Abstract

• The Razer Monitor Stand Chroma has a smooth design however is restricted by its excessive worth and compact dimensions.
• It is slim with a chic look, however it could not match bigger displays with extensive bases.
• Glorious USB hub efficiency, however the lighting is weak.

Having the precise monitor stand could make a giant ergonomic distinction. The Razer Monitor Stand Chroma delivers a slick such answer with a pleasant USB hub, however its excessive worth and compact dimensions restrict its total attraction.

Value and Availability

The Razer Monitor Stand Chroma is offered from Amazon or direct from Razer for $200. Within the field is the aluminum stand, USB-C to USB-C cable, and paperwork.

Design: Slim, Glossy, and Perhaps a Bit Small

The Razer Monitor Stand Chroma options an aluminum physique that is clean and funky to the contact. Though it may be a fingerprint magnet, it is an exquisite, premium, and durable design that justifies not less than a few of the stand’s comparatively excessive price. Anti-slip rubber ft give it some grip.

Even with a beneficiant weight capability of 44 lbs, at solely 19.7-inches lengthy and eight.27-inches extensive, you are going to wrestle with becoming bigger displays, particularly these with wider stands. For example, the INNOCN Ultrawide 40-Inch 40C1R monitor is nicely below the burden restrict at 35.5 lbs, however its stand base has a depth of 9.5-inches, inflicting a few of it to hold over the stand’s platform.

Whereas many smaller displays will match simply wonderful, it is nonetheless vital to measure, as the kind of stands trendy shows include differ significantly, from flat bases to flared legs. After all, you do not have to make use of the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma strictly as a monitor stand, particularly as a result of it has different makes use of because of the built-in USB-C hub.

Since I lately upgraded to an INNOCN 49Q1R 49-Inch OLED Curved Gaming Monitor, there was zero probability of it becoming on the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma. As an alternative, I positioned the stand between the monitor and my Alienware Aurora R15 GD desktop pc, making a platform the place I may situate my Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, three comfortable juggling balls, a light-up photo voltaic system crystal ball, and two gaming mice. Beneath I’ve numerous cables, a USB energy hub, and the Razer Kraken V4 Pro OLED management hub, though for extra conventional under-monitor utilization it is a good place to retailer a keyboard. In the best way I’ve my stand setup, I’ve the remappable Chroma button and three USB ports going through out and inside simple attain.

Ports: Three’s Firm

Razer says the Monitor Stand Chroma has a four-port USB-C hub, which is technically true, however a bit deceptive. On the stand’s proper facet is the remappable Chroma button, two USB 3.2 Kind A ports, and one USB 3.2 Kind C port. On the rear proper is a full-size HDMI 2.0 port and a USB Kind C connector that is meant to hook up with one in all your pc’s out there USB-C ports.

Sadly, the included USB-C to USB-C is brief at round 39-inches, so should you do not change it your self with one thing longer, you may want to make sure that the stand is comparatively near your pc. To utilize the stand’s HDMI 2.0 output, your pc’s USB-C port might want to help video output, which on this case maxes out at 3,840 x 2,160p 60HZ. For full performance of the hub, Razer recommends a USB Kind C host that helps 15W fairly than the 7.5W of some such connections.

When you get about 2.4-inches of house below the stand’s platform, the facet and rear ports are in a small enclosure, so that you lose about 0.5-inches of peak in that space. Since this enclosure is simply simply over 4-inches extensive, you do not lose that a lot under-shelf house, but it surely’s nonetheless one thing to notice. Whereas I might have appreciated the rear ports to be flush with the again of the stand fairly than inset, it is comprehensible that Razer most well-liked that the facet ports be extra centered for aesthetics and attain.

Software program: Just for Home windows

As is the usual with Razer merchandise, you may want Razer Synapse, which is just for Home windows 10 or 11 computer systems, to manage the Monitor Stand Chroma’s facet button and RGB lighting. As a result of there’s not a lot performance with the stand, the out there choices in Razer Synapse are extra restricted in comparison with a few of their different merchandise.

The down-firing RGB mild strip close to the entrance of the stand can have its brightness adjusted and numerous results utilized, much like different Razer products. These choices embrace a single static colour, numerous colour cycles, and different results like responding to audio.

Extra fascinating, not less than to me, is the Remappable Chroma Button, which is known as the Multi Perform Button in Razer Synapse. By default, it cycles by the assorted chroma results, however can be set to toggle the lighting on or off, mimic keyboard or mouse features, run macros, launch packages, and extra.

To me, it is a disgrace that Razer solely included one such programmable button on the Monitor Stand Chroma, as a result of it truly is a helpful function. As it’s, it may be onerous to decide on only one operate to execute when there are such a lot of prospects, however I am glad I not less than obtained one.

Efficiency: Nice USB Hub, Mediocre Brightness

Not all USB hubs are created equal, so it would not be out of the peculiar if the one included within the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma was not fairly as much as the duty. Luckily, Razer is thought for his or her performance-oriented gaming gear, so it is no shock, then, that the USB hub within the stand can be a wonderful performer.

There have been no noticeable efficiency hits utilizing the ports on the hub when related to a rear USB 3.2 Gen 2 Kind-C port on my desktop pc. For example, utilizing EaseUS DiskMark to judge a Lexar D40E 256GB USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type C flash drive on my desktop’s entrance USB 3.2 Gen 2 Kind-C port, I measured a sequential learn velocity of 33.74 MB/s and sequential write velocity of twenty-two.96 MB/s with a 244.783 and 360.005 ms delay, respectively. Utilizing the USB-C port on the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma, I measured a sequential learn velocity of 34.26 MB/s and sequential write velocity of 23.80 MB/s with a 241.467 and 345.802 ms delay, respectively.

I’ve discovered a few of Razer’s RGB lighting options to have comparatively excessive energy attracts and be choosy about energy sources, so it is not a shocker that, since there is not any separate energy supply for the stand, it is a bit dim, even at 100% brightness. It is definitely not a deal-breaker and needs to be regarded as extra of a bias mild than one thing that may dramatically improve a gaming expertise, as an example, however I used to be not less than hoping for the choice to go brighter than it does.

Even with the lackluster brightness of the lighting, I am nonetheless comfortable to have the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma. You simply sort of overlook that it is there, which is an efficient factor, and once I do want it, wish to press the Remappable Chroma Button to launch a program or to rapidly use one of many three out there USB ports, it performs flawlessly.

Ought to You Purchase the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma?

The Razer Monitor Stand Chroma does precisely what it says it does and does it nicely. It is a beautiful, strong stand that additionally features as a USB hub and accent lighting. After all, even placing the excessive worth apart, it is not excellent, as its comparatively small measurement is limiting, the included USB-C to USB-C cable is brief, and the brightness of the lighting is restricted.

When you be sure that your monitor’s stand matches throughout the Razer Monitor Stand Chroma’s dimensions and do not thoughts spending a bit lavishly in your work or play house, that is positively a step up from the standard plastic show platforms. It is only a disgrace that Razer could not have performed only a bit extra for the worth.