Docking station + switch ?

vicror34 · April 17, 2022

Hello guys!

I have a problem that I cannot figure by myself.

Firstly I will describe my build:

Motherboard: Rog Strix x570-F Gaming

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 3900x

GPU: Nvidia 3070

The thing is that I have this desktop PC and a MacBook and peripherals (mainly internet cable, keyboard and mouse and 2xS2721DGF Dell monitors that are connected via DPs to the GPU).

I want something (if possible) that can connect to the PC and MacBook and switch everything between them without plugging and unplugging from one to the other.

Is there any solution so I can also preserve the 165HZ 1440p capabilities of the monitors? - I saw that I have a USB type C 3.2 gen 2 but I think that doesn't give me enough bandwidth to achieve everything.

I think I can buy something like a PCI-express to thunderbolt card? Can you guys recommend me some items?

Thank you very much!

Donut417 · April 17, 2022

4 minutes ago, vicror34 said:

Hello guys!

I have a problem that I cannot figure by myself.

Firstly I will describe my build:

Motherboard: Rog Strix x570-F Gaming

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 3900x

GPU: Nvidia 3070

The thing is that I have this desktop PC and a MacBook and peripherals (mainly internet cable, keyboard and mouse and 2xS2721DGF Dell monitors that are connected via DPs to the GPU).

I want something (if possible) that can connect to the PC and MacBook and switch everything between them without plugging and unplugging from one to the other.

Is there any solution so I can also preserve the 165HZ 1440p capabilities of the monitors? - I saw that I have a USB type C 3.2 gen 2 but I think that doesn't give me enough bandwidth to achieve everything.

I think I can buy something like a PCI-express to thunderbolt card? Can you guys recommend me some items?

Thank you very much!

The way I do it is like this. My monitors have multiple inputs, I just have each machine on its own separate input and use the monitors built in input selector to select what machine is using the monitor. For USB devices I have a USB switcher. Does like it sounds, it allows up to 4 devices connected to the switcher to be toggled between each machine. As for the internet cable, thats going to be a bit more involved. Assuming your gaming rig has Ethernet, you will still need a network adapter for your mac, there are many to choose from. From there you should be able to use a network switch to connect the Ethernet cable supplying internet and connect both devices to it. The network switch will connect both machines at the same time btw, so you wont have to toggle between machines.

Another option is a KVM switch, but they can be a lot of money for the higher end ones. Which is why I settled on the way I use, yeah its more involved, but truthfully it does what it needs.

berberries · April 17, 2022

If you want to do it 1 button, KVM Switch is your answer. But one that can preserve the 165Hz at 1440p is going to be pricey. I'd just run 2 DP cables from the gpu to monitors and 2 more HDMI cables from your macbook pro with im assuming adapters you already have to your monitors. Switch both monitors inputs as needed, I believe some dell monitors allow you to set custom settings where pressing a button switches the input immediately to a preselected one instead of going through the menu.

Keyboard Mouse Situation can be solved with a USB Switch.

I'd put a simple 5 port switch to split the 1 ethernet cable into 2 and plug them directly in to save the hassle.