Two computers, one Monitor/keyboard/mouse set

[Geofram]

So, wonder if anyone has experience doing this:

I work from home and have two computers - my work laptop (Which I do all my work on, docked) and my home/gaming computer. I have 3 monitors that I use for work. My gaming PC has two monitors.

I've just got a new desk, and I'm looking to save space. I was considering consolidating down to 3 monitors, but I'd like to be able to use them for both PCs, and just swap between them. Ideally I'd like to do the same with the keyboard and mouse.

I've looked into some KVM switches, but they all seem to only drive one monitor between the computers.

Has anyone seen or used one that can handle more than one monitor? Or have an alternate method of sharing the monitors?

 

[Red Squirrel]

I've thought about this as well, since I'm currently incorporating a KVM into my setup too, and it does not seem they make multi monitor KVMs. Though you could make it switch only the centre and have one of the PCs be single monitor, depends if that's what you want though. Other option would be to get a KVM for each monitor, but kinda annoying having to switch 3 KVMs, but it does give you the flexibility that if you need to refer to something on the other computer you only switch the screens you want. The middle one would control your keyboard and mouse too while for the side monitors you'd only hookup the video portion. You'd want a KVM that has a hardware toggle switch though.

 

[razel]

You want 3 monitors on your laptop? Double check that it can do so. Most of the time you are limited to 2 outputs max including the laptop display. I tried to have 3 total monitors on my laptop: laptop display + 2 external (VGA+DisplayPort) No luck. Always limited to 2 max.

Alternate solution was DisplayPort MTP or USB graphics card. Perhaps DisplayPort Multi-Stream (MTP) might be a solution good for you.

Laptop DP + keyboard/mouse-> KVM
Desktop DP + keyboard/mouse -> KVM

KVM -> DP MTP

DP MTP -> to each monitor

 

[ElFenix]

I just switch the input on my monitor.

 

[Geofram]

You want 3 monitors on your laptop? Double check that it can do so. Most of the time you are limited to 2 outputs max including the laptop display. I tried to have 3 total monitors on my laptop: laptop display + 2 external (VGA+DisplayPort) No luck. Always limited to 2 max.

Alternate solution was DisplayPort MTP or USB graphics card. Perhaps DisplayPort Multi-Stream (MTP) might be a solution good for you.

Laptop DP + keyboard/mouse-> KVM
Desktop DP + keyboard/mouse -> KVM

KVM -> DP MTP

DP MTP -> to each monitor

My laptop supports doing 3 total (through the dock at least). 1 DP, one VGA, one DVI. If I try to use the built-in screen though, it shuts the DP one down though.

ElFenix, that might be what I settle for, for two of the monitors. Doesn't solve the keyboard/mouse though, so I might need a KVM for that anyway.

I'm checking into the DP MultiStream though. That sounds promising.

 

[PrinceMyshkin]

If not already known, I believe the DP port would need to be version 1.2 to be able to use DP MST.
I have a similar setup and wanted to use MST with a Surface Pro 1 but the Surface Pro 1 port is only version 1.1

 

[ElFenix]

ElFenix, that might be what I settle for, for two of the monitors. Doesn't solve the keyboard/mouse though, so I might need a KVM for that anyway.

yup, cheap built-in-cables KVM for the mouse and keyboard, and then just use the native inputs on the monitors. $30 solution to your problem.

 

[mfenn]

Triple head DVI KVMs exist, but be warned, you'll pay a pretty penny for the privilege. Here's a StarTech 4 port unit for $866.

They're DVI-I ports, so you can use a VGA adapter, but you'll of course need to propagate VGA all the way through consistently (the KVM doesn't convert DVI-A to DVI-D). For the DisplayPort on the monitor, you can use an active single-link DP to DVI converter.

 

[piasabird]

They use to make for dual monitors a dvi plug with a splitter. Not all DVI output supported it and it required 2 monitors that were the same model.