Question Which KVM to buy?

[thejamesgang27358]

My wife needs a KVM for her desk. Unfortunately, I have had difficulty finding a tool that can allow me to search with filtered needs...at I'm not savvy to just pick one.

She has two monitors she wants to connect to 2 different laptops and be able to use a single mouse and keyboard combo.

The first laptop has the following output ports

• USB Ports:
  • 1x USB 2.0 port.
  • 2x USB 3.0 ports.
  • 1x USB 3.1 Type-C port. This port may also support additional functions like Display Port (DP) or Power Delivery (PD) depending on the specific laptop model.
• Video Output:
  • 1x HDMI™ port, which supports 4K resolution at 30Hz. .
  • 1x Mini-DisplayPort (version 1.2).

The second laptop is a Dell, and it has:

• USB Ports:
  • 1x USB 2.0 port.
  • 1x USB 3.0 port.
  • 2x USB 3.1 Type-C Thunderbolt ports
• Video Output:
  • 1x HDMI™ port, which supports 4K resolution at 30Hz.

This Dell laptop confuses me because she says all she does when she gets to work is plug in the 2 USB-C connectors... both to an individual monitor. I'm assuming somehow one of the monitors also provides power to the laptop (?)

She needs the ability to plug the work laptop (DELL) into the KVM, and switch easily from her personal laptop to work without connecting/disconnecting monitors. Can some one assist, or at least point me to a KVM tool that will allow me to find the right model to purchase? TIA

 

[Ralston18]

As I understand your post all that is needed is a basic KVM switch that sets up the two laptops to use the same keyboard, video(displays), and mouse.

The "tool" is a diagram that you sketch out showing computers, connectors, and cables.

Include port and plug genders.

Google "KVM switch diagrams". Then filter the search to images only.

E.g., "KVM two laptops two monitors."

Look for an image that matches your requirements and use that image as a model or template to create your own diagram.

Does not need to be a work of art or fancy. Just clear and complete.

Here is a reference link (not a product endorsement or recommendation) to help:

https://avicotech.com/blogs/kvm/setup-diagram-dual-monitor

Note the diagram. Simple for starting purposes. Scroll down to the Two laptop diagram.

Use the diagram as a template and modify the template as necessary so that all ports, cables (both ends) match in type and gender requirements.

You may or may not need to purchase adapters or other cables to get it all to fit together.

If either laptop is connecting via a docking station be sure to use the docking station ports vs the laptop as applicable.

 

[thejamesgang27358]

 

[Ralston18]

Nice diagram.

Starting with the keyboard: What type of connector is on the end of the keyboard's cable? I would expect a male USB plug. If correct then the KVM switch will need a corresponding input female USB port.

Mouse: Again, likely a male USB plug and a second input female USB port would be needed on the KVM switch.

Laptop 2: As I understand the diagram, Laptop 2 has a female Mini Display port that would be used to connect to the KVM . You probably have some choices regarding the connecting cable. Male Mini-Display Port for the Laptop 2 end and "your choice" for the KVM end. You may or may not be able to select the corresponding port type on the KVM.

Monitors: Probably the easiest. You decide which video cable type to use between monitor and KVM. Either DP or HDMI. Then the KVM must match that port type and you use male to male cables to connect monitor to KVM via the cable of your choice (DP or HDMI). DP would be my suggestion. Yet if you already have HDMI then use those cables.

If dual monitors are to be used then the switch would need HDMI1 and HDMI2 outputs.

Laptop 1: Same as Laptop 2 except you now have a choice between USB-C and Thunderbolt. Again it then (if I understand correctly) seems to me that USB-C should be the choice for connection between each laptop and the KVM. Not sure about the video connectivity here.....

All you need to do next is add details to the diagram showing each of the cables, chosen cable type, plugs, ports, and genders at each of the cable.

Try to be as direct as possible: no adapters or gender changers. May or may not be avoidable. Could require you to purchase more cables for the necessary connections.

When you have the diagram finalized then you google "KVM" along with the other requirements.

Based on my understanding of the diagram etc. I googled "kvm switch displayport usb c" which resulted in quite a number of options

Example switch (Reference only)

More complex switch example

Again: examples only and not a specific configuration or product recommendation.

Key is to look at the diagrams and images to see what combinations of ports and numbers of ports meet your requirements.

Simply look at the KVM images and the ports shown. Note port types and genders. If those port types and genders match your required port inputs (IN) and outputs (OUT) then that is the physical switch that would be needed.

