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Hello!
I have been working from home for over a year now and I am trying to figure out the most efficient way to use my monitors/personal desktop/business laptop in a easy to switch, efficient environment on my desk. Heres my setup:
Personal Desktop: has 4 DVI ports, and 2 HDMI ports
Personal Laptop: has 1x hdmi port [It is a dell and I can find a docking station with any combination of DVI/VGA/HDMI/Display ports]
Monitor 1: HDMI and DVI
Monitor 2: DVI and VGA
Monitor 3: DVI and VGA
The goal: have my 3 monitors hooked up to my desktop [currently are] then easily be able to "switch" to work on all 3 monitors but potentially using a "switch" to change the source of the monitors to my laptop which will most likely need to be docked for more video output ports.
I looked into HDMI switches and Matrixes but they dont "appear" to be what I am looking for as I want all three monitors to display seperately instead of duplicating these displays. Is there a device out there that can easily do this? perhaps connect all three monitors into this device, then have the three outputs to my desktop, then another 3 outputs the my laptop so that these can be easily "switched" from A mode [personal] to B mode [work]? I am also running windows 10 on each of these computers.
Let me know your thoughts as switching 3 monitors inputs can by a pain!
They have 3 monitor KVM's but they are not cheap. Ex.
//www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Triple-Monitor-Switch-Audio/dp/B008CXFM96
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18 Replies
So basically you're looking for a multi-display KVM?
I've not heard of such a beast, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.
Are you sure your laptop could handle 3 external monitors to start with?
Many don't, they will support 2 plus the laptop display, but this pushes them, your home PC likely has some gaming GPU with a decent amount of ram allowing the driving of 3 displays, your laptop wont have this
What is the make and model of the laptop dude?
Some laptops here support 3 monitors and just disable the laptop screen instead.
Also KVM is the best option.
I see it's a dell, but what kind? Dell has a ton of docks. The ones we use can support up to 4 monitors.
//www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-e-port-plus-advanced-port-replicator-with-usb-3-0/apd/331-7947/p...
Looks like ConnectPRO makes a device that will do dual-display switching. Their website indicates products for 3+ displays are "coming soon".
//connectpro.com/kvm-switches/multi-monitor/
Potentially?Bryce Katz wrote:
So basically you're looking for a multi-display KVM?
I've not heard of such a beast, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.
It can handle 3 monitors. I can get any docking station I want for my Dell laptop. i just need to see whichc one i may need to get for this setup before I buy one.Rod-IT wrote:
Are you sure your laptop could handle 3 external monitors to start with?
Many don't, they will support 2 plus the laptop display, but this pushes them, your home PC likely has some gaming GPU with a decent amount of ram allowing the driving of 3 displays, your laptop wont have this
Plus, the Display Port 1.2 adds the ability to daisy chain displays [4 displays via 1 connector].
Came directly from the link you gave!
any recommendations for a KVM?
My laptop can support multiple displays via a docking station.
Laptop model is: Latitude E7440
Just because it has 4 ports for monitors, doesn't really mean you can use all 4 at once.
yes but would i use this in conjunction with another device? kvm? what kind will suite my needs?
Ross42. wrote:
I see it's a dell, but what kind? Dell has a ton of docks. The ones we use can support up to 4 monitors.
//www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-e-port-plus-advanced-port-replicator-with-usb-3-0/apd/331-7947/p...
nicki.u wrote:
Just because it has 4 ports for monitors, doesn't really mean you can use all 4 at once.
The one i have at work can have 3 monitors hooked up to it. this isnt the problem. its switch monitors when i am home between 3 monitors, 1 for personal, 1 for work.
As mentioned before I do not have enough display ports to do this. what i have is noted above in the original post.nicki.u wrote:
Plus, the Display Port 1.2 adds the ability to daisy chain displays [4 displays via 1 connector].
Came directly from the link you gave!
Found exactly what I need!
//www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Triple-Monitor-Switch-Audio/dp/B008CXFM96/ref=sr_1_34?ie=UTF8&am...
No, you dock the laptop, hook stuff up to the back of the dock, and you're fine. That's what a dock does.Perry6783 wrote:
yes but would i use this in conjunction with another device? kvm? what kind will suite my needs?
Ross42. wrote:
I see it's a dell, but what kind? Dell has a ton of docks. The ones we use can support up to 4 monitors.
//www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-e-port-plus-advanced-port-replicator-with-usb-3-0/apd/331-7947/p...
They have 3 monitor KVM's but they are not cheap. Ex.
//www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Triple-Monitor-Switch-Audio/dp/B008CXFM96
Moderator's Note:Perry6783 wrote:
Found exactly what I need!
//www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Triple-Monitor-Switch-Audio/dp/B008CXFM96/ref=sr_1_34?ie=UTF8&am...
Perry, as a new community member of the "Pimento" pepper level, any post you make containing a link is immediately put into a moderation queue. This was implemented some time ago as an anti-spam measure. You can get around this restriction by completing your community profile. This will get you a quick 100 "pepper points", a promotion to the "Sonora" pepper level, and the ability to post as many links as you care to copy and paste.
- Perry6783Pimiento
Unless you're going all display-port for daisy-chained monitors, 4 ports doesn't mean 4 monitors. Most Dell laptops will support 2 monitors on that dock, 3 if the laptop has a discrete video card along with the integrated. My Dell Precision m4800 will only run 3 monitors off that dock.Ross42. wrote:
I see it's a dell, but what kind? Dell has a ton of docks. The ones we use can support up to 4 monitors.
//www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-e-port-plus-advanced-port-replicator-with-usb-3-0/apd/331-7947/p...
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