Using Keyboard & Mouse With 2 Desktops

Crosseyed Sniper · October 28, 2023

I want to be able to use 1 keyboard and mouse between 2 desktops, but will only use one desktop at a time. Whichever desktop I need to use at a given time, the other will not even be powered on. One desktop is for gaming, the other is for everything else.

What I'd like to know is this; is there simply a USB cable that will allow me to do this? Yes, I'm aware of KVM and USB switches, but since I will only have one PC turned on during use, I would just like to find a USB cable that will allow me to do this. If someone is already doing exactly this, what cable are you using?

If there are no simple USB cable options, I guess a KVM or USB switch will have to do and would appreciate your recommendation(s).

Thanks in advance everyone! I do appreciate your help!

DJSparrow · October 28, 2023

i would recommend something like a thunderbolt dock or something like it. like a USB powered hub. Keep in mind, you need a USB 3.2 or something with like 10Gb/s or 40Gb/s if you want this to work.

Hope it helps!

Supersonicwolfe · October 28, 2023

11 minutes ago, Crosseyed Sniper said:

I want to be able to use 1 keyboard and mouse between 2 desktops, but will only use one desktop at a time. Whichever desktop I need to use at a given time, the other will not even be powered on. One desktop is for gaming, the other is for everything else.

What I'd like to know is this; is there simply a USB cable that will allow me to do this? Yes, I'm aware of KVM and USB switches, but since I will only have one PC turned on during use, I would just like to find a USB cable that will allow me to do this. If someone is already doing exactly this, what cable are you using?

If there are no simple USB cable options, I guess a KVM or USB switch will have to do and would appreciate your recommendation(s).

Thanks in advance everyone! I do appreciate your help!

There are monitors have built in KVM.

But other than that, a cheap KVM is the cheapest case. There are dumb ones that uses physical button and switch to change from one output to another.