Using a KVM

[KaTo3107]

Hey Guys,

 

Im working sometimes at Home and want use my Home Setup so that i can connect my Laptop to it via Docking station.

But im a Gamer i want game without trouble when i use this Setup. So im looking for a KVM 4k@60Hz and/or 1080p@144-260Hz

 

My Home setup is at the Moment (will change when i build this kvm setup).

Is a 1080p@144 Hz Monitor and 2 1080p@60Hz Monitor and PC with mouse and keyboard.

The future Monitor Setup is unclear but i will search something for WQHD or something but not needed for all of these Monitor. and minimum 144 Hz because i think i cant go back

 

So i think it will raise the responsetime but my question is this sagnificant? So is it noticable when i game or is it so small.

 

The Exact KVM switch i will use is unclear. I will use a KVM which has minimum 2 Displays but recommend 3 Displays also a minimum of 4 USB Slots and usable for 2 Devices (Laptop and PC)

 

example KVM: https://kvm-switch.de/de/triple-monitor-4k-hdmi-4-port-kvm-switch-mit-60hz-4-4-4-inkl-ir-fernbedienung-und-kabel-tesmart-hks0403a1u-eubk.html

 

 

[tkitch]

Well, unless the KVM specifies 144hz, you won't get it out of the KVM.

 

So, the one you linked is 4k 60hz.  That doesn't guarantee it'll go higher at 1080.  

 

Also, you only need 1 or 2 USB ports.  Stick a USB Hub on it, and call it a day.  (It'll be way cheaper to add a hub than to get extra ports out of the box.)

[Avocado Diaboli]

Is it really necessary that both systems run at the same time so you have an actual need for a KVM? Because as far as I know, most monitors have multiple inputs. When I had my work PC at home during Covid lockdowns, I just had two monitors with two DisplayPort cables each, one pair going to my PC and the other pair to the work PC. Since I'm hoping you're not trying to play games while technically being at work, if only one of the systems is on at any given time, most monitors are smart enough to detect if a signal is coming in and just switch to that input automatically. There are USB switches, so you can just hook up your peripherals to that and switch back and forth on that device without bothering with the video portion at all.

[LogicalDrm]

I would recommend using monitors inputs first and getting USB switcher if you need to switch around mouse, keyboard etc.

 

For KVM, Level1 is probably best you can get. And still limited to 120Hz https://www.store.level1techs.com/products/p/14-kvm-switch-triple-monitor-2computer-pne46-fxlmw

 

E: Bit mistake on my part here, website is missing "up to" and I read it "as is". So up to 4k 120Hz.

Edited September 14, 2023 by LogicalDrm

[BabaGanuche]

1 hour ago, LogicalDrm said:

I would recommend using monitors inputs first and getting USB switcher if you need to switch around mouse, keyboard etc.

 

For KVM, Level1 is probably best you can get. And still limited to 120Hz https://www.store.level1techs.com/products/p/14-kvm-switch-triple-monitor-2computer-pne46-fxlmw

It is not limited to 120Hz it is limited to DP 1.4 bandwidth, The HBR3 column of this table. This is where the 4k 120 and 8k 30 numbers on the spec sheet come from.

 

Video format			Transmission mode / Maximum data rate
Short- hand	Resolution	Color depth (bpc)	RBR	HBR	HBR2	HBR3	UHBR 10	UHBR 13.5	UHBR 20
			5.184 Gbit/s	8.64 Gbit/s	17.28 Gbit/s	25.92 Gbit/s	38.68 Gbit/s	52.22 Gbit/s	77.37 Gbit/s
			Maximum refresh frequency with CVT-RB v2 timing uncompressed (Hz)
1080p	1920 × 1080	8	95	154	288	406	555	688	884
		10	77	125	237	337	468	587	770
1440p	2560 × 1440	8	55	90	174	251	354	452	609
		10	44	73	141	205	293	378	516
UWQHD	3440 × 1440	8	41	68	133	193	277	358	491
		10	33	55	107	157	227	296	412
4K	3840 × 2160	8		41	81	120	174	229	323
		10		33	65	97	142	187	267
5K	5120 × 2880	8			47	69	102	136	195
		10			37	56	82	110	159
8K	7680 × 4320	8				31	47	63	92
		10					37	50	74

 

 

[LogicalDrm]

13 minutes ago, BabaGanuche said:

It is not limited to 120Hz it is limited to DP 1.4 bandwidth, The HBR3 column of this table. This is where the 4k 120 and 8k 30 numbers on the spec sheet come from.

