Ergotron DS100 Multiple Monitor Mounts

I have already touched on these in my Wiki/FAQ but I figured this deserved a writeup. These have been discontinued but are ROCK SOLID. Pricey but ROCK SOLID. Black powder coated steel and aluminum - these monitor stands come in all different configurations and can be mixed and matched at will. They support both VESA 75 and 100 mounts and hold up to 25 lbs or so per pivot.

http://www.ergotron.com/Portals/0/im...33-095-200.jpg
Triple Monitor Mount

http://www.ergotron.com/Portals/0/im...33-092-200.jpg
Dual Monitor Mount

The Triple Monitor Mount is just the Dual Mount with two arms on either side. They sell longer, Quad arms as well. The entire system is very modular.

They also sell triple conversion kits, pole mounts, desk clamp mounts, desk mounts, grommet mounts, and different length arms (the poles are 1.5" OD - round tubing - NOT PIPE, which is measured nominally (like a 2x4 - which is not actually 2x4)).

Here is a PDF with general information on their mounts and accessories:

http://www.ergotron.com/Portals/0/li...ish/05-030.pdf

Finding part numbers can be a bit tricky but most of the parts are available fairly cheaply on eBay and the like. (This depends on your version of fairly cheaply).

In my opinion, there is no better way to mount your monitor array. Almost all serious 5 boxers who are looking to "do it right" go with these mounts. In my opinion, there is almost no better way to do it. The original version of the Zins called for 6 monitors mounted on my desk and they were ROCK SOLID. I am currently using a rather large array of DS100s (double and triple arms) to support an array of 12 (nearly 200 lbs) of monitors and supports. Did I mention these were ROCK SOLID? If price is an issue, just get 1 single 30" one with a tall enough pole and use your normal stands for the lower 3 monitors.

They also sell newer versions that actually tilt up and down - more expensive but they are in production now (although the DX100 is still plenty easy to find). Their newer product is called the LX series. I do not have any first hand experience with it and cannot say how good it is with more than 3 monitors.

As a side note, these mounts fit 30" monitors but you have to jury rig them if you want to mount them horizontally. You really need 1 dual mount PER 30" monitor - and even then it gets tricky. Technically, you are still within the 25 lbs per mount spec but you need to be careful with how you mount them to ensure they are stable. The usual disclaimers apply - don't hold me responsible for your inability to properly engineer a monitor mount.

If anyone out there is using the quad mount, I would appreciate it a lot if they can tell me how they made theirs to match the edges of the four monitors. No matter how hard I try, the top two will not match the bottom two monitors around the edges.

I read some of these same complaints from Newegg customers but I'm hoping there's some mechanical way to do it rather than the estimate method.

I'm wondering if my monitors are stooping forward but they are well within the limits of the weight (only around 13 pounds each).

Anyway, thanks in advanced.

If you make them all flat, they will match up perfectly.

If you try to angle them, there is no physical way with flat monitors to make the edges all match up.

So in short, don't tilt them down any and they should match up (assuming the same make and type of monitor of course).

Those are great arms, installed some for a former employer of mine, worked and particularly looked great. Nice sturdy materials.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Xzin

If you make them all flat, they will match up perfectly.

If you try to angle them, there is no physical way with flat monitors to make the edges all match up.

So in short, don't tilt them down any and they should match up (assuming the same make and type of monitor of course).

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I was looking at some of the documentation...my printout that came from the box seem to be different. From the website, it shows that it can be tilted up and down, but from the instruction paper sheets I got, I was instructed to install it so that it can be tilted left and right (to have the semi closed book look).

I've positioned them flat but the top two just wouldn't fit ... I even use that even tool (with water inside to see if it's aligned) and the tool says they are, but the edges arent on the monitor to monitor comparison :(

So which one is it really? :| The bolt on the left and right (to allow it to tilt up and down) or the bolt on top and bottom (to allow it to tilt right and left ).

