Docking station

OldBoyUK · 15 Jan 2024 at 21:31

Hi all,

Happy 2024!

After much resistance in 2023, I'm now having to start taking my work laptop home, but I find it so frustrating working on the small screen. I have a gaming PC and two monitors, and would be able to have some kind of switch or docking station so I can utilise the monitors, but important for me to not lose the refresh rate (both monitors are 144 or 165).

Can anyone offer a suggestion on a solution/device?

Thanks

ED209 · 16 Jan 2024 at 07:53

OldBoyUK said:
Hi all,

Happy 2024!

After much resistance in 2023, I'm now having to start taking my work laptop home, but I find it so frustrating working on the small screen. I have a gaming PC and two monitors, and would be able to have some kind of switch or docking station so I can utilise the monitors, but important for me to not lose the refresh rate (both monitors are 144 or 165).

Can anyone offer a suggestion on a solution/device?

Thanks

You could get something like a KVM switch.

Connect everything to this and then just press a button to switch between the laptop and desktop.

I work from home and use the following.

1 x HDMI cable to the laptop from the monitor.
1 x DP cable to the desktop to the monitor.
1 x USB switch - Connect keyboard and mouse to this.

What I do is when I want to work from my laptop I turn this on and the switch\Monitor detects whats on and works.

quite easy with 1 monitor but with 2 you would need something like a KVM switch

zola25 · 16 Jan 2024 at 12:06

I use exactly the same setup as ED209 above and it works beautifully. Years ago (in the analogue and DVI interface days) I had a dedicated KVM switch, but in modern times switches that support displayport are expensive, and in general don't play well with G-sync or Freesync. Using the monitor input control with a USB switch is a cheaper and more flexible solution IMO.

Gepetto · 19 Jan 2024 at 17:44

@ED209 and @zola25 Do you happen to have a link to the KVM switch.

I'm probably going to have to work from home more in the future, and my current set up means I need to disconnect the Kensington station and re-connect my desktop physically.

zola25 · 19 Jan 2024 at 21:00

@Gepetto - THIS is the USB switch I currently use, the same company make a large range of genuine KVM switches too.

ED209 · 19 Jan 2024 at 21:34

I've not used any KVM switches that do displays but this is what I currently use

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08JTV9X76/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

As mentioned, its just for USB devices like keyboard\mouse and I run 2 x cables from each PC\laptop directly to the monitor.

KVM switches can vary depending on what res and refresh rate you want.

Gepetto · 20 Jan 2024 at 15:42

Thanks guys. Your replies are much appreciated. :cool:

OldBoyUK · 29 Jan 2024 at 19:30

Appreciate the replies. Thank you