DP Splitter

El Azzo

El Azzo

El Azzo

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Joined
8 Jan 2025
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5
Location
North Wales, UK
Hi Guys,

Just wondering if there's anything out there that can help me with my situation, which is..

I WFH, so have a pair of 27" Dell monitors (G2725D) running 2560 x 1440 @ 180hz, with a laptop (Latitude 5530), running via a Dell Dock (WD19S).

Then 2 x DP cables, running from the dock into the monitors, and the USBC into the laptop, as my extended work desktop.

I also have my personal PC, that shares the same desk/ monitors, and at the moment, to switch from "work" to "play", I have to swap the DP cables over to the PC, from the Dock.

Besides it being a faf every time, I think I damaged my last monitors (which have now been replaced with these) by constantly swapping the cables.. so looking to avoid doing this in future.

My question is, is there a splitter available, that I can plug into the DP slot of the monitor, split into 2 DP ports, whilst retaining the 180hz for each monitor, as the splitters i'm seeing operate between 59-144hz, 144hz not being the end of the world, but would prefer to fully utilise the refresh rate if possible?

Thank you in advance for your help!
 
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A splitter isn't exactly what you'd want as you're not hoping to send the signal to two places at once - merely swap between them right?

What you're looking for is called a DisplayPort switch, I'm seeing several available for DP1.4 which is what your monitor uses. They claim to support up to 1080p@240Hz and enough bandwidth for your QHD/180Hz. So I'd hope they can go up to 180Hz on both counts.

Don't forget you'll need a total of 6x DP cables (one from each output to the switches, and one from each switch into the monitor). So grab a couple extra if you don't have them :)
 
Thanks for that - you're right

So I have 2 x DP cables that go from the PC "play time" > Monitors, then 2 x DP cables that go from the dock "work time" > monitors, and at the moment, i've got the ends cable tied together, for convenience and I just switch them when I need work or play.

Are you able to share links, or resources, as it seems to be a bit of a minefield, with most stuff having bad reviews lol.. not filling me with optimism here ha!
 
Do you need 180Hz for your work laptop? Your cheapest option is to use HDMI cables from the Dell Dock (you may need to use adapters) to the monitors and then switch between the connections types using the buttons on the monitor itself (This allows you to use the Displayport connections for your PC at 180Hz). The HDMI connections will support up to 144 Hz.

If you are looking to do this on a regular basis, mid-task then a Dual DisplayPort KVM is what you need (or two KVMs), but these are not cheap, especially at the refresh rate of your screens. Search for Levelonetechs.
Aten, Adder and Blackbox are all good manufacturers, but I think your options will be limited above 60Hz.
 
That's a good shout!

No, it's only really my personal PC I want to retain the high refresh for, for games etc.

The dock has a single HDMI port, so a switch out of that into two leads sounds like a good option! then as you say, it's just buttons on the monitor, not risking any damage to the ports again.

Knew this was the right place to bring this query, thanks guys!
 
I would DP from whichever is your main monitor to your PC, HDMI from 2nd monitor to PC. This means you'll get 180Hz for gaming, 144hz for 2nd monitor.

Then vice versa for monitors to dock. They'll probably be limited to around 120hz but that'll do for working.

4 cables, no plugging unplugging needed.

If you really want those extra 36Hz on monitor 2, then I'd look into adaptors for dock to HDMI or just HDMI direct from your laptop.
 
Reasonable options above but I don't see the need to complicate things by mixing up all the protocols or adding a KVM (unless you also want to switch your mouse and keyboard).

DisplayPort switches will do the most direct task without shaking up the protocol/resolution/frame rate etc. Personally I really don't like switching inputs on the monitor as the monitor buttons and UI are ALWAYS fiddly somehow, regardless of brand?

El Azzo said:
The dock has a single HDMI port, so a switch out of that into two leads sounds like a good option!
Click to expand...
Not sure what this achieves as you still need to use two video outputs on the dock, to have 2 monitors working. A switch won't give you 2 separate outputs and a splitter would give you the same picture on both screens. You can convert DP to HDMI using just a passive cable, so that's one option if you prefer to switch monitor inputs. Use the 2x HDMI inputs on monitor from dock, and use the 2x DP inputs from your PC.

Still think the switches are easiest - just looking for an example link as OcUK don't appear to sell them...

Edit: this has a review claiming 1440p at 240Hz works!

Grehge Displayport 16K Bi-Direction 2x1 16K@60Hz 4K@240Hz 2 in 1 Out 1 in 2 Out Switch Converter for Large Screens https://amzn.eu/d/aiWrIKh
 
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So if I were to splitter out of the HDMI port on the dock, split into two cables, into the monitors, this won't work? Using something like this? https://shorturl.at/JFVWm

Then I can use the DP ports just for the PC

As refresh rate via the dock is limited to 60hz anyway
 
Disco_P said:
No, that is for switching between 2 input devices for one output device.
Click to expand...

Thanks, if I had read the description of it properly lol..

Sorry to link dump, but assume this would solve my issue? https://tinyurl.com/4pne9wtr - expectation is that it extends the desktop of the laptop over the three screens (including the laptop).

Input into the dock, two cables out into the monitors via HDMI, then keep my DP ports for the PC, then swap between them via the monitor buttons?

Still faffy, but protects the ports from wear, and i'd be happy with that solution, as it's already much less laborious than swapping cables over all the time!

Again, appreciate all the replies!
 
That won't work either, it's just a duplicator.

Just do what I suggested a few posts back. I let my monitors auto switch between my dock and desktop so I don't have to do any fiddling with the OSD, it just shows whichever device is on and plugged in. If I need both on, I unplug my laptop from the dock.
 
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