Is there an HDMI "switch" that would work for this situation?

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duckDecoy

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#318499 24-Jan-2025 13:21

My son has a single monitor with a PS5 and PC next to it. When he wants to play the PS5 he unplugs the HDMI cable from the PC and plugs it into the PS5. When he wants to switch to the PC he unplugs the HDMI from the PS5 and plugs it into the PC.

This is a bit of a pain and he'd like something that acts a little bit like a "switch" so that they can both remain plugged in at all times, even if the switch had a toggle button or something to choose which to use.

Does something like this exist?

Spyware

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#3335152 24-Jan-2025 13:28

Buy a new monitor with two inputs, DP for the computer, HDMI for PS5.

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gbwelly

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#3335154 24-Jan-2025 13:29

I use HDMI for a Nintendo Switch dock, and display-port for the PC both plugged in at the same time. The most recently connected device takes over the screen, and last device connected gets control of the display at the end. So for example if the PC is on and the Switch is then turned on, the display goes to the Nintendo. If the Switch is then powered off the PC resumes display on the monitor.

wellygary

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#3335162 24-Jan-2025 13:45

duckDecoy:

My son has a single monitor with a PS5 and PC next to it. When he wants to play the PS5 he unplugs the HDMI cable from the PC and plugs it into the PS5. When he wants to switch to the PC he unplugs the HDMI from the PS5 and plugs it into the PC.

This is a bit of a pain and he'd like something that acts a little bit like a "switch" so that they can both remain plugged in at all times, even if the switch had a toggle button or something to choose which to use.

Does something like this exist?

Just google "HDMI switch" and you'll get a million results,

Here's a local hit, but they will be a dime a dozen on places like AliEx or Temu, but YMMV

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/ADPUNI1073/Unitek-V1127A-4K-HDMI-20-Bi-directional-Switch-wit?qr=GShopping&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkqb8o5CNiwMVaBeDAx2bkwsQEAQYASABEgKms_D_BwE

toejam316

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#3335185 24-Jan-2025 14:20

Does that existing screen actually have a DP port already? With how cheap screens are getting, he'll probably get better value.

Buy the UGREEN UG-50966 2-Port HDMI Switch 4K60Hz Bi-Directional HDMI Switch 2... ( UG-50966 ) online - PBTech.co.nz is a cheap HDMI switch if not.

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

cddt

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#3335209 24-Jan-2025 14:36

wellygary:

Just google "HDMI switch" and you'll get a million results,

Here's a local hit, but they will be a dime a dozen on places like AliEx or Temu, but YMMV

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/ADPUNI1073/Unitek-V1127A-4K-HDMI-20-Bi-directional-Switch-wit?qr=GShopping&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkqb8o5CNiwMVaBeDAx2bkwsQEAQYASABEgKms_D_BwE

Thanks for the link. My parents are looking for exactly this - their TV only has one HDMI and they want to use both Sky and a Chromecast.

My referral links: BigPipe | Mercury

SomeoneSomewhere

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#3335213 24-Jan-2025 14:41

Does the display have any other inputs? HDMI-DVI cables and adaptors are cheap and plentiful.

Shindig

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#3335216 24-Jan-2025 14:45

I have one you can have if you wish. It didn't really work for my needs. You are more than welcome to it.

The little things make the biggest difference.

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SpartanVXL

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#3335222 24-Jan-2025 15:15

A modern gaming monitor will have both hdmi and displayport. Use the displayport for the PC and the hdmi for the ps5

The monitor should have come with a displayport cable in the box, if not purchase one for pbtech or elsewhere as they are not expensive.

What you are asking for is already built in to the monitor if it has multiple inputs.

richms

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#3335239 24-Jan-2025 16:00

Any switch that says bidirectional is probably not terminating and regenerating the signal so you will quickly get cable length issues on them.

5 input HDMI switches are dirt cheap on the usual sites. Those 2 things are quite likely going to cause problems particularly at HDMI 2.0 or better resolutions and for less you can get a 5 input one with a remote.

Richard rich.ms

SomeoneSomewhere

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#3335247 24-Jan-2025 16:02

I would not expect any monitor with only a single input to be high enough resolution or refresh rate for that to be a concern.

richms

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#3335256 24-Jan-2025 16:37

Eg this one. I have several of these and am controlling them from ESP boards over the IR receiver input. They do 4k60 8 bit RGB from the PC just fine. No HDR on that setup to know how they fare with higher signals.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005665853701.html

$9 is basically free, but you would need more stuff to get to the choice free shipping threshold.

Richard rich.ms

duckDecoy

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#3335259 24-Jan-2025 16:38

SomeoneSomewhere:

Does the display have any other inputs? HDMI-DVI cables and adaptors are cheap and plentiful.

OMFG, I didn't even THINK to ask him this. It has multiple HDMI inputs.

Thanks to you and the many other comments that made me look.

Feeling uber foolish...

SomeoneSomewhere

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#3335260 24-Jan-2025 16:40

Oops.

Still not the dumbest question I've seen.

A long time ago I got to tell someone that they didn't need a USB hub, because the motherboard (in a computer they'd built) had more USB ports on the back.

SpartanVXL

1306 posts

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#3335317 24-Jan-2025 18:22

duckDecoy:

SomeoneSomewhere:

Does the display have any other inputs? HDMI-DVI cables and adaptors are cheap and plentiful.

OMFG, I didn't even THINK to ask him this. It has multiple HDMI inputs.

Thanks to you and the many other comments that made me look.

Feeling uber foolish...

Just as an FYI if your graphics card is nvidia and the monitor is hdmi 2.0b then you cannot use VRR/g-sync if the monitor supports it otherwise. AMD gpus are unaffected. You need to use displayport. Only hdmi2.1 is supported and those are usually only on expensive screens and TV’s. The blame is HDMI licensing from memory.