Sharing monitors among two computers is not as easy as you'd think! 

KVMs are rare in DCs today. Most are using IPMI and/or the vendor proprietary systems like iDRAC. For the rare times that fails, usually a mobile 'crash cart' with a display and keyboard is rolled up to the server and plugged in.

As usual, another informative video! Good to hear that Level1Techs/Wendell's KVM made the finalist.

I battled with this as well, and ended up buying a wireless mouse and keyboard that allows for up to 3 connections, and a monitor that has 3 video input ports. When I needed to switch, I'd just press a button on the mouse, on the keyboard, and select the correct input device on the monitor in a few button presses. Not so seamless, but still quite doable.

The feeling of "it works but I have no idea why" is way too real. I have so much stuff that just works for no reason and I'm too scared to touch it

You've 100% captured the plight of enthusiasts. I just removed my dual DP1.2 KVM and dual 27" 4k monitors to use the new dell 40" Ultrawide and its built in KVM. In some cases it's better, others not so much.

Love the timing of this post, I was literally planning out an entire thunderbolt KVM build yesterday. Guess I need to accept the headaches to come😅

This sounds like quite the pain. I saw someone recommending Synergy and I couldn't agree more. Sure, you need an extra screen, but it gives you a seamless switching of computers as is they were one machine with more screens. Used it like that for a few years at work and it was great - one monitor PC, one monitor Mac, and I just moved my mouse between screens like it was one machine. Glorious And you retain all hardware benefits like Gsync because of the monitors being connected to the computers directly.

thats exactly why level1techs made KVM's :D theyre awesome!!

i totally feel you. problems like this hit me literally all the time.

There is a fourth solution, not right for every situation, but could be cheaper than a high end KVM. If you attach a monitor to each computer, you can share one keyboard and mouse between them using an app like Synergy, x2x, or one of several similar tools. The software lets the mouse virtually move off the side of one monitor, and onto the next monitor, the keyboard input follows the mouse focus. This also can enable clipboard sharing between your computers.

I used to have a connect pro 3monitor kvm for switching between my personal desktop and work computers, but after a while i just got fed up with the random issues I was having and unified under a single linux system for gaming and work! Much better experience than trying to swap between systems.

I LOVE these nerdy videos. Must be why I watch level1 tech as well

I connected one.computer via HDMI, second via Display Port and I'm using Logitech keyboard that supports 3 devices. When I want to switch to another computer, I just press a key on the keyboard and pick a dofferent onput source on the monitor (Dell display, so you can custom map two buttons on front to twp input sources). Super easy and quick and absolutely no extra cost.

I have an M27Q, very happy with it.

I have some how similar problem and I mange to resolve it by getting a monitor with nearly two of everything - USB 3 connectors compatible with Thunderbolt standard, HDMI ports and DisplayPort. The only thing that causes problem is the DisplayPort due to the initial handshake that is happening between the device and monitor. The other mild inconvenience is that I need to switch manually the USB 3 connection to start using the peripherals. I need to clarify that I am not constantly switching between active systems, just between an active and powered off one. I am not quite sure that I need a KVM, cause I only need to switch the peripherals where are connected and been able to power other devices at hands reach. Great explanation and troubleshooting! I really enjoy your videos and you even remind me of one of my cool beard-glasses colleague at work with the same smile and attitude to everything. Keep going!

Lol that did my head in 🤯 Great video and very informative and i think the ASUS ROG monitor will be an early Christmas gift..

Or 4. Use a Software based KVM. Key press between computers or show both computers at same time. GSync not needed. Haven't used hardware KVM in years even though test bench has it.

Datacentres I’ve worked in tend to have a trolley with a monitor, keyboard and mouse on them which gets plugged in when needed. Most of the time it’s iLo or iRac etc

I have two LG monitors and they do indeed exhibit seemingly crazy behaviour. I am not a gamer nor do I use high res or refresh rates. Just jumping between Mac, windows and linux on a KVM switch is enough to make the monitors crap themselves sometimes but not all the time!

