Connecting 2 PCs to one Monitor

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At some point in the near future, I will be moving my business from my office into my home. I am starting the planing for that now. I have 2 Dell desktops with Windows 10 Pro. Is there an easy way to have both computers connect to a single monitor and switch back an forth?

I see some of the newish monitors have dual HDMI plugs, so I think I can hard wire them to the monitor, but how to switch back and forth? Saw there is a KVM switch, but does anyone have any other ideas? Both computers are using remote keyboards and mice. Anything else I should be considering?

Thanks

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As an alternate to KVM, I currently use an USB 3.0 switch selector. The PCs are plugged into different monitor ports and the mouse and keyboard are shared using the USB switch selector. There is a button on the top of the switch that you press to select a different PC. Was a very inexpensive solution for me. I have only tried using one PC at a time and powering it down before using the other PC.

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Monitors with more than one input are able to switch between sources. Each manufacturer does it differently using on-screen controls.

2 users thanked author for this post.

JoeP, Sueska

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I’m doing that now with my NAS and my daily driver.  I have an LG monitor with two HDMI ports, and I use a Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse.  I use the switch at the bottom of the monitor to change to the other source, and move the transceiver from a front USB port on the box I’m using to a front USB port on the box I’m going to use.

But I usually just RDP between my daily driver and my NAS.  I can accomplish 99% or so of what I want to do using remote desktop, and it’s super easy to cut/copy and paste between machines.  I would never waste money on a KVM switch.  There are only a couple of things that require direct login of an administrator, and that’s just too easy to do just moving a switch and a USB dongle.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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I use AnyDesk free to connect to other PCs. Easier than a KVM, especially for the laptops.

cheers, Paul

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Thanks for all of the replies. To elaborate a little more, both computers will be side by side. My wife who is not technical at all will have to be able to access the home computer infrequently, so the change to that computer must be easy and seamless.

I use RPC for remote access to my office when working from home. I don’t see something like that would work on the same monitor, but I can look into it.

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JoeP wrote:

I use RPC for remote access to my office when working from home. I don’t see something like that would work on the same monitor, but I can look into it.

I have a shortcut on my Taskbar for Remote Desktop.  Click that and get this:

Click the Connect button and get this:

Put in my password, click OK, and my NAS desktop appears on the screen.  I’m now logged into my NAS using the same mouse, keyboard and monitor.  Piece of cake.  The only prerequisite is to enable remote desktop on the target PC in the beginning.  Once enabled, it stays enabled until you decide to disable it.

My NAS box and my daily driver box sit side-by-side.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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What you need is a 2 in × 1 out HDMI switch like this.

They’re available from lots of different retailers (that one is available on Amazon for $12.99.)

My Nephew uses a 3 port one he bought at Best Buy to switch his 29″ monitor back & forth between his PC, Xbox and Wii and it works great!

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What I ultimately decided on this was to get a better monitor. Dell has some rally good ones that are already set up with KVM and auto KVM. Should be here this week so I will give some feedback once I get comfortable with it.

Thanks for all the advice.

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-ultrasharp-32-4k-video-conferencing-monitor-u3223qz/apd/210-bdvu/computer-monitors

 

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