Can you use one monitor between more computers?

dr4g0nf1y · 11 Oct 2009 at 14:04

I can't see a problem but I'm currently disconnecting one monitor between 2 computers and I need to get another but not seen any at a good price.

Seen a sumsung 24 inch with three ports (vga/dvi/hdmi).

Surely I could use three computers through this as long as I'm only using one at a time, correct?

philjohn · 11 Oct 2009 at 15:05

dr4g0nf1y said:
I can't see a problem but I'm currently disconnecting one monitor between 2 computers and I need to get another but not seen any at a good price.

Seen a sumsung 24 inch with three ports (vga/dvi/hdmi).

Surely I could use three computers through this as long as I'm only using one at a time, correct?

Should be able to. I use my HP 2475W between my desktop, a mac mini (both via DVI) and my laptop (via DisplayPort). There should be a way to switch inputs on the monitor, may be involved (submenus) or may be simple (mine's a single button push on the front panel to cycle through the available inputs).

Other option is to go for some sort of KVM switch.

Mav · 12 Oct 2009 at 17:01

the other way to share one monitor with 1 or more PC`s is with a KVM ..

like this fellow : http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-051-EX

you can get em with DVI/VGA an PS2/USB an sound connections aswell ..

u` can get 2 pc or 4 pc kvm`s

here`s the full choice in stock here : http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=46&catid=421

they can also be had from that holiday camp shop aswell , wouldn`t buy from the purpleshirts thu ....

VeNT · 14 Oct 2009 at 10:26

any old KVM will work
OR
you COULD just use a network VNC tool and have one as a MASTER PC.

daelo · 14 Oct 2009 at 17:17

Ive just ordered a 4 port switch thing for vga cables, still waiting for it from ebay lol, its been 1 n a half weeks now but it did come from hong kong, so it was cheap and it wont draw any tax on itself due to the value of the item!

Valleyman · 15 Oct 2009 at 20:21

I use a KVM between my gaming machine and a home server.

Two keyboards and two mice would confuse the bejesus out of me so not to sure on the swapping inputs to a monitor thing.

chaparral · 17 Oct 2009 at 07:02

dr4g0nf1y said:
Seen a sumsung 24 inch with three ports (vga/dvi/hdmi).

Surely I could use three computers through this as long as I'm only using one at a time, correct?

Yes....I use to have two computers connected to my dell 24" monitor and flick between them by choosing the DVI input and VGA input on the monitor....
But you need to keyboards and mouses

With a KVM switch you only need one keyboard & mouse...