KVM Switch Recommendation for Multiple Displays

punkindrublic on 23/11/2024 - 09:47
Last edited 26/11/2024 - 09:08 by 2 other users

I'm new to KVM switches and thought I'd get some advice before I bought anything during the Black Friday sales.

I've got a PC, Dell Inspiron 15 3535, laptop and Omen 27q gaming monitor with 165Hz refresh rate. I'm hoping to pick up a second Omen monitor down the track, but for now have an older Viewsonic monitor with 60Hz refresh rate that I'll use as a dual screen.

What KVM switch should I be looking at for this setup? Is there a particular model I need to make the most of the Omen's refresh rate?

Computing KVM Switch

Comments

  • ihfree on 23/11/2024 - 10:19

    As a budget alternative,

    USB switch such as a ugreen one and switch inputs on the monitors.

    You can automate the process a bit more with a utility like monitor control.

    I do this with my laptop and desktop. My laptop is connected to a Thunderbolt dock.

    If I need to access my PC for purposes other than games, I quite often use remote desktop.

    I have a script to kill the remote desktop session if I want to access virtual desktop for VR/ streaming.

    • punkindrublic on 23/11/2024 - 10:58

      I'm hoping for an all-in-one switch if possible, although if it's going to cost in the hundreds then might hold off on buying anything. It's a nice to have, not essential!

  • bjdchwr on 23/11/2024 - 12:34

    I have 3 machines, one Mac Mini, one small PC from Minisforum and one large tower.
    My main day-to-day machine is the Minisforum HTPC, as it is decently powerful and saves a lot on my electricity bill.

    My solution is just to buy a USB KVM so I can switch between USB devices and leave all the devices connected to the monitor using either HDMI or DP cables.
    The monitor is set up to auto-switch inputs. I have a dual Dell S2721QS.
    I used this one:
    It works well and saves me money.

  • AndyC1 on 23/11/2024 - 17:44
    +1

    What exactly do you want to "switch"?

    I have a main PC that displays on monitor #1 always and then on monitor #2 I use the monitor DHPCh V DP to switch between a laptop and the PC.
    I have a KVM to switch between the mouse and keyboard between the PC and laptop.
    The laptop has a docking station (11 in one).

    I have had a bunch of different KVM's and have used at work a bunch of KVM's over the last 20 years and my experience is than KVM's suck for display technology as it keeps changing every few years (VGA, then DVI then HDMI 1.0 then HDM 1.2 and then 2.0 then the resolution and then the refresh rate….).

    You will need a USB KVM as I have fount it cheaper than a USB switch, but check it out yourself.
    As for display check out the monitors and PC's to see if they can be hooked up to not require a KVM and if they can go down this route.

  • wau2 on 26/11/2024 - 07:40
    Merged from KVM Switch Support Dual Monitor

    Hi there
    I’ve been googling for ages and still can’t find a solution for my work setup.

    Currently I have a personal laptop and a work laptop and two 4k hdmi monitors.

    As it stands I have the monitors connected to a usb dock, which then feeds to one of the laptops. The problem is I do multiple switches a day so have to constantly disconnect the usb from one laptop to the other to use the dual monitors. As a result, the plug is playing up.

    Is there a switch or a solution where I can just have:
    Dual monitor - dock - permanently connected to two laptops and I can easily just press a button to switch between laptops to display on the dual monitors?

    Thanks in advance

    • Colin2905 on 26/11/2024 - 08:00

      Anything suitable in the Belkin range?

    • Broos on 26/11/2024 - 08:02
      +1

      I think the LG Ergo DualUp has this feature. I’m looking into one myself for the same reason.

    • Brotality on 26/11/2024 - 08:54
      +1

      You can get 2 x usb docks that can do dual 4k 60 for the two laptops
      https://amzn.asia/d/hSCuS91

      And add a dual HDMI 4k 60 kvm switch, connect it to the two docks and it's output to your monitors.
      https://amzn.asia/d/eIQHTmH

      Amazon is the way to go with these things since a lot of the specs might be false and you might issues hitting 4k 60 on both monitors, with Amazon you can just return whatever is not working.

      • wau2 on 26/11/2024 - 12:09

        Would a usb c splitter work? To connect to the kvm switch rather than having two docks connected to kvm switch

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