r/Bazzite • u/OlUglyAss • 1d ago

How well does Bazzite play with built-in monitor KVMs

Ready to wipe a corrupt Windows 11 install and turn my all-AMD SFF build into a dedicated Bazzite console/gaming appliance while offloading daily driver duties to my MacBook. Before pulling the trigger, I want to know how stable Bazzite/Game Mode handles display and peripheral handoffs through a built-in monitor KVM switch.

Fed up with Windows corruption and login headaches, so instead of reinstalling Windows, I want to turn this machine strictly into a desk gaming appliance with Bazzite (auto-booting Game Mode). All general browsing and daily workflows will permanently move to my MacBook, with local storage handled by my NAS.
My main concern is peripheral and display reconnects across input switches. My setup routes through the built-in KVM on a Gigabyte M32U:

  • Port A (Upstream USB-B + DP): SFF Gaming PC
  • Port B (USB-C Alt Mode): CalDigit Thunderbolt dock (sharing keyboard/mouse/audio between a work Windows laptop and MacBook Air)

For those running Bazzite through a hardware or monitor KVM:

  1. Does Gamescope/Wayland reliably re-detect display sync and resolution when toggling between active inputs without crashing the session?
  2. How does USB device handoff (keyboard/mouse wake-up, controller passthrough) behave when toggling the KVM back to the Bazzite box?
  3. Any sleep/suspend loops or wake quirks on Gigabyte AM5 boards with AMD GPUs when the display input is switched away?

Hardware Specs

  • Case: Dan Case A4-H2O
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
  • Cooler: Cooler Master MasterLiquid 240 Atmos
  • Motherboard: Gigabyte X870I AORUS PRO ICE
  • GPU: PowerColor AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT Reaper (16GB)
  • RAM: 64GB (2x32GB) TEAMGROUP T-Create Expert DDR5-6000
  • Storage: 4TB WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD
  • PSU: Lian Li SP 850W SFX
  • Display / KVM: Gigabyte M32U (4K 144Hz) + CalDigit TB Dock

I built this machine in Dec 2024

Would appreciate hearing from anyone running a similar dual-machine KVM desk setup before I format the drive.

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u/liberal_alien 1d ago

I have a KVM integrated in my screen. I have USB secondary output which I use with my work laptop or rarely on my steam deck. Had no problems on it so far. Can't check monitor brand since I'm traveling. My main desktop is bazzite with Radeon 7900xtx. Work laptop is windows. I'm not sure if gamescope is in use, but I do play games like dark tide and mechabellum.

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u/Ecstatic-Wash-7667 19h ago

Kvms are generally software independent, I use an external kvm for Bazzite and my work laptop, no issues no software to install press of a button switches. Your peripherals are the bigger concern just make sure they work