Hey guys, I just got my butcher block for a desk from Lowes. It's 6x3 feet. I'm thinking about applying a Minwax oil-based grey stain to it, probably 2-3 coats, and then apply oil-based polyurethane on top of that after 24 hours. Does that sound like a good plan?

I was also thinking I could apply Thompson's water seal to it, as I have a bunch of that, and it's inexpensive. Has anyone used Thompson's water seal on a butcher block, for a desk?

Hey guys,

I've been working with my setup for 4+ years strong now. However, as part of my work, I have inherited a Windows laptop which I use for 8+ hours a day. I also use a Mac for my work aswell, and like to have it in clamshell mode and hook up to my monitor. oh and a PS5 but I only use it for ~5hrs a week,

I have a single-monitor (LG 27UL650 27" Class 4K UHD IPS LED Monitor, which has 2 HDMI ports and a Display Port, Logitech MX Keys (which I have setup to switch between Mac/Windows) and MX Master 3S.

My main issue is I don't have enough space to keep both laptops open while working, and would like the ability to switch dynamically. I don't want to go down the route of getting another monitor, without exploring other workarounds. I've seen some talk of a KVM switch, but I was hoping to get some advice which fits my needs

Thanks for your help! 🤩

So lets get right into it. I want to get an oled, either a C4 48"(not sure why the 42" is not avilable in my country) or one of the 1440p 27". And I want to use my current monitor as a "work" monitor. I'm not going to baby my OLED, but I also don't want to torture it.

Now the issue is I want everything centered. I use speaker when I work and game.

I will need to employ a monitor arm for at least one of my display. The question is how to set up everything so I can pull my work monitor to the center, and put it away once I want to game without knocking stuff out and blocking my speaker.

What I currently have in mind:

• For 27inch oled, I use a monitor arm on the old monitor, put it on top of the oled. Pull down when working, push up when gaming. The issue is Im not sure if the arm can go high enough, and the monitor itself low enough.

• If I were to buy the tv, I would get a second shallow desk, put in in front of my 70cm deep desk, and mount the work monitor somewhere in between where I can swivel it to the side when Im gaming.

So with all of this in mind, please do share what you guys think! I know this sound overcomplicated and maybe unnecessary, but I'm just brainstroming atm and would love to hear you guys' thoughts. So thanks!

Hi. I have 3 monitors. 2 of them are 27 inches 1440p (16:9), 1 of them is 27 inches 1080p (16:9). I want to create a setup that will work with both my 1080p work laptop, and my 1440p personal laptop.

Right now, my setup has the 1080p monitor vertical and in front of me (while slightly elevated), while the 1440p monitors horizontal and to the left and right of the 1080p. My laptop is under the 1080p monitor. I do not have enough space on my table to run the 1440 monitors vertically alongside the 1080p monitor vertically.

When using the 1080p laptop, everything is fine. But when using the 1440p laptop, there is a gap between the 1080p monitor and the 1440p monitor, meaning I have to move my mouse back to the laptop in order to move between the 1440 and 1080p.

I'm trying to figure out if there's another way to rearrange this setup.

Solution 1: Turn the 1440p laptop into a 1080p laptop. This would work immediately, but feels wasteful.

Solution 2: Turn the 1080p monitor horizontal (while to the side) while the 1440s stay vertical, and right in front of me. I'm not sure if my table has the space for 2 vertical monitors.

Solution 3: Make it so that the setup does not use the monitor as a screen, instead as something you dock into your monitors. I really don't want to do that.

Please let me know if more info is needed. The last post got corrupted so here we go again.

I have a dual monitor setup (2x24") standing on my desk, and would like to add a third above the first two. I'm thinking of mounting a 32" or 34" on the wall behind the monitors, about 18" further from my eyes. I figure I can scale the wall-mounted display so the pixel-pitch appears similar to the existing monitors.

Anyone tried something like this? Did you experience any eye fatigue with changing the distance of focus between monitors? Or might that actually reduce eye strain because I would be varying my eye focus more frequently?

Good idea or bad idea?

My wife and I have our setups back to back on a large homemade standing desk, each a pair of monitors, one 34" ultrawide and 27" vertical. Unfortunately we have only a dated ceiling fan/light which I've alleviated with wifi lightbulbs, but they still point right at our faces.

