Walktime Blog #20: Building a triple-head monitor stand

I need a monitor stand for the triple-head computer in my new home workshop, so I had a go at making one out of bits of left-over timber.

• Category

  Science & Technology

[Karl Bowden]

Hey. I might have missed it but, what video card are you using with the three monitors? Are they all connected by DVI, and how did you find the linux support? Just works out of the box?

[SuperHouseTV]

It's a Sapphire 6850, using 2 x DVI cables and a HDMI-to-DVI cable. Worked perfectly with Ubuntu 11.10 out of the box, 3 x full HD resolution!

[thaytan]

A nice enough hack. I'm surprised you didn't put 2 supports at the angle joints, to leave the central space free, or bolt the whole thing directly off the back of the desk.

The bits with the freehand saw and jigsaw gave me the heebee jeebees - clamp your work and don't put your hands in the path of a power tool!

I'll be doing a similar hack on my desk soon, except that I want my two monitors mounted vertically, with the top one angled forward slightly.

[SuperHouseTV]

I may still do something like that with the supports, because I'm not really happy with the stand at the moment. I didn't get the monitor spacing / angle exactly correct. To improve it I think I'd need to buy 3 x low profile VESA mounts and attach those to the stand, but that'd be about $90 and I'm cheap. By the time I spend that much I may as well buy some regular monitor arm desk stands.

[thaytan]

- you could perhaps use 2 door hinges to join the side planks to the central one, make the angle more adjustable. I'm not sure what VESA mounts would add for accuracy/adjustability but maybe I'm missing something.

One of the things I particularly liked was that you avoided using actual VESA mounts, it'd be a shame to lose that :)

[SuperHouseTV]

Hinges: brilliant idea! That's so cool, I wish I'd thought of that.

[you1e5mail]

Damn, nice!

[SuperHouseTV]

Yes, I love those keyboards. For a software company, Microsoft make great hardware! I use Dvorak layout so most things can be typed on the home row, so those keys are *very* worn. I have a few of these keyboards at home and work, but unfortunately I think they've stopped making them. The Ergo 7000 (which is the wireless version) feels laggy in comparison, and the keys don't feel as good. Maybe that's in my imagination though.

[ecognito3]

I see you're a fan of the MS Ergonomic 4000 Keyboards too. I've had mine so long the little nubs on the J and F keys have almost worn away. Just bought a spare and stuck it in the cupboard for when it finally dies.