Two monitors of different sizes

[Devsman]

Basically, I want a second monitor that would be portrait instead of landscape. But rather than do the goofy sideways T arrangement that just feels ridiculous AF to me (no offense if you have this setup), I want the portrait one to be half size, half resolution, so the dpi matches and it's almost the same height (actually slightly smaller).

Question is, how do I mount two monitors like this, when clamping to the table is a no go?

Seems if I got a two monitor stand, I wouldn't be able to balance them, as the larger one would be much heavier.

By my calculations, trying to wall mount independently would put about 2.5 inches between the monitors (existing one is 28", at 16:9, this comes to 28/2 cos tan-1 9/16, or about 12 inches to the edge, new one would be 14/2 sin tan-1 9/16, or about 3.5 inches, for a total of 15.5", when the studs are 18" apart), which I'm not crazy about.

I could go for a triple, and put another identical small monitor on the other side, but I can't think of a lot to do with it. I could keep some explorer windows open, I guess, but that's a pretty low utility to cost (and energy) ratio when my text editor already has an explorer built in.

Third option, I could get a separate stand, but I kinda hate this option because hardly any are narrower at the base than a 7" wide monitor, and the ones that are are pretty expensive for some reason.

The reason I can't use a desk clamp is because my "desk" is not a typical wood desk. It's one of those Lifetime plastic tables, which I bought because they're huge by desk standards, cheap by desk standards and hold literally a ton (they're rated for 1000lbs, but reviews state that they can get up to around 2500 before failure). Best move ever (I bought two of them, actually)... Except there's not a lot of room to clamp anything onto them on the underside, and I dunno how they'd react to having holes drilled in them.

Any thoughts?

[nohuman]

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=monitor+mounts+for+2+monitors&sprefix=monitor+mounts

[Tonepoet]

Well, maybe you could measure out and glue a wooden block to the clamp if the table is not thick enough for the clamp ends to grip onto it by themselves.

[Goose]

i have two monitors of different sizes, neither of them are mounted.
one CRT, one LCD, LCD is a lot bigger than the CRT (L and W bigger)
i just went into windows' settings and made sure to line it up there, so that way my mouse doesn't do as much awkward tearing.

[Devsman]

Originally posted by Tonepoet:

Well, maybe you could measure out and glue a wooden block to the clamp if the table is not thick enough for the clamp ends to grip onto it by themselves.

Well I guess if I'm doing that, I might as well just build my own stand. Not a bad idea, come to think. I could just screw some VESA mounts into a 2x6, however far apart I want them, and then set up a typical frame down below.

[Devsman]

Originally posted by Devsman's Comet:

Originally posted by Tonepoet:

Well, maybe you could measure out and glue a wooden block to the clamp if the table is not thick enough for the clamp ends to grip onto it by themselves.

Well I guess if I'm doing that, I might as well just build my own stand. Not a bad idea, come to think. I could just screw some VESA mounts into a 2x6, however far apart I want them, and then set up a typical frame down below.

Then again, this might actually be the least affordable option. Wood is crazy expensive these days.

[Kale]

Hmm that sounds interesting. Let us know how it turns out if you do it.

[Apollo702]

Why not post some pictures so we can get a better handle on the situation?

[Dusk ✨]

https://computermesh.com/computer-monitor-sizes/
Find one that matches the height of your smaller monitor's width, IE a 27in main monitor, with a 15in side monitor. Then research individual monitors of that size's PPI.

I personally don't do this because I choose to have a nice balance of screen real estate as well as comfort, so I use monitors of all the same size, make and model arranged Vertical left, Horizontal center, Horizontal right.

[Devsman]

Originally posted by Devsman's Comet:

Originally posted by Devsman's Comet:

Well I guess if I'm doing that, I might as well just build my own stand. Not a bad idea, come to think. I could just screw some VESA mounts into a 2x6, however far apart I want them, and then set up a typical frame down below.

Then again, this might actually be the least affordable option. Wood is crazy expensive these days.

Or hell, if I'm doing that, why not just get 2 foot piece of 1x6, mount THAT to the wall, and then mount the monitors to that?

Only problem is what if I decide to rearrange...

[Raoul]

Duronic DM25D2, it's an extremely durable dual monitor stand and gives you enough flexibility with the arms to counter weight itself by moving your bigger monitor more centralised it won't tip over but obviously you need to be careful and keep your hand on the stand while you do figure it out, also it does have an option to screw onto the desk but you really don't need that and rather just have the freedom to move things around when you want.

Amazon link for it:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Duronic-DM25D2-Freestanding-Computer-Brackets/dp/B01NCL8LK6/

BTW what desk are you using? I was just curious as the weight its rated for is ridiculously good.

[Under there]

why not wall mount the smaller monitor above the larger?

[Devsman]

Originally posted by Raoul:

Duronic DM25D2, it's an extremely durable dual monitor stand and gives you enough flexibility with the arms to counter weight itself by moving your bigger monitor more centralised it won't tip over but obviously you need to be careful and keep your hand on the stand while you do figure it out, also it does have an option to screw onto the desk but you really don't need that and rather just have the freedom to move things around when you want.

Amazon link for it:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Duronic-DM25D2-Freestanding-Computer-Brackets/dp/B01NCL8LK6/

BTW what desk are you using? I was just curious as the weight its rated for is ridiculously good.

That looks promising. They're a lot more expensive on the US site though.

I believe this is the table. Or at least, it's the same brand and looks similar:

https://www.lifetime.com/lifetime-2901g-6-foot-folding-table-commercial

Originally posted by 240p enjoyer:

why not wall mount the smaller monitor above the larger?

I want the small one to be portrait. That's actually the only reason I want it to be smaller, tbh.

[Raoul]

Sorry I linked you the wrong one its the DM35D2 it has the flexible arms: https://www.amazon.com/Duronic-DM35D2-Freestanding-Aluminium-Adjustable/dp/B071KFT9XJ/ and sadly yeah it is a lot more expensive on the U.S site :(

Just incase you do consider it anyway I've had mine for a few years never let me down and having the ability to move horizontally, rotate and tilt on the fly is awesome the only thing it lacks is doing height changes as you need to use the middle bracket screw thingy to lock that in but still doable just not as fancy as the super expensive hydraulic variants.

[Devsman]

Well, I got the new monitor and hooked it up and all hell broke loose.

Even after removing it I now can't fix the existing monitor. It's stuck in low resolutions and Display resolution in Windows (10) settings maxes out at 1440 x 900.

Reinstalled driver, no dice.

And of course there are no system restore points. I always thought it made those automatically... But I've never had to use one before so

[Devsman]

Physically unplugged it from GPU and replugged it, and that fixed it.

Go figure. Not sure what makes that better than a system restart or driver reinstall but there ya go.

Well, I guess I'll be sending this new monitor back then.