Switching Monitors Between Machines

Cadder · Saturday at 10:45

Hi all,

I have 3 monitors at present and I'm likely to add a fourth in future. They are all mounted on the same desk, with one connected to a laptop while the other two are connected to the workstation in my sig.

Rather than me unplugging and plugging in DP/HDMI cables all the time, is there a simpler and more convenient way to switch each of the monitors between two machines?

Avathar77 · Saturday at 11:02

Do you want all of the monitors connected to both devices at the same time, but for you to choose which device should output to all of the monitors?

Minstadave · Saturday at 11:03

Cadder said:
Hi all,

I have 3 monitors at present and I'm likely to add a fourth in future. They are all mounted on the same desk, with one connected to a laptop while the other two are connected to the workstation in my sig.

Rather than me unplugging and plugging in DP/HDMI cables all the time, is there a simpler and more convenient way to switch each of the monitors between two machines?

You need a KVM.

Cadder · Saturday at 11:43

Avathar77 said:
Do you want all of the monitors connected to both devices at the same time, but for you to choose which device should output to all of the monitors?

Exactly this would be ideal yes.

Minstadave said:
You need a KVM.

Thanks I'll do some research on that.

mattyg · Saturday at 11:44

Silly question but do they not have multiple connections. I've 6 and some are connected to multiple PC's I just switch channel inputs.

Cadder · Saturday at 11:45

mattyg said:
Silly question but do they not have multiple connections. I've 6 and some are connected to multiple PC's I just switch channel inputs.

I could possibly settle with this as a solution, but I'd rather be lazier if possible.

mattyg · Saturday at 11:47

Cadder said:
I could possibly settle with this as a solution, but I'd rather be lazier if possible.

I mean like switching channels.. Its a click of the remote or the button underneath the monitor, Like switching your TV between HDMI 1 and HDMI 2

Deibu · Saturday at 12:23

Not really sure how much lazier it can get switching the inputs!!

KompuKare · Saturday at 12:26

mattyg said:
I mean like switching channels.. Its a click of the remote or the button underneath the monitor, Like switching your TV between HDMI 1 and HDMI 2

That does largely depend on the monitor though. Monitor manufacturers do seem to go out of their way to make the buttons and controls as hard to use as possible! My current lot (2x1440P 32" Viewsonic ones) have some buttons at the back on the side... And since they are on a monitor arm side-by-side the left monitor's controls - which were never easy to use anyhow - mean moving the monitor and then I'd have to re-align them on the stand. So much hassle that if want to switch inputs I generally turn that monitor off in Windows and and let it find the other. These Viewsonics are particularly bad to control but the last monitors I had weren't that much better. Luckily I seldom need to share devices with them.

I really should look at KVM too but I think decent ones with decent HDMI/DP bandwith are pricey. And some monitors - like mine - have DP/mDP and HDMI although DP>>HDMI leads would sort that. If buying I would get at least 4K ones as you never know - I'm happy at 1440P as a good compromise for my eyesight but higher refresh rates are another factor.