Hey everyone! I'm looking to upgrade my team's ancient KVM switches, which still use DVI connections, while all of our PCs and monitors now support DisplayPort or HDMI. I'm hoping to find options that are within a budget of $150 each. The features I'm looking for include: it should wake up both the PC and the monitor when I move the mouse or type, it shouldn't auto-switch inputs just because something's disconnected, it needs to support at least 4 computers, and it should have HDMI or DisplayPort for input/output. What models do you recommend?
4 Answers
Personally, I prefer having each PC with its own monitor and using software like Mouse without Borders. This way, I can see all my PCs at once, and switching is as easy as moving my mouse over to the desired computer. It's a great alternative if space allows!
You might struggle to find something in that price range that supports HDMI/DP. I used to set up cheaper StarTech KVMs at client locations, and while they worked fine for years, they had a tendency to fail at the worst times. Just be cautious with those if you go that route!
I've been using the Level1Techs DisplayPort 1.4 KVM for a couple of years now, and it handles 2 machines and 3 monitors perfectly. It meets all your criteria, and they actually offer a model that can manage 4 computers as well. It's a bit pricey but super reliable!
Level1Techs definitely makes some solid KVM switches designed for modern inputs. Just a heads up, it might be tricky to find one for 4 computers that fits your budget, but they are worth checking out!
I used to have a setup with a USB hub and 5 monitors, but when space got tight, I downsized to just 1 monitor. It can make things a bit more complicated, but it saves a lot of desk space!