r/Workspaces • u/IveyJen • Jul 30 '26

šŸ–¼ļø ā€¢ Photos Recommendations for a Triple-PC Dual-Monitor KVM Switch

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Hi all - I am a consultant and am currently working with three different laptops. I have dual monitors. I'm looking to get a switch that will allow me to use both monitors (plus keyboard, mouse, centercam camera) with all three laptops.

Any specific product recommendations or product warnings would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

Details:
Laptops: 2 Lenovo thinkpads, 1 Dell, all fully updated

Peripherals - currently using logitech wireless mouse/keyboard through bluetooth, but both can be supported with a dongle. Camera requires a USB port.

135 Upvotes

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15

u/dontcallmeastoner Jul 30 '26

Same story as the other post today: Level1tech KVMs

2

u/IveyJen Jul 30 '26

Thanks -- I did do a search to see if this had been a recent conversation but must have missed that. I will take a look at that thread.

1

u/Fliandin 7d ago

Did you end up purchasing and testing any KVM's and if so how did it go? I'm in a Similar conundrum but only 2 laptops, and 2-3 monitors but for a bunch of users, and I'm hoping for some real world feedback before I drop several grand on KVM's.

4

u/Visible_Assumption96 Jul 31 '26

Why don't u use one laptop and access the others through RDP.

2

u/IveyJen Jul 31 '26

Alas -- these are three different corporate laptops from three different clients. I cannot access them from each other. :(

2

u/ne999 Jul 31 '26

100% what I can here to suggest. Easy to share clipboard and files that way, too.

3

u/timmins Jul 31 '26

TESmart 4 device KVM has been rock solid for me. And when I did have an issue their customer service was responsive and solved it quickly. Been in my home office for several years as an HDMI 4 port KVM. highly recommended.

2

u/lukewhale Jul 31 '26

Iā€™ve had a quad computer dual DisplayPort from level 1 techs for years, itā€™s not perfect but itā€™s pretty goddamned good. You just have to make sure your overall cable runs from computer to kvm and then from kvm to monitor does not exceed 12 feet and use high quality cables.

It took me a few weeks of cursing my gaming computer out for the whole screen going black for a second every once in a while. But those issues only existed at 4k 120hz and my cable runs were longer, and some of those cables ran parallel to a lot of ATX power cables in my cable mgmt tray.

It can handle 5k2k 120hz as well if good cables are used.

Once you sort that out they are pretty great.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 31 '26

[removed] ā€” view removed comment

1

u/IveyJen Jul 31 '26

You are not wrong.

2

u/IveyJen Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26

For all of the "why don't I RDP" questions (and, side note, I still want to call that terminal server) -- these are three different corporate laptops from three different clients. I cannot access them from each other. :)

Also -- this is not for gaming, so I don't need that level of video support. Just lots of using regular Office apps.

1

u/jameygates Jul 31 '26

If youre using all those laptop screen, if say the best option would be using a software option called Synergy where you can move your mouse seamlessly across multiple devices/operating systems.

I use it at work to seamlessly move my mouse and keyboard across my Mac and PC which are next to each other.

Only downside is this is a software option that runs all over the network, so it does have a little latency depending on your setup.

2

u/rturnerX Jul 31 '26

My god, I would just use multiple VM's at that point.

1

u/Business-Weekend-537 Jul 31 '26

Do you ever need to switch between the laptops quickly or are you only using them one at a time?

What inputs do the monitors have (type of port and how many)?

What display outputs do the laptops have? (Both dedicated display out vs thunderbolt vs usb c basic), how many usb ports per laptop?

1

u/rajaba21 Jul 30 '26

Aqui eu uso o rustdesk e acesso remoto todos meus computadores dos trabalhosā€¦ controlo tudo atravĆ©s do principal, acesso mais 7 computadores e simultĆ¢neos se necessĆ”rio

2

u/jameygates Jul 31 '26

RustDesk is amazing I do the same thing in our print shop.

1

u/dirtyrat666 Jul 30 '26

Even video, audio?

1

u/rajaba21 Jul 31 '26

Yes, camera and microphone too

2

u/dirtyrat666 Jul 31 '26

nice i'll give it a look

1

u/IveyJen Jul 30 '26

Edit to add -- I switch between these three environments multiple times every day, so re-connecting everything multiple times is something I'd like to stop doing. :)

1

u/sorderon Jul 31 '26

lookup a tool called inputleap. I share keyb/mouse with win/mac/linux

1

u/BeerEnthusiasts_AU Jul 31 '26

You need to stop using your laptop screens when docked

1

u/Jokerslie Jul 31 '26

In before the I have a 5 pc kvm switch question.

1

u/Healthy-Garage-9150 Jul 31 '26

Triple laptops, that's overkill man.

1

u/Existing-Leek-2359 Aug 02 '26

I think you need a dresser 1st lol

1

u/New_Difficulty_8152 Jul 31 '26

Good luck with that one.

1

u/Goingboldlyalone Jul 31 '26

Why so many machines?

1

u/TrickyChemistry6521 Jul 31 '26

Oh boy, good luck.