KVM suggestion

[Dantzig]

Hi LTTsers

 

Yet another question around KVMs and dual PC/Macbook desktop setup.

Hardware

Macbook pro (2016), thunderbolt 3

Gaming pc 

Wired mechanical keyboard and wired mouse

Screen Lenovo p27h (usb-c, DP, HDMI, minijack)

Wired headset

 

Current workflow

When working on the laptop, connect to screen by thunderbolt3 (usb-c) to screen usb-c. Plug keyboard, mouse and headset into the screen.

 

When switching to gaming then unplug keyboard video mouse and plug into the pc. Switch input on screen.

 

As such I only work on one thing at the time on the screen.

 

A better solution

I am thinking some sort of KVM, but there are so many cheap/expensive models its hard to find a decent one that fits the bill. Any suggestions?

 

An alternative is pluging KM into the pc and running something like Barrier to share keyboard/mouse. Maybe I would do this anyway occasionally when using the macbook as secondary monitor.

[tkitch]

unless you have thunderbolt on your desktop, you can't really KVM that.

[Dantzig]

1 hour ago, tkitch said:

unless you have thunderbolt on your desktop, you can't really KVM that.

Because I need to carry the usb signal back?

 

I guess I could add a usb-c pci card if needed

[Dantzig]

Maybe I could do with a sinple usb switch hooking up mouse and keyboard, when going to the monitor for the laptop, the other to the pc?

[Dantzig]

Ok so I just got something working which isn't KVM, but works well enough given my equipment.

 

Bought a cheap Atena 4-to-2 usb switch and plugged in mouse, keyboard and an external usb mic. One out went into my gaming rig and the other into the screen. The laptop is still connected by USB-C (thunderbolt something) to the screen and the gaming pc by the hdmi port. To change from one to the other it is not a press on the usb switch and change the input selection on the screen (if I want that as well). Most of the time I will have my laptop open as a secondary screen and the gaming on the main screen, thus a single press will be sufficient in these cases.