KVM question

RWBRWB Icrontian
edited April 2004 in Hardware
I never used a KVM before and am curious if I can have one setup so I can switch between Dual Monitors?

Soon, I will have 2 systems up and running with only 2 monitors. But sometimes I need one system to be rendering in the background while I have both monitors on the other system I am working on. But other times I will need to utilize both systems, so they will just have 1 monitor per system.

Is there a KVM that wil do this?

Comments

  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    Also, what KVM is recomended for audio also?
  • AranyicAranyic Casstown, OH Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    What if you run one system w/ dual monitors, one perm and one shared with the 2nd compuer? So you have monitor A hooked up to machine A and Monitor B on KVM which hooks to both computer A and B?

    -Aranyic
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    Well Licencing issues I have with the programs I own. One system will be geared for things that are not CPU intencive, like Macromedia Dreamweaver, and the other system will have programs like Phostohop and stuff.

    If I were allowed to have the programs installed on both systems I would do it like that, but I want to have my palletes and stuff on one screen with the "work load" on the other.

    If possible of course, hell I may even go out for a 3rd Monitor if there is no othera lternative and have one monitor shared between the 2 systems.

    FYI, I am setting up my Digital Media Studio right now for the possiblity of getting some actual work before I even graduate.
  • MrBillMrBill Missouri Member
    edited March 2004
    Aranyic wrote:
    What if you run one system w/ dual monitors, one perm and one shared with the 2nd compuer? So you have monitor A hooked up to machine A and Monitor B on KVM which hooks to both computer A and B?

    -Aranyic
    Sounds like that would work. One monitor always connected to computer A. The other monitor switches back and forth between computer A and computer B.
  • edcentricedcentric near Milwaukee, Wisconsin Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    There are a number of slick little KVMs with built in calbles and keyboard switching for $50. I had to pitch one once because a connector went bad, but it is still less money than one with seperate cables.
  • dodododo Landisville, PA
    edited March 2004
    MrBill wrote:
    Sounds like that would work. One monitor always connected to computer A. The other monitor switches back and forth between computer A and computer B.

    If you need dual monitors with both, just get two video switches. monitor A to KVM1, monitor B to KVM2, both with inputs from each machine.

    ~dodo
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    MrBill wrote:
    Sounds like that would work. One monitor always connected to computer A. The other monitor switches back and forth between computer A and computer B.


    WILL work, so long as the video card you have for dual outs has DUAL GPUs on it. OTHERWISE, video card might barf when it has to suddenly find a monitor and monitor is in wrong mode. BUT, if both computers use same video parms otherwise, will work with a single GPU card in each box, one for the temp duallie video with two outputs.

    If this were USB, yes, hypereasy, but graphics, unless you use multi-GPU cards, might have issues with a mode change on switch boht ways. One or the other computer might lock up with invalid video.

    Yes, I said it twice-- in different ways, in case one was not understood.

    John D.
  • dodododo Landisville, PA
    edited March 2004
    Oh yeah, forgot about that John, thats a valid point.

    ~dodo
  • qparadoxqparadox Vancouver, BC
    edited April 2004
    There's not many KVM's with audio. My Belkin (4 port SOHO can't remember model name ATM) supports audio switching and it seems to work fine. It wasn't cheap though ($150 cdn + cables) and its got some strange things about it, its also not truly a USB kvm (has usb out for the keyboard / mouse which is nice but only PS/2 in).
  • SputnikSputnik Worcester, MA
    edited April 2004
    i've heard good things about the belkin ones, there are occationally good refurb deals at newegg on this one which was instock last night (seems to have sold out quite quickly).
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited April 2004
    Perhaps is there a way to have the Same Set of Speakers connected to both PC's at the same time, so I can play music on one PC and do stuff on the other??

    Just curious, been in a questioning mood lately LOL, plus before I go out and buy all this I wanna know all my options.
  • FlintstoneFlintstone SE Florida
    edited April 2004
    The only way that I am aware of to play the audio output from 2 different sources (like 2 different computers)out of 1 set of speakers would be to take the line outs from each source into a mixer and then from the mixer to an amplifier then to speakers. Then the volumes of the 2 sources could be easily controlled and balanced. I've seen people try to hook up the outputs of 2 sources by splicing wires together or using "Y" adapters and it caused all manner of problems including a blown sound card. Anyone else?

    Flint :cool2:
Sign In or Register to comment.