2 computers using 1 monitor

[JR Ewing]

I've got an old computer thats been sitting in my closet since last November and its setup so I can play old games on it. I won't even ask if its possible because I'm sure it is. So what's out there that'll allow me to use 1 monitor, 1 keyboard, and one mouse, for both computers? And how much will it cost???

[Kevin Wolff]

Why do people use mulitple question marks??? http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Anyway, yes, you can do it. It's called a KVM switch. Look them up; I have no experience with them.

[LeadBullet]

My CRT has two VGA inputs in it, and then a button on the front that switches between the two. I haven't used it for that purpose yet, but I guess its nice to have. You could try looking for a monitor like that if you were thinking of getting a new one.

[Farlander]

I have a switch that lets you plug a monitor, USB keyboard, and USB mouse into it, and then has two USB connectors coming out of it, one for one computer, one for the other. So you can use one monitor, keyboard, and mouse to control two computers. I use it at work to switch between my Windows machine and my Mac. It works pretty well.

[Inanimate Carbon Rod]

Farlander said:
I have a switch that lets you plug a monitor, USB keyboard, and USB mouse into it, and then has two USB connectors coming out of it, one for one computer, one for the other. So you can use one monitor, keyboard, and mouse to control two computers. I use it at work to switch between my Windows machine and my Mac. It works pretty well.



Also known as a KVM switch http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[LeadBullet]

I always thought KVM was some acronym for something complicated, and that the boxes were just for monitors. So that bs means keyboard\video\mouse or something?

Maybe they just stuck one inside my montior then because its got a USB2 hub in the side.

[JimboC]

Belkin makes some pretty cheap models that work well. We've been using Avocent switches at work, but they don't support USB keyboards and mice, so they may not work for you.

Make sure that whatever brand you choose comes with cables. A lot of them sell the cables separately and that can really jack up the cost. If you're only talking 2 PCs, you should be able to find a good one for $40 or so.

[JR Ewing]

Yeah I'll only be dealing with 2 computers here. $40 sounds reasonable. USB keyboard/mouse is not needed as I just use the standard PS/2 ports.

[KillerByte]

LeadBullet said:
So that bs means keyboard\video\mouse or something?



Yes.


JimboC said:
Belkin makes some pretty cheap models that work well.



I have a Belkin KVM switch for alternating between a Windows box and a Linux box. Works well enough for me, but you have to use PS/2 keyboards and mice.

[moron]

somthing like this should be fine

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AUSB20-KVM&cpc=SCH

[JR Ewing]

Finally bought that KVM switch today. It's an IOGEAR MiniView Micro 2-Port Audio KVM Switch. I paid $45.00 and it works great. Switching between computers is very easy, just push the scroll-lock key twice. Overall I'm glad I bought this little thing, it saves me alot of trouble.

[Kevin Wolff]

JR Ewing said:
Switching between computers is very easy, just push the scroll-lock key twice.


Haha, you can use keyboard keys now? You used to have to turn a physical switch on the box. I have an old parallel port switch in my closet, where the switch is totallly mechanical.

[DudeMiester]

Actually, www.stardock.com (http://www.stardock.com) has a system that requires no extra hardware of any kind, just a network. Although you still need monitors for each PC, just not other periphials. http://www.stardock.com/products/multiplicity/

[X-Vector]

JR Ewing said:
Finally bought that KVM switch today. It's an IOGEAR MiniView Micro 2-Port Audio KVM Switch. I paid $45.00 and it works great. Switching between computers is very easy, just push the scroll-lock key twice.



I'm using something similar from a brand called Sitecom (same scroll lock key operation).
Currently I'm still switching the monitor manually (it has both D-SUB and BNC connections (http://www.anandtech.com/showimage.html?u=http://images.anandtech.com/old/monitors/iiyama510pro/rcontrollarge.jpg)), have you noticed any deterioration in visual quality when using the VGA part of the KVM switch?

[JR Ewing]

X-Vector said:
I'm using something similar from a brand called Sitecom (same scroll lock key operation).
Currently I'm still switching the monitor manually (it has both D-SUB and BNC connections (http://www.anandtech.com/showimage.html?u=http://images.anandtech.com/old/monitors/iiyama510pro/rcontrollarge.jpg)), have you noticed any deterioration in visual quality when using the VGA part of the KVM switch?



No, I can't see that there's any loss in visial quality. However, the audio port is some what annoying. I can't keep my sound card volume to max or close to max anymore. I have to keep it at the most halfway otherwise the sound distorts the more i turn it up. This really isn't a big problem though because usually halfway is pretty decent and I have volume control on my speakers as well so if I turn them up, that makes up for any sound loss I have turning the sound card volume down.

Other than that minor annoyance, I have no complaints.

[Combat Chuck]

I have a 4-port MiniView KVM that works fairly well except for one thing: it doesn't deal with scroll mice well, and it won't accept my USB mouse at all, even with a PS/2 adapter. It's kind of frustrating, and now I have the optical mouse plugged into my main machine, with a second PS/2 mouse plugged into the KVM. I probably wouldn't go with another IoGear.

[JR Ewing]

Really? Strange because I use a USB optical mouse with a PS/2 adapter and it works perfectly on both computers.

[Combat Chuck]

Yeah, I would've expected it to work, too. My dad has the 2 port Miniview, and his works fine. It seems to only be the 4 port that's flaky. It's kind of bogus.