Personal preference really. I turn them to the side but either way you go, they will not match up if you turn them up and down AND right and left.

I would draw a diagram but there are plenty out there already.

If you tilt them all the same way, they should match up - all right/left for example.

When you mix them - there is no way for the edges to line up.

But turning the outer ones in (shouldn't need to as the DS100 is curved anyway) and stacking the top layer the same way.... it should get pretty darn close to seamless between the monitors.

Post a pic perhaps?

I swear by a few of the arms Ergotron offers.

Specifically these:
http://www.ergotron.com/Portals/0/im...512-194_sm.gif
and
http://www.ergotron.com/Portals/0/im...45-179-194.jpg


I have 3 of the single arms, each holding a 24" lcd with no issues.. They are fantastic for repositioning each however you like and allowing for full deskspace below them for keyboards and such...

These look fantastic.

My biggest question is which LCD's are most friendly when it comes to mounting these?

I have a Dell 24" Widescreen on my 'main' PC - I have put together my 4 other PC's I will be using today - but I have zero idea on what to use for the monitors.

I was thinking of either vertically mounting two 17" either side of the 24"... if I use the 'dual monitor desk' stand can I still vertically mount or do they have to be side by side?

Would it be cheaper to buy a single desk mount and just sit one screen above one that sits on my desk?

Biggest question is what monitors is everyone using (that uses this Egrotron stands or any other solution.)

In a former life I worked for a high powered IT company, we sold all IT kit from infrastructure through to tailored software. It was fun and I got paid stupid amounts of money to talk about things I love talking about. Sadly I no longer work there. :( (I spent rather too much time talking and too little selling.)

However we at the time recommended these products to clients, and obtained several samples for showing off in our showroom. I can at least vouch for the superb build quality. They also sell quite a lot of their devices to medical and high end science markets.

I have just been on the phone to a former colleague who said they no longer recommend them due to availability and now recommends Vogels mounts instead.

http://www.avrabbit.com/

EU (UK) supplier of Vogels, though personally I prefer the Egrotron for looks and design.

Maybe somebody would recommend a mount strategy for my set up.

I was planning on going with three of the Dual DS 100's ($200x3 = $600)

I have a plan like this:

[17"][ 20" ][17"]
[17"][ 20" ][17"]

This would be cheaper, if it would work:

1 Triple DS 100 ($256) + Dual DS 100 ($200) = $456

The bottom 2 17" would sit on the desktop, the upper 2 would hang from the triple mount arm. The 2 20's would mount to the center pole using two single mount pivots.

Can you fit the triple mount arm and the two single pivot/mounts on a single 28" pole and base?

Get three Dual DS100s. Getting the Tripple or Quad mount (like I did) is not worth it: too heavy and leaves little room for "creative" setup.

Changed mind.

long time reader, first time poster :)

I have a dell 24" and I want to mount a 17" above it (I only dual box for now) I was wondering if the DS100 would be suitable for this?

I want to expand to 3 - 5 boxing later, but I figure I can recycle the mount when that time comes

any help would be be appreciated

I would obtain the spec sheets and determine it for yourself. I use a rather large array to mount my 30" monitors. But I mount them vertically.... and I use the regular DS 100 (no extension arms) for most of it due to the size of the 30"s.

The bottom line is that I don't exactly follow their suggestions as to how to put this together. But if you know what you are doing - it is a very adaptive system.

I don't see why you could not mount a 24" and then a 17" above it though if you pole mounted them then clamped it to your desk. That should not be a problem at all. Just get the pole to VESA mount part and clamp away. Make sure your pole is high enough though. If they don't sell them, I suggest onlinemetals.com. Be sure to get 1.5" OD TUBE not pipe. If you want to look factory, take it to a local powder coating place.

many thanks xzin, I'm going to give it a bash and see what I can do :)

You SHOULD still be able to get the spec sheets (and even CAD drawings, which I obtained) by going to their site. Worst case, call them. They should be able to help out.