KVM Setup help

[Minigiant]

Budget (including currency): N/A

Country: China

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: Design, Photography, and Light Gaming

Other details (existing parts lists, whether any peripherals are needed, what you're upgrading from, when you're going to buy, what resolution and refresh rate you want to play at, etc): 

Hello everyone

 

I hope this is the right place. It isn't about a specific PC build but how to integrate multiple devices into one office space as smoothly as possible. I have a MacBook M1 Pro Max, a Nintendo Switch, and a Steamdeck (Docking station when it becomes available), and would like to be able to switch my peripherals between them for ergonomics and general tidiness reasons. I would also look to be able to output them to either a wall mounted TV or Dual Monitors; and in addition to that I would like to be able to run a Switch or Steam deck on one monitor/TV while the Mac is working on the 2nd monitor.

 

I have never used a KVM switch, and as this is part of an overall office upgrade project I thought it best to plan plan plan! and made a map to try and visualize how this all works together

 

In total there is/will be (* means yet to be purchased):

 

• M1 MacBook Pro Max
• Nintendo Switch & Dock
• Steamdeck & Dock*
• Keychron Wireless Keyboard
• Logitech Wireless Mouse
• Seinheiser Wireless Headphones
• Xbox Elite Controller
• Microphone*
• Webcam*
• Thunderbolt 4 Dock
• KVM Switch*
• 2x Monitors* (I currently have a 1440p 60hz monitor but want to upgrade to 2 4k 120+ hz)
• Soundbar (If Monitors need it)
• TV

What I need help with is whether

1. Will this work?
2. Am I missing anything?
3. Is there a better way of doing this?

 

[brob]

I don't understand why the KVM is needed.

[Minigiant]

4 hours ago, brob said:

I don't understand why the KVM is needed.

So I can use my keyboard and mouse with the Mac, and swap back and forth

[brob]

1 hour ago, Minigiant said:

So I can use my keyboard and mouse with the Mac, and swap back and forth

 

Swap back and forward with what?

[Minigiant]

50 minutes ago, brob said:

 

Swap back and forward with what?

My Keyboard, My mouse, my headphones, my microphone

[brob]

10 hours ago, Minigiant said:

My Keyboard, My mouse, my headphones, my microphone

 

Why can't those connect directly or through the thunderbolt 4 dock.

[Minigiant]

9 hours ago, brob said:

 

Why can't those connect directly or through the thunderbolt 4 dock.

As far as I am aware they can only interact with one thing at a time, and I would then need to manually move each one over when I want to swap.

I then want to be able to send different inputs to different schemes at the same time if possible. E.g Switch on TV, Steamdeck on Monitor 1, and MacBook on Monitor 2. Or MacBook on Dual Monitors and Steamdeck/Switch on TV

[brob]

So you want to be able to switch monitors between 3 devices?

 

Do any of your monitors support multiple inputs.11

 

[Minigiant]

5 hours ago, brob said:

So you want to be able to switch monitors between 3 devices?

 

I want to be able to switch monitors between 3 devices, switch peripherals between 3 devices, and be able to run them simultaneously too (e.g Switch on TV with Controller, and my MacBook on the Dual Monitors)

 

5 hours ago, brob said:

Do any of your monitors support multiple inputs.11

 

I have not yet chosen the monitors, I currently have an old one and am planning/looking to purchase two new ones. I just know their are KVM switch limitations, as well as my Switch and Steamdeck having maximum graphics they can handle so I need to find something that works.

 

I made a 2nd

[brob]

A KVM has i/o devices (keyboard, monitor, mouse, etc) on one side and processors (computers) on the other. It routes all devices on the i/o side to one of the processors on the other. A single command/button  switches all i/o devices to a different processor.

 

[Minigiant]

35 minutes ago, brob said:

A KVM has i/o devices (keyboard, monitor, mouse, etc) on one side and processors (computers) on the other. It routes all devices on the i/o side to one of the processors on the other. A single command/button  switches all i/o devices to a different processor.

 

So a KVM does not do what I need. Then what would I need?

[brob]

5 hours ago, Minigiant said:

So a KVM does not do what I need. Then what would I need?

 

I'm not entirely sure.

 

If I understand things correctly, the Steam deck connects to the Mac/TB4 hub.

 

The Mac and Nintendo must connect to each monitor with user selectable combinations.

 

The Xbox controller needs to switch between the Mac/TB4 hub and Nintendo.

 

The keyboard and mouse need to switch between?

 

Headphones and microphone need to switch between the Mac/TB4 hub and Nintendo.

 

The soundbar needs to switch between the Mac and Nintendo.

[axc0054]

Did you this resolved?

[Minigiant]

On 8/23/2022 at 9:13 PM, axc0054 said:

Did you this resolved?

No I did not. In large part due to my inability to better articulate what I am trying to achieve

[axc0054]

20 hours ago, Minigiant said:

No I did not. In large part due to my inability to better articulate what I am trying to achieve

I think we have the same dilemma. I understand your problem. Believe what first needs to happen is find the common peripherals that each of the to be connected device(s) has. Particularly with regards to the monitors. If you can provide more details about the monitors, I might be able to help you out some more. Based on what I’ve collected for my setup.  
 

Edit: Attaching a diagram I had put together a while back. Reminds me of what you were trying to communicate