{"id":23320,"date":"2023-07-24T09:39:49","date_gmt":"2023-07-24T07:39:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=23320"},"modified":"2023-07-24T09:47:29","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T07:47:29","slug":"use-one-monitor-with-two-computers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/use-one-monitor-with-two-computers\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Use One Monitor With Two or More Computers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684460a6b335\" class=\"cssicon\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684460a6b335\" class=\"cssiconcheckbox\">1<\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6684460a6b335\" checked><nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/use-one-monitor-with-two-computers\/#How_To_Use_One_Monitor_With_Two_or_More_Computers\" title=\"How To Use One Monitor With Two or More Computers\">How To Use One Monitor With Two or More Computers<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/use-one-monitor-with-two-computers\/#Method_1_Manual_Monitor_Input_Switching\" title=\"Method 1: Manual Monitor Input Switching\">Method 1: Manual Monitor Input Switching<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/use-one-monitor-with-two-computers\/#Method_2_Use_a_Dedicated_KVM_Switch\" title=\"Method 2: Use a Dedicated KVM Switch\">Method 2: Use a Dedicated KVM Switch<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/use-one-monitor-with-two-computers\/#Method_3_Control_The_Other_PCs_Remotely\" title=\"Method 3: Control The Other PCs Remotely\">Method 3: Control The Other PCs Remotely<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/use-one-monitor-with-two-computers\/#FAQ\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/use-one-monitor-with-two-computers\/#Does_a_KVM_Switch_Support_4K_Monitors\" title=\"Does a KVM Switch Support 4K Monitors?\">Does a KVM Switch Support 4K Monitors?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/use-one-monitor-with-two-computers\/#Does_a_KVM_Switch_Support_144_Hz\" title=\"Does a KVM Switch Support 144 Hz?\">Does a KVM Switch Support 144 Hz?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/use-one-monitor-with-two-computers\/#What_Are_The_Best_Monitors_For_a_Dual-PC_Setup\" title=\"What Are The Best Monitors For a Dual-PC Setup?\">What Are The Best Monitors For a Dual-PC Setup?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/use-one-monitor-with-two-computers\/#Over_to_You\" title=\"Over to You\">Over to You<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>Ever wondered how to use one monitor with two or more computers, and what the best methods available to you for achieving that goal are?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Stick around and I\u2019ll walk you through everything you need to know in this guide!<\/p>\n<p>By the end, you\u2019ll know all you need to know about pulling off this little workflow trick, and should be well on your way to your ideal double computing scenario.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_To_Use_One_Monitor_With_Two_or_More_Computers\"><\/span>How To Use One Monitor With Two or More Computers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_1_Manual_Monitor_Input_Switching\"><\/span>Method 1: Manual Monitor Input Switching<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>First, let\u2019s talk about the obvious solution: just doing it manually. <\/strong>As long as your monitor has more HDMI or DisplayPort ports to make use of, you shouldn\u2019t encounter many issues plugging a second PC into it and switching machines with the monitor\u2019s &#8220;source&#8221; controls as you please.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-23409\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Monitor-Choose-Input-Source.jpg\" alt=\"Monitor Choose Input Source\" width=\"450\" height=\"528\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Monitor-Choose-Input-Source.jpg 1015w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Monitor-Choose-Input-Source-256x300.jpg 256w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Monitor-Choose-Input-Source-873x1024.jpg 873w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Monitor-Choose-Input-Source-768x901.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-23409 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20528%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Monitor Choose Input Source\" width=\"450\" height=\"528\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20528%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Monitor-Choose-Input-Source.jpg 1015w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Monitor-Choose-Input-Source-256x300.jpg 256w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Monitor-Choose-Input-Source-873x1024.jpg 873w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Monitor-Choose-Input-Source-768x901.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Monitor-Choose-Input-Source.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>That said, this solution comes with its own irritations and limitations, even if you have enough ports. For example, how will you handle your mouse and keyboard inputs?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Having a USB dock on hand can help simplify this, but unless you have a second set of peripherals and space available to plug them in, you're gonna be switching cables quite a bit in this configuration.