It's funny, I've never had these kinda issues with the old KVM switch I have. It's a 2012-ish IOGear Mac Mini style KVM I found at a thrift store for $10. It takes USB, 3.5mm Aux, and VGA and it just works. I have to adapt one of DisplayPort plugs from my desktop to it, but it's very seamless nonetheless Edit: Oh, and the company is pretty cool too. I was trying to track down the custom KVM cables to connect a third and fourth computer and I couldn't find them online, so I called them to see what the model number was and they just sent me two for free. It's like $40 worth of cables they just sent me Express

I had a while ago KVM and it was not that bulky and worked very well... In the modern time, if you need 2 computers only - you can use 2 keyboards and 2 mouses and connect displays to different ports on the monitor, or use HDMI switch. Or you can do "remote desktop". A lot of options today compared to 90s....AND I have many (MANY) LG monitors and had no any problems so ever. Not bendy one though 🤣

Don't get me started on LG monitors, somehow they can be a real P.I.T.A ! From 2-lane USB-C support instead of 4-lane on some monitors to flickering screens in the radio studio (changed cables, resolution, refresh rates etc) to the issues you run into with testing KVM switches :)

Hello Tomaz, I had similar problems, and here is how I fixed my issues. I use a large Samsung Odyssey Ark 55" curved monitor as my main daily driver, along with four smaller 28" BenQ displays for RU-vid, Discord, Spotify, web pages, and similar tasks. I have three PCs connected to these via a KVM switch: my main gaming rig, my laptop, and an AOC cable connected to my rack KVM (I kind of have a data center in my living room-it’s in a separate room). I also experienced issues with Windows and my main monitor, which I later traced to Windows settings and the monitor’s crappy software. With the Samsung, I had to go into the NVIDIA control panel and manually set it to a 4K 165Hz HDR with 12-bit color depth. Windows would always default first to no HDR, 60Hz, and 10-bit color, causing the monitor to refuse to work correctly. It would display an image for one second, go black for four seconds, or turn fully green or white with approximately 5cm-spaced diagonal blue lines. This would happen about five or six times before it fully disconnected and showed no active connection.

I went through these troubles too, and I decided that it wasn't worth it anymore. I always had some kind of KVM. In the VGA years it was very easy, a cheap KVM could solve your problems without glitches... Then DVI and higher resolutions came out, and I had to change but things started getting expensive but still easy because all monitors were 60Hz max. Then HDMI and DP came out, resolutions increased again and so did the price of updated KVM. My last KVM was an Aten with 1440p/60Hz support (400€ at the time) but when I upgraded to a 4k/144Hz monitor with DP and HDMI the expensive KVM was useless again. So I chose a monitor with a built in KVM, the Gigabyte AORUS FV43U but I had a problem: the built in KVM was working only between the regular ports and the USB-C DP port for the laptop so I got a simple USB switch and even if now I have to press 2 buttons (one on the monitor remote for video input switch and one on the USB switch for keyboard and mouse) I have no problem with that... And my monitor works flawlessly and I don't have to worry about the future if and when standards change

Thanks for the video! I've been suffering with this for too long now. I'm at the stage where I realized the cable that I bought was 1.2 DP. I'm waiting for the 1.4 ones to arrive to see if the monitor finally stops flickering

Hey, I love your channel. I am sorry to break it up for you - we nonlonger use KVM in data centers. Majority of modern servers have either Ilo for hp, iDrac fir Dell, BMC IPMI for supermicro, etc. which allo in parallel full diagnostic and remote console. Today there is also a Raspberry pi based pcie card which allows remote console for a plain pc. I still love your content! Greetings from Serbia

I happily use a monitor with HDMI for Mac and DisplayPort for Windows. I have to manually select the input. As for the keyboard and mouse, I use a USB Switch (like Aten USB 3.2 Gen1 Peripheral Sharing Switch), so I have to switch them manually and separately from the monitor. But it's OK if it's one or two times a day. Thanks for the video!

Thank you so mutch for this learning content, im a bit smarter now

In case of Windows, one can also use „Mouse without Borders“ to share keyboard and mouse across two different devices on different monitors. It works fine too, just not sharing video of course

There's also a possible fourth option. A USB docking station that one conntects all the peripherals to, and then only has to reconnect that docking station to the desired computer. This works really well with laptops, not sure if it would work with desktops though.

You forgot the extra option: get a USB switch (I use a UGreen USB 3.0 switch with 2 button-switchable ports for the hosts and 4 ports to devices) and 2 extra HDMI/DisplayPort cables (and maybe some adapters as needed, as my laptop has only one HDMI out and 2 mini-DisplayPort outs, so one miniDP-HDMI adapter and since my second monitor has only 1 HDMI and 1 DVI/VGA inputs, +1 HDMI-DVI adapter), then everytime you want to switch, just press the button on the USB switch and the Input buttons on both monitors... Unless any of your monitors only has one input, then you're SOL... Seems a lot faster than unplugging and re-plugging everything, and a lot less frustrating than dealing with the problems created by the KVM switch and the host OSes not keeping the previous 'display configuration' (because the KVM switch physically disconnects all screens, unless it does active switching and mirroring, and even then you'll have problems with anything out of the KVM's supported specs like me with 21:9 monitors) - and also enables you to have two screens, something that I'm not aware of any built-in-KVM-monitors being capable of 🙃

Would RDP not work as a substitute? Just remote into the other machine to use the software that doesn't run on your main OS?

