Question about KVM's

nhojdgepodge-pc · August 28

Hi All,

Had a question regarding KVM's. I'm having to install a work pc in my office soon, so I've been planning the new wiring and trying to research the limits to how things get set up. I attached some rough images of how I'm currently running my set up, and how I've been planning my next layout. (ignore the webcam, using a single one for now as I can't figure out a good monitor mount to use for my a6000 for those large 43" tv monitors when wall mounting, I also don't have said 43" monitor. At this point I'm thinking of hiding an additional wall mount behind the monitor or something... But for now working with what I have when I have it.)

My question was, when running two PC's off a KVM to share one monitor, how will a secondary monitor react when switching from the active computer on the KVM? (to type it out. Monitor A is shared with computer x and y. Monitor B is hooked directly up to x. Switching from computer x on the KVM to computer y, will monitor B stay on and unaffected? Or will it see the one monitor only (adjust to being a single monitor system with no mouse/keyboard connected. Then always readjust each time I switch the system? Or will it be okay.) Would it be better to hook Monitor B into the kvm and allow the kvm to control what is displayed on that monitor at all times? If so, how well does a KVM play with a secondary hdmi switch down the line?

Added an image for the irl layout, before I added a desk to put most of the consoles and main desktop. Before anyone says anything, yes that monitor above the crt is a weird placement. But it has grown on me. The minifridge has since been swapped with a custom desk. PC sits to the left of the crt. The new pc I'm planning to put where the fight stick is. Wiring this is a pain and a half, and I feel I've terribly overcomplicated things, but everything works currently. The RCA capture card works, the HDMI capture card works. (though i have since lost my hdmi switches remote. and will have to possibly buy another switch lol...)

Any tips and Insights to the KVM or wiring are appreciated. I've had fun workin on this solo, but works sending the pc sooner than I thought. Also sorry if the drawings are hard to follow, it's just what worked out for me.

If y'all have any other questions bout the set-up as well, I don't mind answering.

Thanks.

Current

Planning

Set-up w/o the new side desk

nhojdgepodge-pc · September 5

Since no one replied. I'll answer my own post... lol

KVM will make other monitors freak out if you are adjusting a single monitor while the rest are directly wired.

A side note. A Razer Mouse Dock Pro does not get enough power from the KVM to work...

I'm going to try using a dual monitor KVM to run two signals to one monitor. using the KVM to always have a signal sent to the monitor so the main computer doesn't freak out. Then just hand switching the signals...

Edit: it didn't work. So now I have 4 monitors directly wired. One computer wired through the kvm with two separate mice. one wired one wireless... Mic, Keyboard, and Webcam going through KVM. Kinda working right now.