[WhatAboutBob]

My Mom's desk has an area for a computer monitor that is exactly 20.28 inches wide. It is not possible to increase it. She desires a larger, 21-inch monitor, and several we've shopped for are barely wide enough to fit in this space. However, the desk would provide ample room both on top and behind the monitor.

I'm wondering if this would potentially cause problems from the standpoint of safety and/or functionality. Do monitors need a certain "clearance" along the sides to promote airflow, or prevent it from overheating? Would sufficient space around the top & back compensate for this?

The monitor we like best so far is a Dell LED monitor that according to their website is 20" wide. That leaves a mere 0.14" clearance on each side, but others we've looked at give us even less!

A 19" monitor would easily fit, but that is not a significant upgrade from the one she is using right now.

Any insights would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Knifeblade]

Very few of today's monitors, particularly the type your mom is thinking of, need side space. If you can goto a store and take a look at the sides of a similar monitor, you should see that the side bezels have no vents. You'll be okay, since you say you should have good top and back clearance. Theonly potential issue is side inputs, or a side mounted drive {DVD, CD, such as}. Will that be an issue with the monitor you are thinking of?

This post has been edited by Knifeblade: 01 April 2011 - 06:10 AM

[coastie65]

WhatAboutBob, on 31 March 2011 - 08:06 PM, said:

My Mom's desk has an area for a computer monitor that is exactly 20.28 inches wide. It is not possible to increase it. She desires a larger, 21-inch monitor, and several we've shopped for are barely wide enough to fit in this space. However, the desk would provide ample room both on top and behind the monitor.

I'm wondering if this would potentially cause problems from the standpoint of safety and/or functionality. Do monitors need a certain "clearance" along the sides to promote airflow, or prevent it from overheating? Would sufficient space around the top & back compensate for this?

The monitor we like best so far is a Dell LED monitor that according to their website is 20" wide. That leaves a mere 0.14" clearance on each side, but others we've looked at give us even less!

A 19" monitor would easily fit, but that is not a significant upgrade from the one she is using right now.

Any insights would be appreciated. Thank you.

Hi and welcome to the forums. I have the same issue in that I have about 20.375 in. in which to put a monitor. I have a Samsung 22" 2243BWX in there with very little space left over. It is 19 7/8 " wide and did fit. You know how much space you have, so as has been stated, take a tape measure with you and measure the monitors.

[nonseq]

WhatAboutBob, on 31 March 2011 - 08:06 PM, said:

My Mom's desk has an area for a computer monitor that is exactly 20.28 inches wide. It is not possible to increase it. She desires a larger, 21-inch monitor, and several we've shopped for are barely wide enough to fit in this space. However, the desk would provide ample room both on top and behind the monitor.

I'm wondering if this would potentially cause problems from the standpoint of safety and/or functionality. Do monitors need a certain "clearance" along the sides to promote airflow, or prevent it from overheating? Would sufficient space around the top & back compensate for this?

The monitor we like best so far is a Dell LED monitor that according to their website is 20" wide. That leaves a mere 0.14" clearance on each side, but others we've looked at give us even less!

A 19" monitor would easily fit, but that is not a significant upgrade from the one she is using right now.

Any insights would be appreciated. Thank you.

Knifeblade and coastie are right. You really shouldn't have a problem. Just remember "Baby Steps"

This post has been edited by nonseq: 01 April 2011 - 07:47 AM

[Knifeblade]

We probably should have suggested a few more things re cables first into the space and routing/access issues, but up to the OP to respond now.

[WhatAboutBob]

Thank you everyone for your input. We decided to purchase the monitor today. If there are any issues with the monitor, I'll pass on what they were so other users can benefit.

Thanks again! ~Bob