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dual monitor KVM switch ?

Search outpost.com for "KVM" and you'll get a list of several. The cheapest 2-port is 50 dollars, but I've never heard of the brand PrimeLogic (decent looking specs though as far as things like resolution and refresh rate). For 60 dollars there's also a neat looking "mini" KVM from IOGear. (Keep in mind that if you buy a regular KVM, you also have to buy cables to connect to the PCs, which can add significantly to the cost; the mini-KVM has the cables integrated, so a 10 dollar price increase isn't so bad).


Newegg.com also sells a couple of brands of KVM, some of which are as low as 34 dollars. Even the D-Link brand is only 44 dollars.

You could also look at a simple VGA switchbox, rather than a full KVM, if you have an extra keyboard and mouse and the space to set them up, so you still save buying a second monitor. Outpost has one as low as 20 dollars.

Keep in mind that a manual/analog switch (with a knob to switch) often limits your refresh/resolution more than a digital switch, where you push a button on it or use a keystroke combination to switch.
 
What I mean is

I want to be able to run dual monitors on my main pc, and I want to be able to flick a switch and be on my second PC but just being using one monitor
 
Here is a good KVM review (from last year), that I wish I would have read before I purchased my D-Link ....... although, for the $$$ the D-Link works great:

Toms HardWare Networking

Basically, you can purchase the high end units and have USB & Audio capability.
 
Just be aware that those usb kvm's are kinda funky in that most of the advanced features on keyboards and mice don't work (eg: hotkeys on keyboards, extra buttons on mice) because the kvms have to support the manufacturers (I forget the technical term...have to look it up), but that would require licensing....and most kvm manufacturers won't do that because of the sheer number they would have to license.

I was looking into the USB kvm to replace my linksys 2 port ps2 kvm I have, but decided I'd rather have the added functionality of my devices.
 
Well ....... I don't have the USB/Audio/PS2 - KVM switch ...... but I would purchase the Belkin OmniView version if I was going to replace my D-Link.
Most of the few problems I have read about concerning KVM's was with the wireless type keyboards and mice which seemed to have some issues .........?
I'm really not big on any of the wireless stuff (or hot key's), so it wouldn't matter much to me, but I think ozone13 is correct that not everything always works perfect ....... on some of the switches.
Most user's seem to worry more about the higher video resolution ratings and audio capability of the KVM's than anything else.
 
XBoxLPU: a normal KVM will be able to do this for you. Set up your main system with one monitor connected to the KVM (the one you want to use on the second machine) and the other monitor connected directly to the main system's video card. Then connect the two systems' keyboard and mouse ports to the KVM, and the actual keyboard and mouse to the KVM. When you have the KVM set to the primary system, both monitors will display as a normal dual monitor. When you switch it to the second system, the keyboard and mouse will switch, as will the monitor connected to the KVM. The other monitor will continue to display the output from the first system with the dual-head video card, because it has no clue that anything has changed. Your video card still "sees" two monitors because the KVM maintains a signal link.

Again of course, you could do the same thing with just a VGA switchbox, which will be cheaper. Setup the output from one video card port to send to the KVM, the other video card port directly to the second monitor, then connect the other machine to the other switch port, and the monitor to the output on the switch. When you click it over to the second machine, the monitor will switch, but the second monitor will still be displaying from the first computer (and if you use a VGA switchbox, you'd have keyboard and mouse input to both machines, so you could work on them both at the same time when needed, and then switch back to dual monitor on the primary machine).
 
Heck, I wish I had that. I have a Belkin 4-port Omnicube, works pretty well but I think I paid over 100 dollars for it, and had to buy cables, and I think the video bandwidth is less (only reaches 1600x1200 @ 65Hz, though that's far more than I need). Only for a brief period did I even use more than 2 ports anyway.

As for mouse support, if you use a Microsoft mouse, you'll probably be able to get all the functions.
 
Originally posted by: Lord Evermore
XBoxLPU: a normal KVM will be able to do this for you. Set up your main system with one monitor connected to the KVM (the one you want to use on the second machine) and the other monitor connected directly to the main system's video card. Then connect the two systems' keyboard and mouse ports to the KVM, and the actual keyboard and mouse to the KVM. When you have the KVM set to the primary system, both monitors will display as a normal dual monitor. When you switch it to the second system, the keyboard and mouse will switch, as will the monitor connected to the KVM. The other monitor will continue to display the output from the first system with the dual-head video card, because it has no clue that anything has changed. Your video card still "sees" two monitors because the KVM maintains a signal link.
Click to expand...

Your solution doesnt work for two systems that both have dual monitor cards. Is there something out there that has this capability?

 
As far as I know there's no full KVM switch that would allow you to switch both monitors on a dual monitor system (consider what that would require: two input VGA ports for each PC being connected, plus two output ports to the monitors, making a "two computer" KVM require almost as much connectivity as a 4-port standard KVM). It's possible there is such a thing, but it'd probably be expensive.

An alternative would be to combine a normal KVM to switch the keyboard, mouse and one monitor, and then a VGA switchbox to switch the second monitor.

XBoxLPU: what do you consider a non-annoying keyboard shortcut? They have to make the combo something that is very unlikely for a user to accidentally perform. Of course it doesn't look like Linksys has quite gotten that right on the 2-port. Hitting the control key twice isn't exactly a hard thing to do, either deliberately for some purpose, or just accidentally while tapping one's fingers. And did you mean that you've found some that don't have an annoying shortcut key but they don't look decent?
 
Originally posted by: Lord Evermore


XBoxLPU: what do you consider a non-annoying keyboard shortcut? They have to make the combo something that is very unlikely for a user to accidentally perform. Of course it doesn't look like Linksys has quite gotten that right on the 2-port. Hitting the control key twice isn't exactly a hard thing to do, either deliberately for some purpose, or just accidentally while tapping one's fingers. And did you mean that you've found some that don't have an annoying shortcut key but they don't look decent?
Click to expand...

At least a shortcut that a game will not use... but I know I can change key bindings but isn't that even more annyoing. Also, crtl + x copies stuff, I would think you if was doing some heavy copying it would get annoying. I never use Scroll lock, a two or three button shortcut would be fine... as I would probably just use the switch on the KVM.

The two linksys I have looked at have been controlled by the ctrl key which I do not want.

 
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