Need help with multi-system setup Mac & PC

[Dnovelta]

I'm going to be working from home in the near future and my employer has provided me with a MacBook Pro with 4 TB/USB-C ports. I have my own PC at home that I use with 3 monitors (all DP). I want to use the peripherals between both systems - ideally.

 

I've been looking at KVM switches thinking that would be the best/only solution, but I figured I might ask here before spending the money on a KVM switch. I was initially looking for a two-system, triple-display KVM switch that would support 144hz+ on at least one of the monitors. I couldn't find that, and those that came close were very, very expensive and so not worth it for me.

 

Now, I'm looking at 2-system dual-display (still DP) switches and simply connecting the third monitor (main monitor, 144hz) separately to both computers and switching its input manually. I'd then be able to connect everything else (speakers, keyboard, mouse, etc.) to the KVM switch and live happily ever after.

 

However, I was wondering if there's anything out there that simply acts as a switch for just the displays. I've got spare keyboards/mice and my desk is big enough to have them within reach and also be out of the way so the K and M components of the KVM are not really all that important to me. But, if I could find a dual-display "splitter" that would allow me to connect to both my MacBook Pro and PC and switch feeds at the press of a button, that would be ideal, but I haven't found anything like that for DisplayPort displays.

 

Any help here would be much appreciated.

[Wh0_Am_1]

Welcome to the LTT forums! What model of monitors do you have?

[Dnovelta]

1 minute ago, Wh0_Am_1 said:

Welcome to the LTT forums! What model of monitors do you have?

Current monitors are:

2x BenQ BL2420PT (secondary monitors)

1x Dell S2417DG (primary monitor @ 165hz)

 

All are currently connected to a 1080Ti via DisplayPort.

 

Thanks for the welcome!

[Wh0_Am_1]

4 minutes ago, Dnovelta said:

Current monitors are:

2x BenQ BL2420PT (secondary monitors)

1x Dell S2417DG (primary monitor @ 165hz)

 

All are currently connected to a 1080Ti via DisplayPort.

 

Thanks for the welcome!

Your welcome! Also which Macbook Pro do you have in particular?

[Dnovelta]

Just now, Wh0_Am_1 said:

Your welcome! Also which Macbook Pro do you have in particular?

I've got a 2018 13" MacBook Pro with the touchbar and 4 TB ports.

[Wh0_Am_1]

Just now, Dnovelta said:

I've got a 2018 13" MacBook Pro with the touchbar and 4 TB ports.

Okay thanks!

[Wh0_Am_1]

Okay as I imagine you a buying this all on your own dime I am going to recommend a more primitive solution and rather recommend that you get this HDMI splitter from Startech $112 USD, this USB hub from Anker $10 USD, and this dongle from Anker $24 USD  (though I can recommend a different dongle if your MOBO on your desktop has a USB C port). Basically the idea is you plug your keyboard and mouse into USB hub, then plug the USB hub into the computer/dongle that you are using, then you have each of the monitors plugged into your Mac via HDMI and switch inputs using the on display buttons, (you will get used to it after a while if the controls are decent) you will then proceed to plug in your audio solution to whichever device you are using, unless your MOBO supports USB type C, then instead we could grab a dongle with a 3.5 mm jack and possibly drop the USB hub (depending on the dongle) and then plug in your keyboard, mouse, and audio solution all in one go.

[Dnovelta]

9 hours ago, Wh0_Am_1 said:

Okay as I imagine you a buying this all on your own dime I am going to recommend a more primitive solution and rather recommend that you get this HDMI splitter from Startech $112 USD, this USB hub from Anker $10 USD, and this dongle from Anker $24 USD  (though I can recommend a different dongle if your MOBO on your desktop has a USB C port). Basically the idea is you plug your keyboard and mouse into USB hub, then plug the USB hub into the computer/dongle that you are using, then you have each of the monitors plugged into your Mac via HDMI and switch inputs using the on display buttons, (you will get used to it after a while if the controls are decent) you will then proceed to plug in your audio solution to whichever device you are using, unless your MOBO supports USB type C, then instead we could grab a dongle with a 3.5 mm jack and possibly drop the USB hub (depending on the dongle) and then plug in your keyboard, mouse, and audio solution all in one go.

Thanks for the detailed breakdown, I appreciate it. I was looking into buying a USB hub because my PC is running out of USB ports as it is, so having that be a part of the overall solution is great.

 

I do actually have a USB-C port on my PC MOBO, so that other dongle would be of interest to me.

 

Your solution actually got me thinking about something like this USB splitter from UGREEN. I could plug this into both computers (would have to get an adapter to connect to the Mac) and then plug my headset's wireless transmitter/receiver (SteelSeries Arctis 7), my webcam (Logitech C920S), my mouse, and my keyboard all into the switcher. Then I'd do what you suggested for the displays.

 

Do you see any potential downsides/compatibility issues from setting it up like this?

[Wh0_Am_1]

4 hours ago, Dnovelta said:

Thanks for the detailed breakdown, I appreciate it. I was looking into buying a USB hub because my PC is running out of USB ports as it is, so having that be a part of the overall solution is great.

Your welcome!

 

4 hours ago, Dnovelta said:

I do actually have a USB-C port on my PC MOBO, so that other dongle would be of interest to me.

 

Your solution actually got me thinking about something like this USB splitter from UGREEN. I could plug this into both computers (would have to get an adapter to connect to the Mac) and then plug my headset's wireless transmitter/receiver (SteelSeries Arctis 7), my webcam (Logitech C920S), my mouse, and my keyboard all into the switcher. Then I'd do what you suggested for the displays.

Then maybe it would be a better option to buy this dongle from Aukey for $17 USD, and then buy your USB splitter, and plug all your devices in that way.

4 hours ago, Dnovelta said:

Do you see any potential downsides/compatibility issues from setting it up like this?

The only ones I can think of is, the displays may not have the abilities to change inputs with the press of a button, while this is rare, it is not unheard of, in which case you may have to reach behind your monitors to unplug one your display port cable and plug in your HDMI cables, you will also need HDMI cables, and there is a small chance that the HDMI splitter may not support more than a 30hz refresh rate ( but that does not really matter in my opinions as 30 FPS is enough to accomplish most productivity tasks, and you will only be using this on your mac). Otherwise nothing comes to mind.

[Video Beagle]

I have an imac/pc set up sharing multiple montiors...I was looking for ways to share monitors etc a bit ago.  What I found, very surprising to me, was that Display Port switches are VERY pricey, while HDMI switches are...not.

Because the monitors I'm sharing between the two are older, I was able to go with a cheap HDMi splitter/switch from amazon, with DP->HDMI cables on the computer sides.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L8LLP2G/

 

Just a note, it took a bit for the Mac to "remember" my set up the way I want it... one monitor is set up in portrait rather than landscape (90 degree rotation) and it took a few restarts to lock it in...seems to forget after a system update....but my iMac is older than your system, so it's actually going thru a Tbolt 1 hub as well.