Recommendations for high-end KVM/dock for work + personal

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Recommendations for high-end KVM/dock for work + personal

Junta

270 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#306185 3-Jul-2023 14:33

Hi GZers, I've done a lot of research and can't quite seem to find what I need. Looking for any recommendations for a KVM/Dock that will allow me to:

Connect a PC (with DisplayPort/144hz output and regular HDMI)
Connect a MacBook Pro via USB C
Allow me to use a single mouse & keyboard
Use both monitors (i.e one switch for dual monitors for the PC, or switch to both for the Mac)

I can see various on PBTech and so on but its unclear whether they will let me do what I want...so would love to hear from anyone who's done anything similar to what I describe above. :)

1 | 2

Max
1772 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#3099077 3-Jul-2023 14:47

So I have achieved this very thing with two devices.

A UGREEN USB 3.0 KVM(specifically for keyboard, desktop microphone and mouse, with room for 1 other device), one end in my dock, the other end in my PC.

A Thunderbolt dock(I use both a Lenovo and a HP one).

If your monitor has multiple inputs then you use one set for the dock(HDMI, DP whatever) and then your PC can have the rest.

All I do is unplug my laptop when I'm done, hit the button on the UGREEN KVM and bang, everything is hooked up on my desktop PC.

I hope this is exactly what you're looking for.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

Junta

270 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#3099078 3-Jul-2023 14:53

Nice, thanks for the insight! I will take a look at that KVM (or similar). So the combo of KVM + Dock seems to be the way...

amanzi

Amanzi
1292 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3099125 3-Jul-2023 16:05

I've been wanting something like this too, but haven't found an all-in-one solution yet. The closest I've found is this, but it only supports a single monitor: https://www.amazon.com/SABRENT-Thunderbolt-Display-Charging-SB-TB4K/dp/B0C74SWVD5

fe31nz

1228 posts

Uber Geek

#3099393 3-Jul-2023 23:23

TESmart seems to have a fair variety of KVM switch types - you might find one here:

https://www.tesmart.com

And they seem to be having a 4th of July sale at the moment.

Dynamic

3866 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3099418 4-Jul-2023 07:12

I saw this AOC USB-C monitor with built in KVM switch in a supplier promo email the other day, just in case it can help with your solution.

27P2C 27" IPS Monitor - AOC Monitor (there is a 24" version as well)

If only it had DisplayPort daisy-chaining to connect a second screen it might be a great solution for the OP.

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

Referral links to services I use, really like, and may be rewarded if you sign up:
PocketSmith for budgeting and personal finance management. A great Kiwi company.

toejam316

1466 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3099421 4-Jul-2023 07:28

Does your desktop support a Thunderbolt add-in card? If so you could get a solution like Amazon.com: SIIG 2-Port USB-C KVM Docking Station with PD 65W, for 2 Monitors 2 Computers, MST Technology, 1x HDMI 1x DisplayPort, Gigabit Ethernet, Headset Jack (CE-DK0111-S1) : Electronics and then simply run both devices over USB-C. I think the biggest hitch you'll run into is that a KVM device probably isn't going to support all the bells and whistles like 1000Hz polling for gaming peripherals. If you can install software on both devices, you could use software like Input Director configured to only allow switching between devices on pressing hotkeys, and then switch the displays over to the other device, the only potential problem is you'd need to keep your desktop on while you're using your work laptop. Another possibly lower cost solution would be to use remote desktop on your desktop to access your laptop over the LAN, which will achieve basically the same result as what you're attempting.

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.

Junta

270 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#3099491 4-Jul-2023 10:50

toejam316:
Does your desktop support a Thunderbolt add-in card? If so you could get a solution like Amazon.com: SIIG 2-Port USB-C KVM Docking Station with PD 65W, for 2 Monitors 2 Computers, MST Technology, 1x HDMI 1x DisplayPort, Gigabit Ethernet, Headset Jack (CE-DK0111-S1) : Electronics and then simply run both devices over USB-C. I think the biggest hitch you'll run into is that a KVM device probably isn't going to support all the bells and whistles like 1000Hz polling for gaming peripherals. If you can install software on both devices, you could use software like Input Director configured to only allow switching between devices on pressing hotkeys, and then switch the displays over to the other device, the only potential problem is you'd need to keep your desktop on while you're using your work laptop. Another possibly lower cost solution would be to use remote desktop on your desktop to access your laptop over the LAN, which will achieve basically the same result as what you're attempting.

Now this is interesting. I have a Maple Ridge Thunderbolt add-in card I'm trying to sell because I don't use. Perhaps this is the use case...?

