Single monitor 2 comps.

[Oxide]

Well i started my computer just because i was bored, but now that i finished it i really want to use it. But now the problem is i have plenty of monitors (about 5 to be exact) but i have no room on my desk, and no more power adapters for them (god damn singaporean monitors) so now im thinking about haveing two case and one monitor.
1. Is this possible?
2. How would i wire them together?
3. How much will it cost me?

[Arctirus]

What you're looking for is a kvm switch, do a search on newegg or where ever you buy your hardware. I wouldn't use them if you game though, many will limit the capabilities of your monitor. As for me I have a system running with no keyboard, mouse, or monitor. I access via VNC from my primary machine.

[fillip]

Are these crt's or tft's?

If they're tft's and have multiple inputs - e.g. 1 x dvi and 1 x vga, couldn't you just hook one pc to one input and the other comp to the second and then switch between inputs on the monitor depending on which comp' you're using?

If not, then as Arctirus said, kvm switch. The more you pay for one the better it is likely to be (auto switching, usb instead of legacy etc etc...), as with everything in life really.

[jaguarking11]

As a rule of thumb the higher end kvms cope better with higher res images. anything over 800x600 on my cheepo kvm thats mechanical I get a slightly fuzzy image. Its not a problem since I use my kvm as a test center for pc's but for everyday use I use dvi on my lcd.

[Oxide]

*sigh* so it looks like this is gonna cost me quite a bit huh? Damn, if only my parents would let me put my comp in my room i wouldnt have this problem, being 14 sucks. anyways. I'l see what i can find and ill talk to my bro about it, i think he had a kvm switch at one point, thanks for the help

[Da_Rude_Baboon]

Where are you based oxide? I would avoid a belkin KVM if you do buy one. We got one at work and it was utter crap. Belkin sent us out cables with the earth pin removed and all sorts to get it working properly but it never did.

[Risky]

KVM's a lot cheaper than they used to be. I've been using one for years now. Uses USB for keyboard and mouse which is a lot simpler.

In the UK http://www.kvmswitchdirect.co.uk/ have more than can imagine. Even DVI switches are afforadble these days.

[furious trout]

Where are you based oxide? I would avoid a belkin KVM if you do buy one. We got one at work and it was utter crap. Belkin sent us out cables with the earth pin removed and all sorts to get it working properly but it never did.

Using one myself it certainly does suck. We need to reset it every 1/2 hour....:mad:

[Risky]

Mine a Rextron KNV104. No OSD, USB and VGA only. Nothing to go wrong, running for three or four years now.

[Da_Rude_Baboon]

We bought two from CPC, the cheapest they had, and they have worked flawlessly.

[Oxide]

Im located in america, NJ to be exact. I dont want to spend a fortune but i want the thing to actually work

[Jewels]

Pug seems to think that another option for you would be to network them together and just use the second one headless, by way of Remote Access or one of the many flavours of VNC (whatever that means! :wacko: )...

[fivecheebs]

Indeed!

There is even a thread here (http://www.wizdforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1126&highlight=RDP) about it all. Well worth a read.

[fillip]

:duh: Doh, forgot about VNC too.

[Risky]

http://www.kvm-switches-online.com/

What do you need PS2? or USB , DVI or VGA, Audio?

[mrplow]

Mine's a cheap "ebuyer own brand" and it's pretty much excellent. 4 port, was about £30... buttons on the unit or quick swap key-combination on the keyboard. Works flawlessly.

[jaguarking11]

The one I run is a mechanical jobbie and has never failed me. But using it to display main pc's desktop it gets fuzzy when res go up.

[ỒĊBłůē]

I would avoid a belkin KVM if you do buy one. We got one at work and it was utter crap. Belkin sent us out cables with the earth pin removed and all sorts to get it working properly but it never did.

My Belkin KVM has never been a problem. It's only a two-port, no-frills Omniview though.

[Oxide]

Where are you based oxide? I would avoid a belkin KVM if you do buy one. We got one at work and it was utter crap. Belkin sent us out cables with the earth pin removed and all sorts to get it working properly but it never did.

I'm located in america, NJ to be exact.

[Da_Rude_Baboon]

If you were in the UK i could have maybe sent you our one..

[Oxide]

is this the kind of thing i would need to hook up 2 comps to 1 monitor?
http://www.kvms.com/nav/item.asp?item=9926

[furious trout]

yip that'll do it nicely :wiz:

[Oxide]

sweet, ill look for some cheaper stuff and see what i can find

[furious trout]

there's lots of options out there, I'd seriously consider using remote desktop/vnc if it's a machine you don't reboot that often though, then it won't cost you anything :magic:

[Oxide]

well I found a kvm switch in my house, a nice belkin one, looks great. So i hooked everything up and one of the computers works fine and the switch is switching between them fine. But (man there's always a but) The secondary computer wont start up. When i turn it on it continually says "system failed vga test" really loud then does nothing. Whats up?

[Septum]

speaking of kvm switches i have one. the 1 that i have is a belkin one, havent ad a prob with it yet, except for this one lil prop. (that make any sence?) after cleaning and throwing away a bunch of shiznit i made some room to hook up the second pc, anyway now that everything is hooked up i forgot how to toggle between the 2 machines. now for the almost hard part,any of you guys know what keys i have to hit to toggle? the 1 that i have is the 2-portswitch with audio support model #fidl1022p. i tried lookin this up on the net but no luck. LOL maybe i'm just a dumb arse :unsure:

[Oxide]

lol, mine just has 2 buttons on the front lol, kinda easy.

Sidenote: i fixed my vga problem (somehow my graphics card was out of the slot?)