Because of the back to back setup, do you think I should go for desk height light bars, light strips on the back of one or both back to back monitors, or something else? I like the look of the lighting I see with people's stations against the wall and want to follow that.

I have an HP EliteBook 845 (Windows) as my work laptop, and I plan to buy either a MacBook Air M3 or a MacBook Pro M4 for personal use. My dream setup includes:

• Three monitors (planning to buy 27-inch ones).
• One keyboard and one mouse.
• Both laptops closed-lid when in use.
• A webcam mounted on top of the monitors. A headset for meetings.

Seamlessly switching between work and personal setups for triple monitor usage.

Additionally, I would like the flexibility to:

• Use two monitors for work and one for personal at the same time if possible.

Before I invest in this setup, I have a few questions:

1. Does it matter if I choose a MacBook Air M3 vs. a MacBook Pro M4 for triple monitor support?
2. What dock or KVM switch would you recommend for this setup? I’m based in Europe (Netherlands).
3. Since I’m not gaming, are standard office monitors suitable for this setup, or do I need to look for something specific? What kind of monitors (ports/output) should I look for?

I’m investing heavily in this setup, so your guidance will be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I've currently for 3 32 inch curved monitors and I'm weighing replacing them with one reasonably large ultrwode like the G9 but I'm unsure if I'd be losing functionality or can it function similar with split screening etc to the 3 monitors?

I have a 72x30 butcher block and planning to get an additional Alex drawer to finish my setup. Anyone with this same/similar setup:

-what did you use to keep the block on the drawers? -should monitor arms be okay clamped to the block? -any other recommendation for this setup?

I would like to have 3 monitors (1 48", 2 27-34") on an arm.
Preferrably with a way to mount my 2 Klipsch R51M underneath the two side monitors.

The monitors can all be on one arm and don't have to be movable individually, just the entire unit has to be able to be moved around.

I haven't been able to find anything even close to this. Worst-case I can deal with something without the speaker mount but already finding a triple mount for a 48" + 2 other monitors has been impossible.

I currently use the following setup on my desk:

1. Dell U2412M Monitor (DisplayPort/DVI/VGA inputs)
2. Samsung C32R50x Monitor (HDMI input)
3. MacBook Pro 16-inch (USB-C/Thunderbolt ports)
4. Huawei 13-inch Laptop (USB-C port with video output support)

I have a Steetek USB-C KVM switch, which allows me to seamlessly switch between the two laptops. The switch has:

• 2 USB-C input ports (one for each laptop)
• 1 HDMI output port (for a single monitor)
• 3 USB 2.0 ports (for keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals)

Currently, I can only connect one monitor at a time (either the Dell or the Samsung) to the KVM switch. However, I want to use both monitors simultaneously with this setup.

Questions:

1. Is there a way to use both monitors simultaneously while keeping the KVM switch in use for seamless switching?
2. Would adding a dual-monitor docking station after the KVM switch work? If so, how can I ensure compatibility between the docking station and the KVM switch?
3. Are there better alternatives, such as switching to a dual-monitor KVM switch?

I’d appreciate recommendations for any specific hardware (docking stations, adapters, or switches) that could help me achieve this setup. My monitors are primarily 1080p, and I aim for a practical solution that maintains simplicity and seamless switching.

Thank you!

Hi all,

I have wooden slat acoustic panels on my wall behind my desk. I was wondering if anyone has anything they can share regarding putting lights between the slats? Many things I've found online are pre-made e.g.
https://www.thewoodveneerhub.co.uk/products/led-packs-warm-tone?_pos=1&_sid=d4bf74553&_ss=r&variant=44460326682856

Or more specifically, id love to make it like this if it can be done myself where the light when off blends in and is dark/black

https://www.ledspace.co.uk/products/blaq-aura?_gl=1*1gni3gz*_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQiAx9q6BhCDARIsACwUxu4FYZmhKLwtATY8LPUMSv9Tzfq85IpPqN6NwU-1fRSicDKBzWoA2fgaAk0mEALw_wcB

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Short of DIY/ which I’d rather not do since I’m in an apartment.

