LINDY 2 Port Manual 4K DisplayPort Switch, 11x6.8x2.7cm, 38411

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This makes setup easier, and in the long run it should reduce the chance of a loose or accidentally detached connection that impedes audio or visual quality or breaks the switching scheme.

They're definitely not cheaper than the basic KVMs here, but some high-end "docking"/collaboration monitors have baked-in KVM functionality, for example the HP E24d G4 and the Dell UltraSharp 34 Curved USB-C Monitor. By default, the USB-C-connected computer has precedence, but you can easily switch to the other by changing a menu setting in the onscreen display (OSD). 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. PCMag is obsessed with culture and tech, offering smart, spirited coverage of the products and innovations that shape our connected lives and the digital trends that keep us talking. The only difference was the brand name on the package (and the fact that it supports four PCs instead of two).

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! If you've ever found yourself switching between two computing devices, such as a home desktop and a work-issued laptop, then you've probably felt the pain of jumping back and forth between two keyboards and two different screens. 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)? After you add in four peripherals cords and a monitor, this little box could have up to nine cords jutting out on both sides for you to wrangle.

If you're looking for a four-PC-capable KVM switch and choosing between this one and the Tcnewcl, the biggest difference is that this one has four USB ports for peripherals instead of the Tcnewcl's three. If you want to share an external hard drive between two computers for backing up or transferring data, a USB KVM switch can help with that too, though you'll often need to plug either the drive or the switch into a power source. To test the audio and video quality, we played a 4K HD movie (our old testing stalwart, Tears of Steel) on each PC through each KVM switch in turn to our Viotek monitor. The Ablewe HDMI USB KVM switch, which shares a monitor and two USB peripherals, supports 4K display at 60Hz, 4K at 30HZ, 3D, and 1080p, as well as lower resolutions. This KVM is also incredibly light, like the Dgodrt, which tends to suggest cheap construction, rather than a beneficial feature.But you get what you pay for, and if these details don't bother you, it's a high-performing basic four-PC option that includes a wired remote. That might create some clutter in your work area, especially factoring in the two input cables per computer (HDMI, USB-B). The other end of that same cord breaks into two parts to plug into the PC: an HDMI for the PC's video-out, with an additional USB cord attached. com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. As one of the world’s leading suppliers of cables, converters and adapters you’re sure to find everything you need here at Lindy Electronics.

In addition, our audio and video department features top-quality supplies for your home cinema system.

But with a KVM switch (the KVM short for “keyboard, video, mouse”), you can leave those bothers behind and save time, space, and money. The included computer-to-KVM cords are multi-headed, with an HDMI on one side that plugs into the KVM. KVM software could be worth a try, especially if the package you are looking at is free or offers a free trial, but the simplicity of the hardware KVM remains tough to beat.