Revise your diagram to match the formats shown. "Front" and "Back".

Once you have identified potential KVM candidates then go to the manufacturer's website and look for the applicable User Guide/Manual. Read carefully along with any site FAQs and/or end user comments.

Do not forget to itemize the cables that will be needed. You may have some cables already.

Or cables that could be used with an adapter of some sort. Adapters are to be generally to be avoided (just me) but using an adapter could save money or simplify connections if dealing with port type changes and/or gender changes.

Expand your diagram - plan out the details.

 

[Paperdoc]

One quirk I noted in OP's original post: power to the Dell Laptop (#1 in the diagram). See the second-last paragraph. It appears (?) that his wife does NOT connect any power source to the Dell laptop at work - she claims to connect only two USB cable to the monitor. So EITHER the use at work is limited and she survives solely on the battery of the laptop OR as OP suspects, the monitor is supplying power back to the laptop via one of the USB connections. I am not aware of any KVM system that provides power (from what source?) to a computer via its USB inputs. So at minimum the HOME arrangement must require connecting a power "brick" to that Dell unit. Maybe that is what is being done already - OP does not speak of the connection details at home without the KVM system.

 

[thejamesgang27358]

To clarify
The Dell is powered by a USB-C brick at home. What is left over is a second USB-C...along with a single HDMI.

According to her, when at work, she plugs a pair of USB-C cables that go directly to a pair of monitors. Somehow, one of the monitors powers the laptop also.

Pretty much all of the kvms I've searched for that have USB-C as a connector for the laptop....they only have a single USB-C for the single PC connection.

 

[Ralston18]

Per @Paperdoc

"OP does not speak of the connection details at home without the KVM system."

Good point!

Details at work matter as well.

Maybe a docking station at work...?

She simply automatically puts the laptop into place without any further thought or ado....

 

[thejamesgang27358]

Currently have a KV that will not work. So I need the following

KVM that will output to 2 DP/HDMI compatible monitors
USB Keyboard and mouse

Dell laptop (#1) has the 2
- USB-C Thunderbolt capable ports (x2)
- USB 3.0 (x1)
- HDMI (x1)
When she plugs it into work, she connects a pair of 2 USB-C cables into the laptop. Both of these go to a respective monitor. Somehow this transmits signal and powers laptop. No docking station is used.

MSI laptop (#2) has
- USB-C (which is used to charge)
- HDMI
- Mini-DisplayPort
- USB 3.0 (x2)

The main problem I am getting is finding a KVM that will support 2 monitors, while accepting multiple inputs for both PC attachments (most have a single USB-C for one of the PC's)

 

[thejamesgang27358]

I believe this might work. My only assumption is that the USB 3.0 from PC 2 transmits the PC functions over to the KVM. Thoughts?

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71jkd59bwjL._SL1500_.jpg

 

[Paperdoc]

This may come down to preferences. BOTH of the two laptops have HDMI ports capable of 4K resolution at 30 Hz. BOTH have one USB2 port plus one (or two) USB 3.0 ports (now called USB3.2 Gen1). So it would be easy to connect HDMI cables from each laptop to the KVM switch, then the single keyboard and single mouse to USB2 and USB3 ports. Those two devices are slow-speed and will work just fine on USB2, and the one on USB3 will simply work there, too, at the USB2 data rate.

Now come the questions.
1. Clarify your use of the labels "USB3.0" " versus "USB3.1 Type C". SOME older labels used "USB3.0" for the fist version of USB3 and only the Type A socket and then used "USB3.1" for the second version that can work at twice the speed and needs a Type C socket. In current labels, these are both USB3.2, but with an added suffix of Gen1 for 5 Gb/s data rate that CAN use a simple Type A socket, and Gen2 with 10 Gb/s data rate that really should have a Type C socket but often is supplied with Type A. And just for confusion, Type C ports may be used as Dsiplay POrt sockets.
1. Are the TWO monitors for use at home both able to accept HDMI input? Or do they not have that?
2. Why TWO monitors? Is each laptop set up to use TWO monitors for different parts of the display areas? That would use two different video outputs (the two USB3 ports?) from EACH laptop. Or, are BOTH monitors supposed to show the SAME thing at all times?
3. The post does not tell us whether what is used at work for the displays is something that cannot be done with HDMI at 4K (or less and 30 Hz. The fact that connections at the work site are all by some version of USB3 means it is possible that some particular resolution is being used there. MAYBE at work the connections are TWO Display Port outputs from two Type C sockets from EACH laptop, and that would require a different KVM switch.