Looking for a sit stand desk that has a central cut out for a monitor arm so that the desk can be put fully against the wall.

Looking for a wood top ideally.

Any ideas?

At work I currently have a 30" monitor that is non-adjustable. On each side I have two smaller monitors ok vertical position. The smaller screens will be replaced due to age and unreliable function.

The 30" monitor I probably must keep as that still works properly. I have an OK from my boss to order one more monitor of my choice.

First I was thinking about ordering an ultra wide, but that doesn't fit well with my 30" as that is non adjustable.

So now I'm more into changing it to some kind of dual monitor setup and seeking your advice. I still like to have one vertical screen, but not sure what I should go for in terms of size. Or is it better to not go vertical with two screens?

I recently purchased a 6ft Birch Butcher Block I plan on turning into my gaming/productivity desk. I've been browsing Youtube and r/battlestations for ideas on which legs I should use but I'm having a hard time deciding which kind to get.

I'm currently deciding between regular desk legs (mainly considering metal square or pinhead) or a stand/sit frame. Originally, I hadn't considered a standing desk because I haven't used one more than a couple times. However, I've been seeing a lot of setups using them and I like the slim design.

I was wondering if anyone could help provide some insight on this matter? Also feel free to drop any recommendations for legs/desk accessories.

Hi Everyone,

My personal notebook (Asus N552VW - Core i7 6700HQ / 16GiB RAM / 512GB NVMe / GTX 960M) is hitting support EoL with Windows11 (22H2 the last version Windows Update is not upgrading).

Now, I identified the following options to achieve my usual tasks
(DevOps-related tasks for my experiments like Ansible/Terraform/scripts etc., Lightroom Classic photo development / Local-running AI Models for Image Generation):

1. Keep the Asus (as per the faster GTX960M and per-Core frequency) but install Linux + Darktable. CONs: re-convert existing LR catalogs / Steep learning curve for Darktable / no AI in the tool)
2. Switch to another notebook I bought (Dell Latitude 7490) which is slower (per Core frequency) and no discrete GPU but supports Windows 11 fully. I would eventually upgrade the SSD to an NVMe one.
3. Buy a complete new PC (desktop/mini-tower) with a discrete GPU and modern CPU. CONs: costs, it will cost me about 1300 - 1500 Euros at least. I wish to save for other purposes, NAS+Disks at first as I miss it.

Which way would you go if you were in my shoes ?

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/utvisning-gaming-desk-with-shelf-black-40586400/

It would be a great desk, I think, if not for this. Although of course I can choose not to use it, I was wondering if anyone who hangs their tower like this had any issues.

Title says it all, I just bought a 32inch wide screen monitor that I plan to use for my WFH job. I also have a 27in monitor that I was previously using by itself. I want to set up my 27inch monitor with my personal laptop (and future PC) and the 32inch monitor for my work laptop. What cords, docking stations, or other devices to I need to achieve this? I am not very tech savvy with what I would need to buy but I think I can manage setting it up if I know what equipment to purchase. TYIA

Got a new TV and trying to make use of the old 42' LG. I figured using it as a 3rd monitor for movies and streams would be a good idea. Due to it being fairly old, it's not a good option for a main display (max 60hz). Is there a good desk mount to be able to have it raised above my two other 27' monitors?

I like having a top monitor to use for discord/spotify while playing fps games, but I’ve recently started sim racing and would like to be able to move the monitors 3 wide for better immersion. I’m having trouble finding a triple mount that would let me move back and forth between both of these configurations. Current set up is my main monitor is on the right, and left and top are the extras. If anyone can find a solution it would be appreciated! Thanks

Edit: should clarify I would like a mount that lets me just move the top monitor to be the far right and back up so it’s the least amount of moving between configurations

I have a work laptop and my home pc with 1 ultrawide monitor, I want to connect my work laptop to the ultrawide and have it so that I can have half my own PC on one side of the screen and my work laptop displaying on the other half of the screen, all while being able to use 1 keyboard and mouse to operate both.

I’ve been wanting to upgrade my desk to a 78-incher for a few years now. I did some research and saw some people advised against the large table top from IKEA due to the thinness. Fortunately, my neighbor had some perfectly sized hollow core doors that they were wanting to get rid of.

