an unsuitable product.
When checking the monitor specifications, manufacturers usually mark two weights – total weight and weight without stand, so please use the value that does not include the weight without stand as the basis for judgment. It is recommended to increase the screen weight unconditionally when the screen specification contains either of the following monitors:
- Selecting a monitor arm for 16:9 monitors: Add 1 kg to the screen weight.
- Selecting a monitor arm for 21:9 screens: Add 1.5 kg to the screen weight.
- Selecting a monitor arm for 32:9 screens: Add 2 kg to the screen weight.
- Selecting a monitor arm for a curved screen: Add 0.5 kg to the screen weight.
- Using a non-VESA monitor adapter: Add 1.5 kg to the screen weight.
#4 Screen size limitation
In addition to the larger lever weight the wider the monitor size is, the monitor size also limits the flexibility of multiple screen arrangements. First of all, it is important to understand that the manufacturer's specification is the diagonal length of the panel, not the size of the actual screen panel including the thickness of the bezel.
Therefore, if you do not check the actual screen length and width specifications when purchasing a dual (or more) monitor arm desk mount, you may find that the two screens cannot be placed side by side in the ideal position after installation, or in worse cases, they may overlap each other and cannot be used properly.
Another feature of the monitor arm is the ability to change the screen from portrait to landscape position at any time, making it ideal for reading, programming, and special applications.
However, when using a large screen, extra care should be taken to ensure that the height provided by the monitor arm is sufficient to allow the screen to be placed in a portrait position with the proper distance from the desktop.
#4 Solution for screen size limitation
The best way to align dual screens and maintain flexibility is to use two single monitor arm desk mounts so that they do not interfere with each other.
To check if the screen size is suitable for a dual monitor arm, place the two screens in their intended positions, measure the distance between the two monitors on the center of VESA standard mounting interface, and calculate if the dual monitor arm length is enough so that the two screens do not overlap each other.
With this measurement, you can also calculate if the arm length of the monitor arm desk mount is long enough to hold one 38-inch ultra-wide screen and one 24-inch screen. Similarly, when you want to stack two monitors in a top and bottom configuration, you need to calculate if the arm height is sufficient, at least 1.5 times (*Note) the distance of the VESA standard mounting interface between the two stacked monitors.
Note: 1.5 times includes the total height of the bottom screen and allows for the height from the desktop to the monitor.
When your monitor is small and the monitor arm length is too long, you can extend the arm back towards the desktop to allow for seamless side-by-side placement of the smaller monitors.
However, when your desktop is against a wall or has a partition, choose a monitor arm product that allows the lower arm to be stacked to reduce the arm length as much as possible.
#5 Difficult to adjust the monitor position
Monitor arm desk mount products usually have height, depth, tilt, swivel, and rotation adjustments. However, not every product can be adjusted by hand without the use of tools. Some monitor arms require additional tools to reposition the monitor. This is very inconvenient for users who need to adjust the monitor position frequently, or who share a workstation.
For workstations with more than two monitors, the position of each monitor has to be adjusted separately in order to align them neatly. When used with a standing desk, the monitor height needs to be adjusted regularly.
When switching between standing and sitting positions, the keyboard height is affected by the desk position, and the monitor height needs to be adjusted to maintain a comfortable experience when tapping the keyboard.
#5 Solution for adjusting the monitor position
If you need to adjust the monitor position frequently, make sure to use a gas spring monitor arm, no tools are needed, just move the screen to the ideal position by hand. This is especially true if you are using a dual-monitor setup with different specifications.
Another solution is to choose a stand with a horizontal bar that connects the two screens, allowing them to be tied and adjusted at the same time, similar to the rough ultra-wide screen design, which locks the panel and bezel together completely. In other words, the use of an ultra-wide screen can largely solve the problem of a dual-monitor alignment.
#6 Dumb cable management system
Although the cable management system is standard on monitor arms, many users still have trouble storing cables neatly because some of them have a narrow cable management system.
We all know that monitors need at least one power cable and one audio/video cable (some monitors with KVM functionality require more cables), and the better the monitor, the higher the power wattage and audio/video bandwidth, and the thicker the cable.
During our testing, we often found that some of the lower-priced monitor arm desk mounts were not properly designed with the cable management system, making it difficult to properly incorporate the two cables into the system, or making it difficult to move the monitor after the cables were inserted.
#6 Solution for cable management system
If your budget is limited, you can use nylon straps or hook and loop tape to organize the convergence of cables and fix them, although they will still be exposed on the work table, but at least the environment looks relatively neat. You need to keep some of the length of the wire in order to avoid pulling the wire when moving the monitors.
A better solution is to find a monitor arm desk mount with a good cable management system, so that the cables can flow along the monitor arm to the base, with only a few cables exposed at the bearing of the monitor arm, minimizing clutter and creating a neat working environment.
#7 Lack of flexibility in mounting methods
The last drawback of the monitor arm products is that its installation methods are not interchangeable. In addition to understanding the limitations of each installation method, the biggest problem is that some manufacturers only provide one of the installation methods for you to use.
Briefly, there are four ways to install the monitor arm desk mount: c-clamp mount, grommet mount, wall mount and freestanding.
- C-clamp mount: At the edge of the table, clip on the base of the monitor arm desk mount, suitable for the table without obstacles along the edge of the table, will not cause any damage to the table.
Disadvantage: There are basic requirements for table thickness and material. - Grommet mount: Installed in the original wiring holes or drilled anywhere on the table, the monitor arm is fixed from the bottom of the table with a bolt, the most solid and free installation method.
Disadvantage: Permanent damage to the desktop. - Wall mount: Drill holes in the wall and lock the base in place, freeing up the space originally occupied by the screen base.
Disadvantage: Permanent damage to the wall. - Freestanding: Same as the original monitor stand, can be placed directly on the desktop for maximum applicability, but usually only considered when using more than two monitors.
Disadvantages: The screen is less adjustable and takes up more desk space.
But what if you need to change your installation needs because you may change tables in the future?
#7 Solution for mounting methods
Some manufacturers have already heard the needs of consumers, and directly shared the c-clamp and grommet mount parts in the design stage, and included two mounting options in the package, so you don't have to worry about the compatibility of the monitor mount when moving or replacing your work desk.
Conclusion
Even if you have a very spacious desk, the main work area is the one that is actually within reach when you sit. Therefore, we believe that using a monitor arm desk mount not only creates a comfortable space for computer use, but also maximizes the efficiency of desktop use.
Lastly, poor posture and sedentary lifestyle is one of the root causes of protruding abdomen and sore shoulders and neck. Maintaining a good sitting posture through the use of a monitor arm product can be very beneficial to your health.
While monitor arm desk mounts do have many unexpected added benefits, these benefits and effectiveness vary from person to person and do not mean they are suitable for everyone.
Please understand the pros and cons of a monitor arm before purchasing. Ensure that you are satisfied right out of the box.