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Besides that downside, this is probably the most straightforward and highest-performance way <\/strong>to put an extra PC to work. (I actually already do something akin to this with my Steam Deck and it's included a docking station!).<\/p>\n<p>However, it isn\u2019t necessarily the <em>best<\/em> way to do it, especially with more than 2 PCs...let\u2019s talk about some other solutions available to you.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_2_Use_a_Dedicated_KVM_Switch\"><\/span>Method 2: Use a Dedicated KVM Switch<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Arguably the <em>best<\/em> way to use one monitor with two or more PCs is to use a KVM (K<\/strong>eyboard, <strong>V<\/strong>ideo, <strong>M<\/strong>ouse<strong>) Switch.<\/strong> A KVM Switch allows you to plug in your video inputs, your mouse, and your keyboard all into a single box before you plug the KVM Switch into your monitor.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23325\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23325\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23325\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Low-End-vs-High-End-KVM-Switch.jpg\" alt=\"Low-End vs High-End KVM Switch\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Low-End-vs-High-End-KVM-Switch.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Low-End-vs-High-End-KVM-Switch-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Low-End-vs-High-End-KVM-Switch-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Low-End-vs-High-End-KVM-Switch-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Low-End-vs-High-End-KVM-Switch-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23325\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23325 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Low-End vs High-End KVM Switch\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Low-End-vs-High-End-KVM-Switch.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Low-End-vs-High-End-KVM-Switch-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Low-End-vs-High-End-KVM-Switch-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Low-End-vs-High-End-KVM-Switch-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Low-End-vs-High-End-KVM-Switch-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/Low-End-vs-High-End-KVM-Switch.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-23325\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a class=\"thirstylink\" title=\"StarTech.com DisplayPort KVM - 4 Port - 4K 60Hz - Dual Monitor KVM - DisplayPort Switch - KVM DisplayPort - Desktop KVM Switch (SV431DPDDUA2),Black\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/startech-com-displayport-kvm-4-port-4k-60hz-dual-monitor-kvm-displayport-switch-kvm-displayport-desktop-kvm-switch-sv431dpddua2black\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener noreferrer\">1<\/a>, <a class=\"thirstylink\" title=\"Monoprice Blackbird 4K HDMI 2.0 and USB 3.0 2x1 KVM Switch, 4K@60Hz, HDR, YCbCr 4:4:4, HDCP 2.2, Share 2 Computers with 1 Keyboard Mouse Monitor Printer\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/monoprice-blackbird-4k-hdmi-2-0-and-usb-3-0-2x1-kvm-switch-4k60hz-hdr-ycbcr-444-hdcp-2-2-share-2-computers-with-1-keyboard-mouse-monitor-printer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener noreferrer\">2<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>From there, you\u2019ll be switching PC inputs with your KVM Switch instead of your monitor input, <em>and<\/em> whatever is plugged into your KVM Switch will automatically make the switch to whatever PC is currently in active use.<\/p>\n<p><strong>However, KVM Switches come with their own downsides<\/strong>. The first and most obvious of those downsides is that you will have to <strong>pay<\/strong> for a KVM Switch, and the second is that not all KVM Switches are made equal.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Since a KVM is a piece of separate dedicated hardware<\/strong>\u2014 <em>display<\/em> hardware, even, since you\u2019ll be routing your video cables through it\u2014 the amount you spend will have a meaningful impact on features, including supported resolution and refresh rate for your display.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Your 4K 144 Hz monitor is unlikely to be done much justice by a $70 KVM, for example. <\/strong>More on that a bit later.<\/p>\n<p><strong>There are other limitations to KVMs, too\u2014 especially in the budget (Under $70) ranges.<\/strong> For example, many budget KVMs only have USB 1.0 ports that increase input lag when used with multiple PCs.<\/p>\n<p>KVMs that step up to USB 2.0 should alleviate this issue, but the fact this issue exists at all with a piece of dedicated hardware you\u2019re expected to pay for can be a little frustrating.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, high-end KVMs with support for modern display and connect standards exist, too...but they\u2019re considerably expensive for what you\u2019ll be doing with them. <strong>A high-end KVM can easily reach or exceed a $300 asking price! <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ll work pretty well at that price range, especially if you\u2019re using <em>3<\/em> or more PCs with your single monitor, or want to use more than one monitor for this setup.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_3_Control_The_Other_PCs_Remotely\"><\/span>Method 3: Control The Other PCs Remotely<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Last but certainly not least, let\u2019s talk about one of the more modern solutions that comes with a <em>few<\/em> fundamental compromises but will definitely save you money and headache compared to Methods 1 and 2. <strong>You could always just control your secondary PC(s) remotely!