KVM Switch

Teaf · 27 Oct 2008 at 10:26

I'm waiting something that will switch between 2 displays (a CRT monitor and a flatscreen lcd TV). However I want to use the same keyboard and mouse for both, would a KVM switch be usable? As from some of the ones I've looked at they have two ports for keyboard and mouse. I did find this one:

Startech 2 Port SV211K KVM Switch

Which seems good... has 1 port for keyboard and mouse, but I'm wondering if that would be okay for what I want? You might have to Google to see the product as I can't link to it as the manufacturers website has competitors in the resellers.

J.B · 27 Oct 2008 at 10:34

hang on, do you just have one computer and 2 screens and you want to be able to switch between each screen?

A KVM is traditionally used to switch between two computer. So you only have to have one KB one mouve and one monitor.

If I understand you properly the best solution would be (assuming you have a graphics card with 2 outputs on) hook both monitors up in a dual screen configuration and when you want to use your CRT just drag the program on to it.

Teaf · 27 Oct 2008 at 10:35

J.B said:
hang on, do you just have one computer and 2 screens and you want to be able to switch between each screen?

A KVM is traditionally used to switch between two computer. So you only have to have one KB one mouve and one monitor.

If I understand you properly the best solution would be (assuming you have a graphics card with 2 outputs on) hook both monitors up in a dual screen configuration and when you want to use your CRT just drag the program on to it.

Aye it's one computer and 2 screens. The graphics card is a 4850 so dual DVI. So I could just plug both ports in and use the ATI software to change displays? I don't want the whole desktop split across both screens though, I would like it to be on one of the other until it's changed to the opposite.

J.B · 27 Oct 2008 at 12:48

Thats fine, you dont have to split the desktop if you dont want to, just have them both plugged in and when you want to switch go to the display properites and switch the main monitor round and make sure "extend my desktop onto this display" is disabled.

Can I ask why you're doing this just out of curiosity?

Teaf · 27 Oct 2008 at 12:56

Aye

Got a PC on the desk with a CRT monitor, but also a 40" LCD hanging on the wall. The TV in a placement where it's great for movies, however poor for gaming/browsing. Just the way the room is, so wanted them both in so didn't have to keep changing the VGA cable back and forth.

Teaf · 27 Oct 2008 at 17:02

Sorry I forgot to ask...

Can you use a 4850 and 2 VGA cables to have the display on both the monitor and the TV at the same time, but not split up (i.e. half on one half on the other) and instead have both displays showing the whole desktop so you basically don't need to switch it over? Or will you always need to switch displays using the catalyst control centre?

fobose · 27 Oct 2008 at 17:05

What you should do is, plug them both in to your graphics card and whenever you want to watch a movie, click the "extend the desktop on to this monitor" (the TV that is), and drag the movie window on to the TV. Or, even better, use a program called ultramon and just right click on the icon and "Disable second monitor" whenever your not using it.

Yes you can have the same image on the monitor as the TV at the same time.

Teaf · 27 Oct 2008 at 17:13

fobose said:
Yes you can have the same image on the monitor as the TV at the same time.

Awesome! That would be ideal - purely just a case of plugging the TV into the second port and it will duplicate the display, or are there stuff to set up to get it to work? Or does it also need a 3rd party program?