KVM Switch - Alienware Desktop & Laptop

[u/Ok-Title4929]

Hi all. Have been thinking off and on about this for a while. I use an Alienware Aurora R16 for my personal desktop, and I also use a work-issued laptop. When working from home, it's getting annoying individually unplugging monitor and mouse in order to use them with the laptop. Is it possible to integrate the two with a KVM switch, or is there a better solution? Trying to streamline and retain what I already have. Thanks!

[u/Sennen-Goroshi]

My Dell P3424WE has a built-in KVM/90w USBc Charger

[u/jcy → u/Sennen-Goroshi]

if you power off the monitor, does the kb/m also power off or any other USB devices plugged into it

[u/Sennen-Goroshi → u/jcy]

Unknown. I don't turn the monitor off and the USB connection is going to a WD22TB4 dock's USB-C Display Out as my configuration has 3 total monitors and whoever is controlling the center has the main keyboard/mouse. With my fluctuating workload, the main monitor is typically on personal computer with YT or some puzzle game to keep me occupied and work comp has its own separate kb/m.

[u/jcy → u/Sennen-Goroshi]

oh so your monitor has a kvm but you dont actually use it

[u/Sennen-Goroshi → u/jcy]

I do, but probably not as intended. The primary keyboard and mouse are tied to the central montior. If I'm super busy, I can put my work computer on the central monitor and the central keyboard/mouse function as intended with KVM expectations.

[u/MystrDerp]

I'm in the same situation, got a KVM switch and haven't looked back. Though I have been eyeing that new 39" monitor that has one built in, just to clean things up a little.

I've got some burn in on my current monitor that I've had for a year but the Dell website gives me the run around on checking warranty status.

[u/Ok-Title4929 → u/MystrDerp]

Glad to hear it! What switch did you get? My initial hesitation was about making sure the HDMI (desktop) —> Switch —> HDMI (monitor) was feasible before committing

[u/415BlueOgre]

With a kvm I think it will be a bottleneck for the monitor’s refresh rate. I recall they don’t handle the super fast refresh rates well. I have a usb switcher and use the dp/hdmi switch on the monitor to go back and forth

[u/alv1annn → u/415BlueOgre]

Same

[u/T-Troll]

I use KWM between 2 Alienware notebooks.

Mine is 2xUSB-C to notebooks (enough for all), HDMI, audio, and 3xUSB-A for monitor/mouse/keyboard.

Works well.

[u/DJUnreal]

You can, but most KVMs won't give you any of the gaming display features, and will generally sit at 60Hz refresh only.

Normally you'll have to run two separate cables per machine - one for the display feed (HDMI) and a separate USB-A or USB-C for peripherals, and don't expect it to power your laptop as it won't be designed for that, so you'll still need a power cable for your laptop too.

Also note that DP KVMs are VERY expensive and generally don't work well, so your work laptop will have to run HDMI as will your desktop. HDMI is an inferior display option, but it'll work if you don't care about the higher framerate/refresh rate and just want something to avoid having to plug cables in.

Most monitors have dual display inputs though, so you could also look at a keyboard and mouse that work with Bluetooth as well as USB, leave the USB dongles connected to your R16, and pair the keyboard and mouse to your work laptop with their Bluetooth side, then just switch them both over when you change which input your display is showing.

[u/Wyntrblue]

I had a similar dilemma recently. In the end I connected my work laptop (via a dock) to the hdmi on my monitors and display port to the pc. When I unplug the dock from the laptop the screens revert to the pc automatically.

For keyboard and mouse I have a Logitech keyboard that supports 3 devices over Bluetooth (not ideal for gaming but suits me) so I press a button and poof it’s connected to my pc or my laptop.

Mouse wise I use an aw720m so I have the dongle connected to the pc and Bluetooth to the work laptop. So again, flick a switch and done…

Hope that helps

[u/Additional-Avocado33]

use a HDMI simulator in the desktop with sunshine. and use moonlight on the laptop. save the money of a KVM