 

Video format			Transmission mode / Maximum data rate
Short- hand	Resolution	Color depth (bpc)	RBR	HBR	HBR2	HBR3	UHBR 10	UHBR 13.5	UHBR 20
			5.184 Gbit/s	8.64 Gbit/s	17.28 Gbit/s	25.92 Gbit/s	38.68 Gbit/s	52.22 Gbit/s	77.37 Gbit/s
			Maximum refresh frequency with CVT-RB v2 timing uncompressed (Hz)
1080p	1920 × 1080	8	95	154	288	406	555	688	884
		10	77	125	237	337	468	587	770
1440p	2560 × 1440	8	55	90	174	251	354	452	609
		10	44	73	141	205	293	378	516
UWQHD	3440 × 1440	8	41	68	133	193	277	358	491
		10	33	55	107	157	227	296	412
4K	3840 × 2160	8		41	81	120	174	229	323
		10		33	65	97	142	187	267
5K	5120 × 2880	8			47	69	102	136	195
		10			37	56	82	110	159
8K	7680 × 4320	8				31	47	63	92
		10					37	50	74

 

 

Yes, and? Whats the point? The specs given say 120Hz and I haven't seen any other KVM that can do even that.

[BabaGanuche]

1 hour ago, LogicalDrm said:

Yes, and? Whats the point? The specs given say 120Hz and I haven't seen any other KVM that can do even that.

That is not how displayport works. It supports a specific bandwidth not a specific refresh rate.  4k @ 120Hz 8bit color is 8 * 3  3840 * 2160 * 120  = 23,887,872,000 bits per second and 1080p @ 360Hz 8 bit color is 8 * 3 * 1920 * 1080 * 360 = 17,915,904,000 bits per second. Since the bandwidth for 4K @ 120 is supported and the bandwidth for 1080p @ 360Hz is less that it, it means it is also supported.

[LogicalDrm]

5 hours ago, BabaGanuche said:

That is not how displayport works. It supports a specific bandwidth not a specific refresh rate.  4k @ 120Hz 8bit color is 8 * 3  3840 * 2160 * 120  = 23,887,872,000 bits per second and 1080p @ 360Hz 8 bit color is 8 * 3 * 1920 * 1080 * 360 = 17,915,904,000 bits per second. Since the bandwidth for 4K @ 120 is supported and the bandwidth for 1080p @ 360Hz is less that it, it means it is also supported.

You are "correcting" me for no reason. I haven't claimed anything to be corrected for. Go complain to Wendell that they need to be more specific on their product page.

E: Ok, I see. I'll take back some of my annoyance. You could have been more clear instead of "correcting me" for things I didn't claim.

E2: Still bit annoyed the way correction was made, could have been more clear. But I admit failure here. Reading OP wrong and making my subsequent comments with that.

Edited September 14, 2023 by LogicalDrm

[Uttamattamakin]

There are software based solutions for this problem.  I used two systems for a long time.  I had a laptop that ... effectively acted as a desktop with an eGPU and a surface pro.  I used a program called barrier

https://github.com/debauchee/barrier/releases

 

There is another such software called Synergy
https://symless.com/synergy. 

No hardware needed.  You do have to choose one computer to attach the keyboard and mouse to.  So say the gaming desktop has the keyboard and mouse attached, then shares them with the work laptop.  You can drag, drop, cut, copy and paste between systems when this is all set up.  The traffic will go over your local network.  I recommend that you network them using the fastest possible connection.   Hardwired  with ethernet or if possible connect them both with Thunderbolt (networking over Thunderbolt is a thing, it's like a 10 Gig  connection but it can be tricky... ethernet never fails).

Ther reason I stopped using that kind of set up was I wanted to build my own computer, and I also got interested in virtualization.  So now I run a separate Linux setup and a Windows VM under Linux.  IF I were to go back to just having two distinct systems KVM software is how I would go.  

[SpaceGhostC2C]

17 hours ago, KaTo3107 said:

Hey Guys,

 

Im working sometimes at Home and want use my Home Setup so that i can connect my Laptop to it via Docking station.

 

 

Do you need the triple monitor setup for the laptop? If not, it may be cheaper to just get a Gigabyte M27Q as main monitor (or any alternative with similar functionality -there's a Samsung one but you may dislike it's "only" 75Hz).

[KaTo3107]

Thanks u all for the Information. I was thinking about it but because i often hear music over my PC because i dont want it on my Working laptop.

Thats the reason for that i dont want to use the Monitor as a  switch medium.

 

I dont need Tripple Monitor. 2 is minimum. The USB hub is a Good decission i will use a USB Hub if the KVM has not enought usb slots.

 

The Software solution i dont want to use it because i need a permit from my company so its not a option.

 

Thanks u all for the Conversation.

 

 

[LogicalDrm]

8 hours ago, KaTo3107 said:

Thanks u all for the Information. I was thinking about it but because i often hear music over my PC

If this is your main use, you want monitor to change tracks? The best solution would be if your monitor had true PiP (picture in picture) mode. Seems very excessive to get KVM for just this kind of use.

[Avocado Diaboli]

8 hours ago, KaTo3107 said:

I was thinking about it but because i often hear music over my PC because i dont want it on my Working laptop.

Running an entire gaming PC just to listen to music seems excessive, even on its own, ignoring the expense of getting a decent KVM. Why not get a dedicated music player and hook it into your existing speakers somehow (auxiliary input, bluetooth or hell, even just a y-splitter cable)?