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are <strong>some caveats<\/strong> to this method, though, before you get too excited.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Firstly, your options for Remote Desktop software are going to be fairly limited if you\u2019re trying to use this method with a PC that doesn\u2019t already have a built-in screen<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re following this guide to do something like access your laptop from your desk PC, this method will work well with whatever free Remote Desktop software (Chrome Remote Desktop, TeamViewer, Windows Remote Desktop (RDP) etc.) strikes your fancy.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23329\" style=\"width: 1896px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23329\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-23329 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/TeamViewer-Remote-Desktop.jpg\" alt=\"TeamViewer Remote Desktop\" width=\"1896\" height=\"879\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/TeamViewer-Remote-Desktop.jpg 1896w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/TeamViewer-Remote-Desktop-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/TeamViewer-Remote-Desktop-1024x475.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/TeamViewer-Remote-Desktop-768x356.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/TeamViewer-Remote-Desktop-1536x712.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1896px) 100vw, 1896px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23329\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-23329 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201896%20879%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"TeamViewer Remote Desktop\" width=\"1896\" height=\"879\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201896%20879%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1896w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1896px) 100vw, 1896px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/TeamViewer-Remote-Desktop.jpg 1896w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/TeamViewer-Remote-Desktop-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/TeamViewer-Remote-Desktop-1024x475.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/TeamViewer-Remote-Desktop-768x356.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/TeamViewer-Remote-Desktop-1536x712.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/TeamViewer-Remote-Desktop.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-23329\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamviewer.com\/apac\/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=restofasia%7Cb%7Cpr%7C22%7Cjun%7Ctv-core-download-sn%7Cnew%7Ct0%7C0&amp;utm_content=Download&amp;utm_term=teamviewer+download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Teamviewer<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>If you want to control a remote <em>desktop<\/em> PC that <em>doesn\u2019t<\/em> have a monitor plugged into it, there are still solutions<\/strong> though.<\/p>\n<p>For example, Windows\u2019 built-in Remote Desktop software will likely be your best bet for streaming one desktop to another in this context, especially if you don\u2019t have a monitor to plug into it.<\/p>\n<p>This <strong>\u201cheadless\u201d<\/strong> solution does still have some compromises, though\u2014 anything requiring video decoding, like media consumption or video rendering, isn\u2019t going to work very well.<\/p>\n<p><strong>For the <em>best<\/em> results with streaming a \u201cheadless\u201d remote desktop to your active workstation, I recommend considering a <\/strong><a class=\"thirstylink\" title=\"DTech HDMI Dummy Plug 4K Display Emulator Compatible with Windows Mac OSX Linux (fit-Headless, 3 Pack)\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/dtech-hdmi-dummy-plug-4k-display-emulator-compatible-with-windows-mac-osx-linux-fit-headless-3-pack\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener noreferrer\"><strong>\u201cDummy\u201d HDMI Adapter<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23330\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23330\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23330\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/HDMI-Dummy-Plug.jpg\" alt=\"HDMI Dummy Plug\" width=\"1200\" height=\"711\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/HDMI-Dummy-Plug.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/HDMI-Dummy-Plug-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/HDMI-Dummy-Plug-1024x607.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/HDMI-Dummy-Plug-768x455.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (max-width: 960px) 60vw, 707px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23330\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-23330 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20711%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"HDMI Dummy Plug\" width=\"1200\" height=\"711\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20711%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 100vw, (max-width: 960px) 60vw, 707px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/HDMI-Dummy-Plug.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/HDMI-Dummy-Plug-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/HDMI-Dummy-Plug-1024x607.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/HDMI-Dummy-Plug-768x455.