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SilverStone SST-ARM11SC Single Monitor Interactive Arm Review
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By Aidan Moore
Manufacturer: SilverStone Technology Co., Ltd.
Product Name: Single Monitor Interactive Arm
Model Number: SST-ARM11SC
UPC: 4710007220115
Price As Tested: $117.99 (Amazon)
Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by SilverStone.
Most people do not consider changing their computer monitor stand when it comes time to upgrading their system. This is understandable, as the device which supports your monitor is truly a behind the scenes system component. But depending on your setup, having the ability to pull your monitor closer to you, or float the display entirely off the desk is quite a useful feature. Wacom touchscreen owners have long realized the benefits of a flexible arm for precise ergonomic use of their touchscreen display. With the advent of Windows 8 and the trend towards touch enabled screens, having a flexible monitor arm suddenly becomes an important component in a desktop computer system.
The SilverStone SST-ARM11SC seems to recognize this trend with the naming of their product. This is not just a flexible monitor stand, SilverStone describes it as “the Arm One Single LCD Interactive Armâ€. It promises to liberate your view and significantly increase the value and usability of your monitor. In this article, Benchmark Reviews looks at this new monitor stand to see if there is real value behind the marketing claims.
Features & Specifications
From the SilverStone website:
- Smart torque spring ensures hassle-free adjustment
- Multiple adjustment including height and 90 degrees monitor rotation
- Aluminum construction
- Easy installation and cable management
- Meet VESA Mounting Interface Standard
Specifications
Model: ARM11SC
Color: Silver
Material Steel/Aluminum/Plastic
Swivel: 90°
Tilt: +90°, -20°
Rotate: 360°
Max weight: 10 kg
Max panel: 24 inches
Weight: 3.8 kg
Closer Look: SilverStone ARM11SC
The product arrives disassembled with the components neatly arranged in the shipping box. The finish on the painted and aluminum components is protected by plastic wrapping, so the components should be unblemished upon arrival.
Assembly appears to be very straightforward, but it’s a good idea to look at the enclosed instruction manual for the proper sequence to install the components of the arm.
The base of the unit is the first part of the arm to be assembled, and attaching the base clamp to the work surface is very straightforward. One of the assembly friendly features of the arm is the two-part clamp mechanism that allows you to position the base assembly on the top of the desk and then complete the assembly from underneath the desk with the clamp.
Although the base clamp is constructed with smooth polished metal, it might be advised to use plastic or rubber gasket material to protect the finish of a wood surface from the monitor arm base.
Once the base clamp has been installed in the desired location, it is very easy to attach the base post and first section of the swivel arm.
The next step is to attach the second section of the arm to the monitor with the included screws and Allen wrench. It’s usually best to lay the monitor on a flat soft surface to perform this step as it can be awkward to manipulate the arm section as well as a larger monitor.
The monitor attachment plate has two sets of VESA mounting holes to accommodate large and small monitor sizes. Virtually all VESA compatible monitors in the recommended size range should attach to the ARM11SC.
Finally the two arm sections are simply attached at the pivot point and the assembly is complete.
At this point it’s time to connect the monitor power and signal cables. SilverStone has obviously put some thought into cable management as each section of the monitor arm has its own discrete guides for mounting the power and signal wires.
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SilverStone ARM11SC Detailed Features
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The primary function of an articulated monitor arm is ergonomic computing. This means that the monitor arm should be easy to adjust and position without having to resort to tightening Allen screws and reaching behind the monitor to make adjustments.
SilverStone has obviously considered the ergonomic factor in the design of the ARMSC11. Each section of the monitor arm moves smoothly and allows effortless positioning, provided the attached monitor is within the recommended weight and size.
The springs in a monitor arm are responsible for holding the attached monitor in the desired position. If the spring tension is too stiff, the monitor will float upwards, and if the tension is too low, the monitor will tend to slide down towards the desk surface.
SilverStone has anticipated a wide range of monitor weights and positions, and they have provided a holding screw adjustment for each joint in the monitor arm. If the monitor arm does not hold the LCD monitor in exactly the correct position, it is possible to tighten or loosen a rotation joint screw in order to fix the position. This is a valuable feature as heavier monitors may not maintain their position at the most extreme extensions of the arm without a locking screw.
For a product that spends most of its life hiding behind your monitor, the fit and finish of the SilverStone is very impressive.
