USB-C monitor KVM botch solutions?

Vexr · 21 Jun 2019 at 23:58

I have a Samsung C34J791 34" UWQHD monitor, which needs a USB-C upstream cable to connect to a PC and has 2x USB downstream ports to use for the keyboard and mouse. My main PC connects via display port and it has a HDMI port free.

I'll soon be getting a works desktop PC as well to use from home. I'm assuming it will come with at least a HDMI 1.4 output so it can do 3440x1440 @ 60 hz (fingers crossed)

I'll need the works PC on for when I'm on call and therefore need to be able to switch over from my regular PC to works one fairly speedily. Unfortunately the C34J791 doesn't have KVM, and in this case the USB-C requirement is more of a hindrance than a help.

I'm thinking perhaps the best solution is to have a male to female USB-C connector hanging out of my monitor's upstream USB-C port. I'm sure the works PC won't have USB-C, so will need a USB to USB-C adapter coming from that, and then swap over from my home PC to the works one using the female USB-C cable coming from the monitor (and hope everything plugs and plays nicely), and change the source on my monitor from DisplayPort to HDMI.

Workable or nay? USB-C cabling isn't exactly the cheapest right now either. I'm even wondering if there's 3440x1440 ultrawides that have KVM switches and standard USB built in (like the Dell U3415W series) but that also have FreeSync/Gsync and 100hz+, though I'm not aware of any such models.

bremen1874 · 22 Jun 2019 at 00:10

Connect a wireless mouse and keyboard to the works PC. When you want to use it put the mouse and keyboard on your desk.

Vexr · 22 Jun 2019 at 02:01

bremen1874 said:
Connect a wireless mouse and keyboard to the works PC. When you want to use it put the mouse and keyboard on your desk.

A plausible alternative, though not ideal. Sounds similar enough to having a wired keyboard and mouse connected to the works PC at all times, which I suppose I could tuck away until needed, though not the tidiest/most desk space saving solution compared with using the same keyboard/mouse via the monitor in a more KVM-like manner.

bremen1874 · 22 Jun 2019 at 02:26

You can use any KVM without routing the display(s) through it.

Use the KVM to switch the mouse and keyboard. Switch the video on the monitor. If you do that you can use a dirt cheap KVM.

LizardKing · 26 Jun 2019 at 14:48

RDP to your work PC from your desktop?. though i suspect any use of VPN will prevent that sort of access

Vexr · 29 Jun 2019 at 00:12

bremen1874 said:
You can use any KVM without routing the display(s) through it.

Use the KVM to switch the mouse and keyboard. Switch the video on the monitor. If you do that you can use a dirt cheap KVM.

I see - could be the best option. Looking online I'm greeted with nightmarish units sporting VGA ports, but I suppose disregarding that nonsense and utilising the USB may be a solution.

LizardKing said:
RDP to your work PC from your desktop?. though i suspect any use of VPN will prevent that sort of access

Pretty sure that won't be an option (definitely sounds like the works PC will have some VPN going on with restrictions about third party software)

Of course this could all be irrelevant and the PC I'm given comes with 1x VGA port, in which case I will have the far more interesting annoyance of physically moving my ultrawide on to the floor in favour of the company 1280x1024 display every morning

bremen1874 · 29 Jun 2019 at 01:00

No option of having a laptop provided? It'd make more sense.

Vexr · 1 Jul 2019 at 22:24

I'd certainly prefer a laptop, especially one with Thunderbolt, though they were quite specific in describing a small desktop unit. I'm just hoping whatever I get has HDMI 1.4. If it's VGA/DVI it'll be a right PITA. I also tried my ancient laptop that has HDMI <1.4 and it doesn't display at all on the ultrawide.

Other than that, I'm leaning toward a standard USB KVM switch that can change sources by pressing a button as per your earlier suggestion @bremen1874 , and disregarding the display outputs on it.

Mr Plow · 1 Jul 2019 at 23:55

How about a software KVM? Assuming your works PC is able to sit and be accessible on the same network as your home PC.

https://symless.com/synergy

Vexr · 3 Jul 2019 at 09:39

Tempting alternative @Mr Plow , though more expensive and I suspect I won't be using my works PC and personal PC 'concurrently enough' to justify it.

Quite an impressive amount of different solution ideas on this thread

Thanks all.

Vexr · 12 Jul 2019 at 21:23

Well the new PC I'll be getting for on call work has VGA and Displayport, but no HDMI. I'll need to test the Displayport when I can. The PC will be a Lenovo ThinkCentre - no model/version number or anything is on the case.

As my monitor has 1x HDMI and 1x Displayport, looks like I'll have to connect my main PC via HDMI. I'm guessing this means I'll have to go AMD for graphics cards as NVidia cards require DP for Freesync/GSync.

I'm also perturbed to hear that KVM switches apparently produce large to extremely-large amounts of input lag from the keyboard/mouse. Anyone able to confirm this? If true, this is a huge no-no for me.

bremen1874 · 12 Jul 2019 at 21:29

There’s a good chance that you can connect the DisplayPort output to HDMI with an adapter cable. That’s been the case with many Dell and HP machines anyway.

I still think that a separate wireless mouse and keyboard is the best option. Simple, cheap, and won’t cause issues with your main PC.

Vexr · 12 Jul 2019 at 23:02

bremen1874 said:
There’s a good chance that you can connect the DisplayPort output to HDMI with an adapter cable. That’s been the case with many Dell and HP machines anyway.

I still think that a separate wireless mouse and keyboard is the best option. Simple, cheap, and won’t cause issues with your main PC.

You might be right, though during my first week having seen the type of work I'll be doing, I'm thinking my 3440x1440 UW + their provided 1080p ~24" LCD + my Corsair K95 with 18 assignable 'G Keys' or whatever they call them, could well be fully utilised. I've never seen such a massively multiple window setup / extreme speed / accuracy required system in my previous roles, which I thought were hardcore enough. This is on another level, with remote virtual machines to other PCs needing to be displayed at the same time as well as a massive multiple open window burden.

Even still, the savants of this work are apparently doing it with lesser monitors than me, so with an UW 1440p I should hopefully be able to keep pace :rolleyes:

Puts my old job in the NHS in perspective where they thought 1280x1024 would do for us (and it did, albeit very uncomfortably and slowly) in perspective. I wouldn't mind 2x 4k 35"+ monitors for whats coming in this job lol.