Kvm needs to be expanded to Video, Usb, sound. Macs have issues when you switch usb devices. My mixer and sound both have to be switched off and on after switching. Same thing happens occasionally with the logitech dongle. Both manyfacturers have pointed that is a mac issue, which is frustrating.

I stream my screen from the "other" machine with sunshine + moonlight (Works also for MacOS). Other than that, I just use the plain old RDP for simple stuff.

with what software did you make that diagram at 13:55

Or buy a multi device mouse and keyboard and a 2 HDMI or HDMI + DP monitor and call it a day. I'm having this setup for ages and it's great

What about Proxmox and two monitors as an alternative? By the way, is that a hackintosh on the shelf behind you? Best regards.

What I use is just a simple 20$ USB KVM for my peripherals and have monitors on auto detect input, cheap and painless.

i went for a "cheaper" solution that uses a 4x2 KVM switch for screens only, powered(!) USB(c) switch and a docking station so i can use my laptop over usb (c) only for.. everything with 2x2k @60hz and pc with theoretically 2x4k. i would have preferred this method though

Yeah, I currently use the all the ports on both my monitors to switch directly and use a USB switch for my USB devices...but, every so often, my audio does not properly switch and I find out on my next meeting after lunch switching from my personal PC or my audio drops oddly when somebody switches on the bathroom light (guessing the power peak kills my usb audio)

4th Option just buy a USB Switch and Plugin Booth Computers in the Monitor, using this setup since covid and it works flawless and it was just 20€ for the switch

Another option would be to use a software kvm like Input Leap/Barrier and software monitor input switcher like ddcutil. Total cost: 0.

You mentioned that only the one you got supported variable refresh rate... that is/was one of the main selling points of the Lvl 1 techs KVM.... I think you may have had some wires crossed there.

I love weird setups. my pc is in a rack ~40m away from my desk. it took me forever and a day to find the only fiber usb extender available, which is apparently sold only by 3 companies on this planet. ahh and it costs $1.3k. ofc i could have my pc next to the desk but when you can avoid that. Raven 3124 for those of you as crazy as me

1. Hdmi switcher + usb switcher would cost less than 200$ 2. Connecting mac with hdmi, windows with DP + usb switcher would cost less than 100 $ ... nah, 1000$ and bunch of hours for troubleshoothing is too much for me 😂😜

Please consider designing a KVM after the router .

It is sometimes a Problem with the different mass of the devices. (power supply desing)

Indeed get the p1 kvm

Or 4th: synergy/barrier

Kvm switches arent used in datacenters anymore, most of the time they just use the IPMI

Two Apple macs side by side do this automagically. (Gotta be logged under same iCloud ID on both.)

Not sure if you want an oled monitor if gaming isn't your primary use case Still has issues with burn in and text readability because of the subpixel layout

Hi guys

Why not use parsec?

My setup is kinda like yours but with one more stupid addition. I needed something that could do matrix switching for the displays which does not exist so I had to get 2 kvm switches and have to remember combinations of presses to make mine work

best option is to use hdmi and use a hdmi splitter stripps hdcp.

custom $400 KVM design incoming

I favor Samsung but ASUS has some impressive monitors when it comes to price and refresh rate.

Wooow! For that kind of $ I would hope you get at least 4 inputs.

Or use RealVNC or any other VNC program? Ah, gaming is mentioned… you need speed.

Maybe it would have been cheaper to build a new room with everything.

Dash, not minus.

1.4 DP is old tech.

Just RDP

switching every few minutes between pc and mac. why ? isn't it better value to get a monitor with dual type c. cheaper way is to get a mouse and keyboard that can do multi device if youre okay with membrane keyboards.

As someone who uses multiple computers i really dont have a problem having few keyboards and mices of course more importantly i dont use the teribleness that is mac i rather stick to linux or or few occasions windows but thanks to dual boot i ahve little troible with switching devices

OSX has a software KVM built in. You can seamlessly move your mouse/keyboard between both using handoff. (But both have to be running OSX)

If it ain’t broke don’t did it

Some are still stuck at 1080 60 and you are thinking of replacing a perfectly good display - horrors of internet part infiniry

MAC and PC is the same thing... You should say MacOS, Windows, Linux. You will be disapointed if everybody would say switch on Your router

just buy a used cheap 1080p monitor from ur local marketplace. thats it (ofc if you need a second monitor for obs and chat.. etc)