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

toejam316

1466 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3099493 4-Jul-2023 10:54

There you go - pipe your GPU into the Thunderbolt card, and then connect both devices to the KVM via Thunderbolt over USB-C, and you're done.

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.

evilengineer

466 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3099618 4-Jul-2023 13:18

MaxineN:

So I have achieved this very thing with two devices.

A UGREEN USB 3.0 KVM(specifically for keyboard, desktop microphone and mouse, with room for 1 other device), one end in my dock, the other end in my PC.

A Thunderbolt dock(I use both a Lenovo and a HP one).

If your monitor has multiple inputs then you use one set for the dock(HDMI, DP whatever) and then your PC can have the rest.

All I do is unplug my laptop when I'm done, hit the button on the UGREEN KVM and bang, everything is hooked up on my desktop PC.

I can see that kind of works but not quite a true "KVM" set up as far as I can tell.

If I'm reading correctly the Ugreen handles the input devices plus microphone/headset and the monitors will need to look after themselves and autosense which inputs are live.

So if both PCs are plugged in and powered on at the same time you'd have to manually switch the monitors as well as hit the KVM button to switch back and forth between the two machines.

Is that correct?

MaxineN

Max
1772 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#3099619 4-Jul-2023 13:20

evilengineer:

MaxineN:

So I have achieved this very thing with two devices.

A UGREEN USB 3.0 KVM(specifically for keyboard, desktop microphone and mouse, with room for 1 other device), one end in my dock, the other end in my PC.

A Thunderbolt dock(I use both a Lenovo and a HP one).

If your monitor has multiple inputs then you use one set for the dock(HDMI, DP whatever) and then your PC can have the rest.

All I do is unplug my laptop when I'm done, hit the button on the UGREEN KVM and bang, everything is hooked up on my desktop PC.

I can see that kind of works but not quite a true "KVM" set up as far as I can tell.

If I'm reading correctly the Ugreen handles the input devices plus microphone/headset and the monitors will need to look after themselves and autosense which inputs are live.

So if both PCs are plugged in and powered on at the same time you'd have to manually switch the monitors as well as hit the KVM button to switch back and forth between the two machines.

Is that correct?

Well...

When I'm done with my laptop I just turn it off, monitors switch over to my desktop immediately and I just hit 1 button to switch the USB KVM to the desktop rather than my dock.

It just works.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

evilengineer

466 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3099622 4-Jul-2023 13:32

toejam316:

Does your desktop support a Thunderbolt add-in card? If so you could get a solution like Amazon.com: SIIG 2-Port USB-C KVM Docking Station with PD 65W, for 2 Monitors 2 Computers, MST Technology, 1x HDMI 1x DisplayPort, Gigabit Ethernet, Headset Jack (CE-DK0111-S1) : Electronics and then simply run both devices over USB-C.

That would sort of work for my set-up but the PCIe slot on my ITX motherboard is occupied by an AMD graphics card.

The motherboard does have TB3 but I'm assuming that's tied to the onboard Intel graphics only?

There seem to be plenty of docks that would take a thunderbolt or USB4 output from a laptop and split them out to displayport/HDMI and multiple USBs but I'd need one to work the other way round and combine everything into a single USB-C input for the KVM device.

Not sure such a thing exists.

timmmay

20575 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3099629 4-Jul-2023 13:55

I do the same with the UGreen USB 3 switch. It does the keyboard / mouse / USB sound / webcam, the monitor looks after itself. Works fine as I only switch between machines at the start or end of each day. If you were switching regularly it might not be ideal.

evilengineer

466 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3099681 4-Jul-2023 14:05

MaxineN:

Well...

When I'm done with my laptop I just turn it off, monitors switch over to my desktop immediately and I just hit 1 button to switch the USB KVM to the desktop rather than my dock.

It just works.

If it works for you that's awesome. 😀

I just know that I'm the type of person who'd want to be constantly flipping backwards and forwards between the two machines.

MaxineN

Max
1772 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#3099682 4-Jul-2023 14:07

evilengineer:

MaxineN:

Well...

When I'm done with my laptop I just turn it off, monitors switch over to my desktop immediately and I just hit 1 button to switch the USB KVM to the desktop rather than my dock.

It just works.

If it works for you that's awesome. 😀

I just know that I'm the type of person who'd want to be constantly flipping backwards and forwards between the two machines.

Well I only have to use one machine at a time and not multiple through out the day :P so it VERY much works for me.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

amanzi

Amanzi
1292 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3106281 20-Jul-2023 15:00

New KVM docking stations from Anker:

Found via this article: https://www.iclarified.com/91096/anker-debuts-new-usbc-docking-station-with-kvm-switch

Seems to tick all the original requirements.

1 | 2