![]() For the least hassle, you'll want to choose a KVM that works natively with the video outputs of all connected PCs (assuming they all support one in common!) to avoid having to deal with clumsy adapters. Most newer computers and monitors connect via HDMI for superior sound and image quality. They all use HDMI cables (instead of VGA or DisplayPort, although you can definitely find KVM switches that use those). The Best Docking Stations for Windows Laptops in 2023Įach here works with one monitor (see below for some dual-monitor suggestions) and allows you to switch among two or four PCs using one set of peripherals. Some, as you'll see, feature the strange, made-up-sounding names of generic low-cost tech that's common on Amazon and other big online retailers. Some of them are familiar, while many others are reboxed and rebranded imports sold on large etailers' sites. Start shopping for a KVM switch, and you will see a staggering number available online from a variety of brands. Our Test KVM Switches: What We Chose, How We Set Them Up Where will you put the KVM box? How long do the cables need to be to keep your space de-cluttered? Will you be able to press a button on the KVM to switch PCs, or do you need a remote? If you need a remote, do you want a wireless one, or will a wired unit do (connected to the KVM switch by a cable)? To help walk you through it, we tested six basic KVMs for ease of use and setup. Once you've assessed ports and peripherals, consider your home setup. This two-PC-capable KVM switch uses HDMI for the connection to the primary monitor's input, as well as to the outputs from your connected systems. Most KVMs come with the required cables for a "most common" installation scheme, but you want to make sure, especially in the case of the display cables, that you can plug them in to your PCs without the need for awkward converters or having to buy adapter cables with different ends. These typically won't have a VGA video output or, sometimes, even a USB Type-A port. Port matching is also a primary concern if one or more of your PCs is a thin laptop. Gaming monitors these days, meanwhile, often run at refresh rates above 60Hz, and you'll likely want to direct-connect one of those rather than run it through a basic KVM. For most folks, that will be 1080p (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) at 60Hz, but if you have a 4K (3,840 by 2,160) or 1440p (2,560 by 1,440) monitor, you will want to look for specific support for that resolution. You'll also want to make sure the KVM supports at least the native resolution of the display at the refresh rate you'll run at. (These days, that's usually HDMI or DisplayPort.) It's best to get a KVM that matches one of the native inputs on your panel. The biggest matchup to make is between the KVM's video output and that of your monitor or monitors. Different KVMs work with different cables (HDMI, VGA, DisplayPort, USB-A, USB-C, and so on). ![]() Next, check what ports your computers have. You may also want to hook up a direct-connected printer, webcam, speakers, or external microphone (for all the streamers and podcasters out there). Most mainstream KVM switches support between two to four computers, one to three monitors, and two to four peripherals. ![]() The first step to finding the right KVM switch is taking inventory of what you'll use it with: specifically, the number of computers, monitors, and additional peripherals, such as a keyboard and mouse. What Should I Look for When Buying a KVM Switch? KVMs are venerable tech, but once you start shopping, you'll see a fair bit of nuance around them. If this kind of teleportation magic sounds like something your home setup needs, here’s a guide to finding the right KVM switch for you. Now you’re on that computer, until you are ready to switch back again. (Maybe that's your gaming desktop, or a personal laptop.) Just push a button on the KVM switch, and you’ll instantly see the other computer on the same desktop monitor you were just using, and you can control it from the same set of input devices. Imagine you’re using your work desktop, and you want to switch over to another computer for a lunch break. In the simplest terms, a KVM is a hardware hub of sorts, with switching smarts. But with a KVM switch (the KVM short for “keyboard, video, mouse”), you can leave those bothers behind and save time, space, and money. Most of us begrudgingly accept that switching between or among several computers requires some amount of cable swapping, moving devices around, or other general awkwardness.
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