A clear and clutter-free desk could make a world of distinction in your productiveness since having too many issues on high of your desk may be distracting and trigger you to lose give attention to the duty at hand.
Even with among the finest standing desks arrange in my workplace, I discover that I can by no means have sufficient desk house. Whether or not I’m utilizing my desk to check out good house units or for taking pictures, I’m at all times in search of new methods to maximise my workspace.
Whereas I’ve used a monitor stand and even downsized my keyboard prior to now to release some valuable desk house, I knew I may do much more with the proper accent. Thankfully, one among my former colleagues at Tom’s Information pointed me to 1 that I didn’t even know existed.
Over the previous few years, the perfect mini PCs have gotten much more highly effective with out compromising their a lot smaller kind issue. Though the mini PC I’ve on my desk already takes up so much much less house than a full-size PC, by mounting it to the again of my monitor, I may have much less cables operating up the again of my desk with much more free house. In order that’s precisely what I did.
A complete new use for these VESA mounting holes
(Picture credit score: Future)
In case you’ve ever mounted among the finest TVs to the wall or added a monitor arm to your desk setup, then you definately’re seemingly acquainted with VESA. These patterns of holes in the back of each TVs and displays make it straightforward to make use of a TV mount or a monitor stand or arm as a substitute of their included stands.
What you could not find out about VESA although is which you can additionally use these holes to mount different units to your show together with a mini PC — that’s in case you have the proper adapter. Though I’ve at all times beloved the concept of mounting a mini PC to the again of a monitor with a purpose to save house, I didn’t notice there have been adapters that allow you to just do that whereas nonetheless utilizing a monitor stand or arm.
(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information)
The VESA mount adapter extender bracket I bought ( $13, Amazon ) is designed for Intel’s NUC line nevertheless it’s additionally suitable with different mini PCs. Whereas one finish of the adapter goes between your monitor and your monitor stand, you’ll be able to mount a VESA-compatible mini PC to the opposite facet and have it tucked neatly behind your show.
(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information)
I picked up a Minisforum UM350 ( $289, Amazon ) mini PC on sale final 12 months and though I didn’t assume I’d have a lot use for it on the time, it got here with a VESA mounting bracket. It took simply two screws to safe the bracket to the underside of the PC.
(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information)
From right here, I needed to take away the bracket from the underside of the mini PC in order that I may connect it to the adapter. Afterwards, the mini PC simply slid proper into place. In case you plan on doing one thing comparable, you need to preserve the orientation that your mini PC will probably be in as soon as mounted to the again of your monitor in thoughts through the set up course of.
I selected to have my mini PC’s energy button and entrance ports going through up in order that the rear ports could be nearer to the monitor’s ports. This meant that I may use shorter cables whereas utilizing the built-in cable administration in my monitor stand ( $30, Amazon ) to maintain every thing tidy.
Saving these further bolts certain got here in useful
With my mini PC mounted to my VESA mount adapter extender bracket, it was time to connect it to the again of my monitor and reinstall my monitor stand. I hoped to reuse the bolts I already had however there was a catch.
(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information)
The bolts I used to connect my mini PC to the extender bracket caught out a bit too far and pushed up towards the again of the monitor. Whereas I may tighten the bolts on the far proper facet utilizing the present bolts from my monitor stand, they only weren’t lengthy sufficient on the left facet. Thankfully, as I at all times do, I stored the entire bolts that got here with my monitor stand and I used to be capable of finding some longer ones for the 2 holes on the left.
Though I may have used shorter bolts to connect the mini PC to the extender bracket, the way in which that I ended up doing it labored out because it offered a bit extra space for airflow below the underside of my pc.
(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information)
With my mini PC mounted firmly to the left facet of the again of my monitor, it was time to wire every thing up. The longer cables I used beforehand would go away me with plenty of further cable to handle which is why I discovered some shorter HDMI cables within the repurposed shoe rack I’ve hanging on the again of the closet door in my workplace.
A good cleaner setup now with extra desk house
(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information)
Earlier this 12 months once I bought my Samsung M7 Good Monitor , I assumed I did a fairly good job making a minimal desk setup with a mini PC on one facet and my Nintendo Swap in its DIY dock on the opposite. It has served me rather well over the previous few months whereas working from house in addition to when taking part in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom .
Despite the fact that my desk already appeared so much cleaner than many others, I knew deep down that I may do higher.Once I heard that VESA mount adapter extender brackets may permit me to do one thing I’ve at all times wished to strive, I knew it was time to redo my setup.
(Picture credit score: Tom’s Information)
The tip end result makes it seem like there isn’t even a pc on the desk in any respect. I swapped my wired mechanical keyboard for a wi-fi one — the NuPhy Air 75 in case you had been questioning – and I additionally discovered a option to do away with my already smaller, re-shelled Nintendo Swap dock. With the Genki Covert Dock Mini ( $50, Amazon ) plugged into an influence strip in my desk’s cable administration tray , I solely have a single USB-C cable that runs up from the underside of the desk to make use of my Swap in docked mode.
Though I’ll seemingly find yourself redoing my desk setup but once more down the road, I’m actually pleased with how this one turned out. I haven’t had any issues with the mini PC mounted to the again of my monitor and with a toddler operating round my workplace, there’s one much less button for him to attempt to press. In case you have a mini PC that’s VESA suitable, you could need to think about doing one thing comparable, particularly if you happen to worth desk house as a lot as I do.