question on Dual display & KVM

[astrophysics]

I am planning to get dual displays for both a windows desktop & mac desktop...

And instead of seperating the displays, 1 for windows, 1 for mac, I was wondering how can I set it up where I can use a kvm? use both displays while working on windows... then I want to switch to the mac to do something else while using both displays still...

Is there such a kvm that supports that?

another thing is... what if a video card has 1 VGA and 1 DVI connection... Can I dual display by connecting one via DVI and the other via VGA ?

 

[arsbanned]

I'm almost certain Belkin makes one. Make sure it has sound capabilities too, then you can share one set of speakers between both boxes.

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

yes,if a graphics card has DVI and VGA,you can use those two for two monitors. i currently do the same with my LCDs.

they make dual display KVM switches,the VGA models are reasonable,but the DVI models tend to be extremely expensive. for high quality KVMs for your situation, don't cut corners if you using two high grade monitors and computer. get a Belkin.

 

[Tostada]

I've never seen a KVM that supports more than one monitor, so I'd be very interested in seeing anything to support that. Belkin's website doesn't list any dual-monitor products.

KVM's that support sound aren't necessary. There's no reason not to just run the Line-Out on one machine into the Line-In on another machine. That way if you're listening to music you can switch displays and still hear both machines.

 

[CSMR]

There's no reason not to just run the Line-Out on one machine into the Line-In on another machine. That way if you're listening to music you can switch displays and still hear both machines.

(Additional analog-digital and digital to analog stage, quality loss both ways, is the reason)

 

[Tostada]

Originally posted by: CSMR

(Additional analog-digital and digital to analog stage, quality loss both ways, is the reason)

LOL! You're suggesting that the line-in of your soundcard is constantly capturing the audio digitally, not just when you're recording??? Wow, that sure would take a lot of CPU cycles if you used the line-in on any sort of onboard audio!

The line-in functions as a pass-through when you're not recording. Just because you can adjust the volume doesn't mean it is encoding digitally.

Regardless, you're not going to find a KVM pass-through that will preserve the signal noticably better than the Line-In on your sound card. The only time this would even be an issue would be if he has some huge home theater setup and $500 speakers, and in that case there is going to be a primary machine used for the HT, and that machine should be plugged directly into the speakers, not through a KVM. The other machine would be plugged into the line-in on the HT machine's Audigy.

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

i found this in less than 2 minutes:
link

 

[Tostada]

Originally posted by: AWhackWhiteBoy
i found this in less than 2 minutes:
link

You're pretty cocky for a guy who can't make a working link...

But here's a good one:
OmniView Dual-head

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

forgetting to delete the http:// isn't even worth mentioning. if you fret over such nonsense maybe you shouldn't log in. a simple google search will turn up many dual monitor KVMs.

 

[Tostada]

You didn't forget to delete the http: ... you tried to make it a secure link.

Will this simple Google search you speak of turn up anything that's less than $404.97 once you buy the required cables? The pricing on Belkin's SOHO stuff isn't very practical.

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

"they make dual display KVM switches,the VGA models are reasonable,but the DVI models tend to be extremely expensive."

 

[Tostada]

Originally posted by: AWhackWhiteBoy
"they make dual display KVM switches,the VGA models are reasonable,but the DVI models tend to be extremely expensive."

Who are "they"? What is "reasonable"? Is $404.97 for a 2-port dual-VGA model reasonable? If so, I'd hate to see how much the DVI ones are!

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

READ the posts!

if you don't think $405 isn't worth it,apparently you have no problem buying two more monitors instead,as well as a new desk,keyboard,and mouse. not to mention a bigger room,maybe apartment/home

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: Tostada
I've never seen a KVM that supports more than one monitor, so I'd be very interested in seeing anything to support that. Belkin's website doesn't list any dual-monitor products.

KVM's that support sound aren't necessary. There's no reason not to just run the Line-Out on one machine into the Line-In on another machine. That way if you're listening to music you can switch displays and still hear both machines.

The whole line in/line out thing tends not to work out so well if you only have one machine on, or have three or maybe four machines.