Kitz Forum
Computers & Hardware => PC Hardware => Topic started by: roseway on January 10, 2015, 06:47:46 PM
-
I want to have two PCs connected to a single monitor via HDMI. There are loads of HDMI switches available, but they all seem to specify TV resolutions only, and I want one which supports at least 1920 x 1080. Can anyone help?
-
Sorry I've only had a quick look and I cant find one either... well not without paying silly money.
Do the PC's have DVI or VGA output. I used to use a 2 port VGA/DVI KVM switch which seem easier to get hold of for PCs.... plus VGA or DVI should be more geared for PC screen resolution rather than HDMI which seems more towards TVs.
-
all i can give you is a link and then see which one fits the bill
http://www.maplin.co.uk/c/home-electricals/home-entertainment/hdmi-switch-boxes (http://www.maplin.co.uk/c/home-electricals/home-entertainment/hdmi-switch-boxes)
-
Does the monitor have multiple inputs, even if a mixture of types, such as VGA/HDMI/DVI?
I've had similar setups and just had one PC on VGA and another on DVI, for example. The only minor problem can be sound if your monitor has built-in speakers that you use as at least one PC will then need its own speakers.
-
I too use a KVM, in fact just this week I've gone from a Belkin 4 port to a D-Link two port which only has a very small remote switch on the desk, all the electronic gubbins are part of the VGA plug and it switches audio and is USB powered. I have not seen any HDMI versions only a DVI only DVI or VGA ones.
Stuart
-
Does the monitor have multiple inputs, even if a mixture of types, such as VGA/HDMI/DVI?
I've had similar setups and just had one PC on VGA and another on DVI, for example. The only minor problem can be sound if your monitor has built-in speakers that you use as at least one PC will then need its own speakers.
The monitor in question has one VGA port and one HDMI. The devices I want to connect are a spare test PC (VGA and DVI), a Raspberry Pi (HDMI) and a Laptop (HDMI). All three are only used periodically, so I can manage by swapping plugs over, but I would very much prefer a switch.
-
The monitor in question has one VGA port and one HDMI. The devices I want to connect are a spare test PC (VGA and DVI), a Raspberry Pi (HDMI) and a Laptop (HDMI).
Ah, so 3 devices, not 2....I want to have two PCs connected to a single monitor via HDMI.
I presume you're aware that you can connect a DVI output to an HDMI input with a suitable cable, but it will be video-only (no sound). Then you could use a 3-way HDMI switch.
My 2-device method mentioned above didn't use a switch, just direct cables to the two monitor inputs.
-
all i can give you is a link and then see which one fits the bill
Thanks, I've spent ages checking every supplier I can trace, but although one or two of the user comments suggest that their particular choice works with PCs at their normal resolutions, I haven't found this in the specifications anywhere.
-
Ah, so 3 devices, not 2
Yes, but one of those can use the VGA port. I only need a 2-way HDMI switch. Only one device will be switched on at a time.
-
What about: http://www.lightinthebox.com/hdmi-switch-3in-1out-1080p-hdmi1-3-with-remote-control_p603971.html
-
I presume you're aware that you can connect a DVI output to an HDMI input with a suitable cable, but it will be video-only (no sound). Then you could use a 3-way HDMI switch.
Yes, I'm aware of that, but the two devices I want to combine only have HDMI outputs, and after using the VGA port for the test PC, the only remaining monitor port is HDMI.
-
What about: http://www.lightinthebox.com/hdmi-switch-3in-1out-1080p-hdmi1-3-with-remote-control_p603971.html
Thanks, but the spec of that device makes no mention of higher resolutions than 1080P.
-
the spec of that device makes no mention of higher resolutions than 1080P.
There are none used by TV. ???
And that's all you want anyway......and I want one which supports at least 1920 x 1080.
-
TBH Im not certain if the normal HDMI switches will work with monitors (dont quote me on that) and I think when it comes to PCs a KVM is supposedly the correct way to go and why I purchased a KVM. I have found a HDMI KVM but youre still talking near £200.
Just throwing ideas into the pot.. how about a (DVI) KVM switch... used with a DVI to HDMI Cable? Would that work?
edited to clarify.
-
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'd failed to realise that 1080P is effectively the resolution I need (1920 x 1080) so the only question is whether an HDMI switch will work with PCs and a monitor. Using a KVM switch would mean getting two HDMI to DVI cables and one DVI to HDMI cable (assuming that both forms exist - I haven't checked). The other option is to buy a new monitor with two HDMI ports and one other, such as this: http://www.ebuyer.com/407355-aoc-i2267fwh-22-ips-monitor-i2267fwh
which would be a neater solution.
-
1080p is the vertical scanning rate, i.e. 1080 lines and progressive scan (no interlacing).
All pretty meaningless unless you also state the scan frequency (e.g. frames per second) and to a lesser extent the horizontal resolution.
But, it depends what the switch is actually doing internally with the signal; it may not matter at all.
-
I couldn't find any switches (at a sane price) to do this when I looked 3-4 years ago.
I bought some generic 4-way switch for £20 or so but it badly distorted the output from the PC (desktop was very blurred @ 1920x1080). Not so noticeable when the PC was outputting actual video rather than a static image but it was still there.
This was on a Dell 27" monitor rather than a TV & 2-way switches we had lying around (you all know how that goes) were just the same. Obviously the monitor was fine without the switch.
-
I had a feeling that was likely to be the case. Thanks again for the advice. I've decided to go for a new monitor with two HDMI inputs.
-
I know I'm probably late to this, but if you're only using HDMI for (non-HDCP) video then you can use HDMI to DVI-D cables (both DVI and HDMI use TMDS for video) meaning you can use DVI switches which are easier to come by. What a DVI switch is unlikely to do is CEC signalling and certainly not HDMI audio.
Stated resolutions are there for a guide only since it's really the pixel clock that's the limiting factor. Any single link DVI switch should be capable of handling video with a pixel clock of up to 165MHz (1080p @ 60Hz pixel clock is 148.5MHz). If it can't then it's unfit for purpose. Dual link DVI switches will support 2 165MHz pixel clock links.
If you could find a suitable monitor and graphics card then you would be able to push 4K Ultra HD @ 13Hz through single link DVI (161Mhz pixel clock), but at 13Hz it wouldn't be most enjoyable experience (it's pretty bad at 30Hz).
-
Thanks, I'll store that for possible future reference.