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/07\/HDMI-Dummy-Plug.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-23330\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aliexpress.com\/item\/1005004354714251.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Aliexpress<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>These devices make sure that your PC is still rendering a full graphical desktop even if a PC isn\u2019t plugged in, making it easy to use pretty much whatever Remote Desktop software you want.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, remote desktop software relies heavily on your LAN \/ Wifi or Internet connection, and you'll likely have high latency and low quality &amp; compressed resolutions unless you're running this over a stable gigabit+ cable connection. This solution is great for office or general productivity work or simply browsing the internet. As soon as you want to play games or watch a movie, though, it becomes sub-par in most cases.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_a_KVM_Switch_Support_4K_Monitors\"><\/span>Does a KVM Switch Support 4K Monitors?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Yes<\/strong>, though if you\u2019re buying a cheaper KVM, you likely won\u2019t have support for high refresh rates, 10-bit color, HDR, etc.<\/p>\n<p>Be sure to double-check the specifications of the KVM you\u2019re getting if you\u2019re planning to use a high-end display with it.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_a_KVM_Switch_Support_144_Hz\"><\/span>Does a KVM Switch Support 144 Hz?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>This feature is only present on higher-end KVMs<\/strong>, but yes!<\/p>\n<p>A high-end KVM Switch will be capable of handling 144 Hz displays.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_The_Best_Monitors_For_a_Dual-PC_Setup\"><\/span>What Are The Best Monitors For a Dual-PC Setup?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Well, that\u2019s going to depend on you. Maybe you already have a monitor in mind for your dual PC setup.<\/p>\n<p>However, I am going to leave you with a few recommendations, just in case they\u2019re needed:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Consider a 27-Inch+ Monitor if you\u2019re going to be controlling 2+ PCs with a single display.<\/strong> Maximizing the screen real estate available to you on all your PCs, even if the secondary PC(s) aren\u2019t particularly high-end, can do wonders for your workflow.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Consider <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/monitor-brands-guide\/\"><strong>high-end monitor brands<\/strong><\/a><strong> like Eizo, BenQ, and LG if you\u2019ll be buying a new monitor for this workflow.<\/strong> These manufacturers all provide high-accuracy, Wide Color Gamut monitors that should come in handy for whatever intense projects you\u2019re getting up to.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Over_to_You\"><\/span>Over to You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>And that\u2019s it!<\/p>\n<p><strong>I hope this article helped break down how to use one monitor with two or more PCs for your convenience.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Me personally, I\u2019m fine with the barebones Method #1, since I have a simple USB hub that I can plug my mouse and keyboard into and easily switch between my (Docked) Steam Deck and my Desktop PC.<\/p>\n<p>Even the best KVM Switches require at least a few seconds to switch between PCs, so I\u2019m not really losing much time comparatively without one.<\/p>\n<p>However, if I were hoping to connect more than 2 PCs to my single monitor, or wanted to use PCs that aren\u2019t even in the same room as my monitor, I probably wouldn\u2019t settle for the barebones Method #1. What about you?<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Feel free to leave a <a href=\"#comments\">comment<\/a> below and let me know which of these methods you\u2019ll be using, and of course, if you happen to need any help getting one of them set up! I or another member of the G100 Team will be happy to help you. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>You can also try our <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/forum\/\">Forums<\/a> for a larger community of enthusiasts, even if you aren\u2019t looking for help with a particular tech topic.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Until we see each other again, happy computing!<\/strong> And good luck with whatever workloads you\u2019re dealing with that brought you here. That Dual PC life isn\u2019t for everybody.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ever wondered how to use one monitor with two or more computers, and what the best methods available to you for achieving that goal are? Stick around and I\u2019ll walk you through everything you need to know in this guide! By the end, you\u2019ll know all you need to know about pulling off this little...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2339,"featured_media":23321,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[112,209],"tags":[141,122],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23320"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2339"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23320"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23320\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23411,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23320\/revisions\/23411"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}