Question Combine multiple PCs/Laptops and Monitors ?

racctor

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Nov 3, 2021
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Hey!

I hope I am in the right corner of the forum here?
I have the following question. I am starting to work a lot from home, and would like to optimise my cable management a bit. My situation right now, I currently work with:

1 old PC that has only an HDMI Port on its Motherboard without a dedicated GPU
1 new PC with a 6800XT (2x Displayport, 1x HDMI)
1 HP Pavilion 15-eh2153ng Laptop that currently only uses the common a 3,5mm(??) power adapter but could be charged by USB-C as well
1 Lenovo Thinkpad that already uses an USB-C power adapter

1 Monitor in 2440p /165Hz with DisplayPort
1 older Monitor 1080p that only supports HDMI

1 printer

1 USB Mouse
1 USB Keyboard

So my question: How can i combine all of those into one workstation, so i can switch between my computers but can use all my peripherals with each of them?
And what do i need to power the HP laptop via USB-C? Since I am using a certain power adapter now, i guess i cant just use a random usb-c power adapter right? For the Lenovo laptop (my work laptop) i alredy use an usb-c power adapter right now, which i use when working from home. At work i just plug the Lenovo laptop into an usb-c cable which is connected to a thinkpad hub/docking station (?). Can i just use the Lenovo power adapter with my HP laptop, i dont want to damage anything?

What would be the best solution to combine all of that?

kind regads!
 
Then you could just use a KVM switch for that. And remember not to switch while any computer is sending a print job.

If you are happy with one monitor per computer, then don't hook any monitors up to it and leave those attached directly to their desktops. If you want all computers except the old one to use two monitors then you can share the HDMI monitor using the KVM as well, but as only one computer has displayport, then the displayport monitor will have to remain directly attached to its 6800XT.
 
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Then you could just use a KVM switch for that. And remember not to switch while any computer is sending a print job.

If you are happy with one monitor per computer, then don't hook any monitors up to it and leave those attached directly to their desktops. If you want all computers except the old one to use two monitors then you can share the HDMI monitor using the KVM as well, but as only one computer has displayport, then the displayport monitor will have to remain directly attached to its 6800XT.
I don't care about the old desktop PC that much to use both monitors. But it is important to me that both laptops and the new desktop are connected to both monitors.

So to be clear: I can use a KVM switch which i can connect via USB-C to either of my laptops and those can be charged via the KVM switch/ USB-C right? (I know that using a docking station you can charge while simultanously using other monitors/peripherals/... attached to the docking station, BUT does charging also work with a KWM switchl?)
Then the two monitors must be connected to the KVM via Displayport/ HDMI, which means the KVM switch needs DP & HDMI-out ports? And like in a docking station the USB-C-in signal is converted to DP/HDMI-out?

Then I connect the new desktop PC via DP into the KVM (requiring DP-in)? And additionally i connect the same desktop PC via USB to the KVM to use the peripherals?

As a last step i connect printer, mouse, webcam, keyboard to the KVM via USB.

And now that i think about it.... can I use my 3,5mm headset in that setup? Is there some sort of device which i can plug into the KVM that deals with my audio in and out signals .... must be converted to USB though i guess?

Thanks for the help!
 
I will add the suggestion to simply sketch it all out.

Show all devices, ports, cables, plugs (gender) etc..

Use the KVM as the center point with all ports etc. included and labeled.

Power, network, video, audio, USB: all of them.

Does not have to be a work of art. Just a easy to view and understand diagram of the "big picture".

Once you have a basic diagram in place then make 2 or 3 copies.

Use the copies to markup and make changes so everything will not need to be redrawn each time.

Redraw when the "final design" is nearing completion.

The diagram can also serve as a checklist for cables, adapters, etc. needed to put it all together.
 
BUT does charging also work with a KWM switchl?)
about this, well your requirement is 3-4 PC via Kvm to 2 Monitors, 3 USB port for peripherals, USB-C could charge, well i guess you need to drop something, that will be better to choose, and yes, it is still a better choice to use HDMI or DP as the image output, for example the one i'm into right now, a 2 HDMI 4 PC KVM switch, probably everything you need but you are gonna need extra hub or station for charging like the one you already have, or maybe a new one can split the HDMI out is better, something with MST might work