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Testing & Results
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In order to test the SilverStone ARM11SC, 3 different monitors of different weights and sizes were used. All the monitors listed below weigh in below the maximum weight threshold of the ARM11SC, although the 28 inch I-INC monitor is actually a bit larger than recommended by SilverStone.
Test System
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Monitor 1: Benq E2400HD
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Monitor 2: I-INC iH282
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Monitor 3: Wacom Cintiq 21UX
Results
The Benq E2400HD is a typical 24 inch monitor weighing in under 7 kg. This is most likely the size and weight of monitors intended to be attached to the SilverStone ARM11SC. As a result, the monitor floats smoothly and easily within all positions of its envelope without the need for any setscrew adjustments.
The I-INC iH282 monitor is at the upper edge of the maximum weight recommendations for the SilverStone ARM11SC, and actually exceeds the recommended size of the published specifications at 28 inches. However, the SilverStone easily supports this monitor in all but the most extended positions, and even then the position can be fixed with a small adjustment to the setscrews.
One of the most common uses for an articulated monitor arm is with the small and midsize Wacom Cintiq touchscreen displays. These monitors are typically positioned for easy drawing and sketching, and quite often the best position for these interactive displays is off the edge of the desk, almost sitting in the user’s lap. The Wacom factory provided stands do not allow this degree of flexibility, creating a market for a more flexible display positioning system.
The Wacom 21UX weighs in at just under 9 kg and is considerably larger than it screen size with its surrounding touch panel interface. Mounting the SilverStone arm to this device requires a small modification to the cable entry configuration on the back of the LCD panel, which is clearly described in the Wacom documentation.
Sure enough, the SilverStone performs effortlessly with this monitor, allowing easy maneuvering of the display into any position needed for drawing and graphics input.
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SilverStone ARMSC11 Final Thoughts
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There are many reasons to consider an articulated monitor arm for your desktop computer. A monitor floating above your desk frees up considerable space for additional components such as speakers, input devices as well as general work space. Even though most LCD monitors have a wide viewing range, fine adjustments to the viewing angle provided by an articulated arm can really improve a monitors visual display. Finally, an important reason for an articulated arm is allowing for nontraditional placement of the monitor in a desktop environment.
The SilverStone ARM11SC performance excels in all of the above scenarios. Some larger monitors may tend to sag at the extreme extensions of the arm’s range, and this can be easily accommodated by tightening the joint set screws.
In most desktop setups the SilverStone will be hiding behind the computer monitor. However, if a situation requires the monitor arm to be exposed, there should be no need for embarrassment as the fit and finish is of very high quality with an appropriate high tech look.
The arm itself is lightweight and very easy to install. In most cases the monitor arm will be attached and positioned within 10 minutes using only the tools provided in the package.
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SilverStone ARM11SC Conclusion
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There are going to be high expectations for a passive mechanical product that bills itself as an “interactive” arm that will liberate your view. Fortunately, the SilverStone ARM11SC lives up to its marketing claims and provides a truly useful and interactive device that allows you to position your monitor outside of the normal work envelope.
All angular and positional adjustments can be performed easily, and in most cases without the need to tighten up the included set screws. The inclusion of the required Allen wrench for these adjustments is an appreciated feature.
The SilverStone ARM11 comes in both silver and black finish and looks like a stylish high tech addition to any desktop setup. There will be no need to hide this device behind your computer monitor.
Carefully thought out cable management further enhances the aesthetics of the device. In many cases this monitor could be positioned towards the front of a workstation allowing extension of the monitor into the lap of the user.
One of the first things you notice about the SilverStone ARM11SC is how light it is. This makes assembly and adjustments very easy, and is a testament to the high strength to weight ratio of the arm.
The SilverStone ARM11SC is priced very competitively at $117.99 (Amazon) relative to the large number of alternative solutions on the market. Many single arm devices run near $200 for virtually the same functionality and appearance.
The ARM11SC is an excellent solution for providing convenient, ergonomic viewing of your computer monitor. As computer monitors become touch enabled, monitor arms such as the SilverStone ARM11SC will become a desirable feature for interactive desktop computer viewing and input.
Pros:
+ Stylish design
+ Easy adjustment
+ Good cable management
+ Reasonable price
+ Simple assembly
Cons:
– Finish could scratch
– Clamp might mark desk finish
Ratings:
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Performance: 9.00
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Appearance: 9.00
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Construction: 9.50
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Functionality: 9.50
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Value: 8.00
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Final Score: 9.0 out of 10.
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Excellence Achievement: Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award.
COMMENT QUESTION: How would you use this interactive monitor arm?
