Help Multiple PCs on one monitor

[DaGaffer]

Need a bit of advice peeps. When I move to Ireland my girlfriend will be working from home and we're going to set up one room as her office. She'll be using a laptop, but she's probably going to have something with a fairly small screen (she travels for work a lot), so I want the ability for her to easily plug into my big screen, but I don't want to be constantly plugging and unplugging my monitor from my desktop so she can use it. So, to cut a long story short, is there some kind of input adaptor/switch that allows multiple PCs to connect to one monitor? Ta.

 

[inactionman]

Most monitors have more than one input, else you need to look for a KVM.

 

[TdC]

some KVM switches have limits on max rez or max refresh though.

 

[MYstIC G]

I don't want to be constantly plugging and unplugging my monitor from my desktop so she can use it.

So make her do it!

On a serious note, a KVM is probably what you're after. Alternatively (if you don't want one) extend the monitor cable so that there is a break somewhere easy to access, i.e.

PC  ----*Cable*----  ||*Join*||  ----*Cable*----  Monitor

That way you don't have to go rummage at the back of your box for the cable.

 

[Dark Orb Choir]

If your monitor has a dvi input AND a d-sub input then there are your 2 separate inputs, as inactionman said

 

[DaGaffer]

Thanks guys. KVM sounds like the best bet as it means she can use the desktop kb/mouse as well.

 

[Dark Orb Choir]

maybe im stupid (dont answer that) but how does she connect and disconnect the laptop from the kvm?

 

[Bob007]

KVM will have a keyboard/mouse and monitor socket for each machine connect, connect norm keyboard mouse and monitor to KVM outputs, then you run a set to main puter and set rdy for laptop. Use the switch on the KVM to switch between the two.

Should be able to add a hardware profile to the laptop and select it on boot up to use the external monitor.

problems you may have is VGA v DVI outputs from machines, most modern PC's are dvi now, Might need to check laptop for dvi/vga support.

 

[Dark Orb Choir]

i know all that, what happens if the laptop only has one ps/2 output?

plus as tdc said the refresh rate through a kvm will suck more than chasey laine

surely the monitor has a dvi output and a d-sub output

 

[Bob007]

use the USB port instead.

Idea 1 Chespish, VGA/USB

Idea 2, More expensive, DVI/USB/Audio

 

[Rubber Bullets]

As has been said using DVI and D-sub is probably the best way to go. I do this sometimes with my laptop and my Dell 24" screen. I also plug my USB keyboard and mouse into the USB sockets on the screen. When I swap to the lappy I only have to swap the USB link from the desktop to the laptop and I can use the keyboard and mouse too.

RB