Unfortunately, any kind of solid core doors or countertops were way out of my price range at this point in time so I took the hollow core doors while I could.

While I do have two Alex drawers im planning on using for “legs,” I’m a little worried about the weight bearing in the middle. I have a 34” monitor, a 27” monitor, mic/mic stand. All of these are on mounts so not only am I worried about sagging, I’m also worried about the clamps becoming an issue?

PC itself will be on top of one of the Alex drawers so no worries there. Anyone have any recommendations? I’m happy to do some Home Depot trips, but I’m pretty limited in what wood working I can do.

Greetings

I am looking for a kvm for a 2 monitor 1440p setup between high end desktop PC and windows laptop
I would like to share USB mouse, keyboard and headset along with the 2 monitors
However I would also need the KVM to support Displayport up to 165Hz as that is what I would be running the monitors at for gaming, for the laptop is not important but keeping the 1440p resolution is
Anyone has experience with this one Displayport Kvm Switch 2 Monitors 2 Computers 1440P 240hz Hotkey Switching kvm Switch or maybe this one Amazon.com: TESmart USB 3.0 HDMI KVM Switch 2 Monitors 2 Computers 4K@60Hz, Dual Monitor KVM Switch ?
Any other to recommend? I can't install software on the work laptop so SW emulation is a no go sadly

I have a smaller desk, and using 2 monitors means that it gets crowded quick. Due to how shallow my desk is, I know that when I mount an arm that the screen will begin to sit closer to my face. I was curious if there were any others with shallower desks that knew of dual monitor arms that sat as close as possible to its stand. Would greatly appreciate any suggestions, all the advertisements just boast about how long the arms can extend.

I could make a single arm stand work, but would prefer something that could keep 2 monitors not too close to my face.

I have an old Ergotech Freedom arm for iMac, from 10 years ago that was misplaced and never got used. I just uncovered it again and would like to use it, but the iMac it was originally for is already mounted and doesn't need this. I would love to be able to use it for my ultrawide display on my PC, but of course it's a VESA mount and so this arm isn't directly compatible.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to convert this arm from iMac, to VESA? I'm not a super DIY type but am willing to try and figure stuff out, just need some help figuring out what to even look for.

This is the PDF manual for the arm that I have: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B1YdyLg-L2S.pdf

Thanks for any advice anyone can share!

Theres too many options and I don't understand what to look for to find what I need.

I need a monitor stand, that clamps to the desk, and has a pole that adjusts up and down.. The desk will be flush against the wall so I cannot use an arm. I do not care about tilt adjustment or rotating or anything like that. I will be mounting a heavy 32:9 monitor. I want the monitor to be as close to the wall as possible.

Any recommendations? Not super worried about price.

Planning to run the classic Alex/Karlby setup but not a fan of how the Karlby is particleboard when a lot of solid wood countertops go for similar prices. Right now I'm looking at either an Interbuild from Home Depot or a Sparrow Peak from Lowe's, so if anyone has experiences with those brands I'd appreciate any opinions.

Anyone have any recommendations aside from those? Looking for 6' by 25"-30" by 1.25"-1.75", as close the Karlby walnut shade as possible because I really like that shade. Preferably finished already but unfinished is fine, even better if there's a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale.

I'm an engineering university student looking to buy a second monitor during the black Friday sales.
The main monitor will be used for a little bit of everything: media consumption, studying, and gaming (mostly FPS). The secondary vertical should also be able to do a little bit of everything.
My only requirements are a minimum of ~110 PPI and its decently color accurate.
The budget is around $300 CAD.

Currently, I have an S2721DGF I got 3 years ago. Whether it stays as the main monitor or becomes the vertical monitor is yet to be decided.

All and any recommendations or suggestions to set me on the right track are greatly appreciated.

P.S. I live in Canada
P.S #2 GPU is a 6750xt, so a newer display port or HDMI standards will work

I have a main 1440p 27" 165hz monitor. I plan to buy a 2nd one this Black Friday sale but can't decide if I'll go with a 22 or 24 inch (vertically mounted). I am leaning on getting the 22" due to my desk space, does anyone have this setup? What would you guys advise? TIA