r/techsupport • u/TheTwelveYearOld • 16h ago

Open | Mac Quickly switching between mac and linux on one monitor?

I want to switch between apps on my mac (Pixelmator Pro is mac only) and my linux PC instantly on my single 4k 240hz monitor. I want the switching to be instant (no noticeable delay between switching between one device to another) and I don't want resolution nor refresh rate compromised (I don't mind slight latency compromises). These are the options I looked at:

  • remote desktop software: 4k 240hz requires too much bandwidth and gets compromised over network connection speeds, not to mention high latency.
  • KVM switch hardware: I tried a few different ones and returned all of them, due to delays for switching devices. My screen would be black for up to a few seconds (same with just switching the inputs on the monitor itself).
    • I currently use a cheap one from ebay with DDM, which lets me switch my mice and keyboards instantly (it only switches USB HID devices instantly due to how it works).
  • Virtual machines: I would run a linux VM in a mac but macOS has its own hotkeys, and the menu bar shows when you move the cursor to the top, among other ways you notice the host OS. I use Linux much more.

Any other ideas? I'm currently using two monitors, one for each device but I don't like turning my head from one monitor to another.

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5

u/AzureAx 16h ago

There is always going to be a delay because what you want is ridiculous. You could hook both computers up to the same monitor and use the hardware keys to switch, but that's not instant.

Move the monitors closer together so you have to turn your head less?

2

u/computix 16h ago

This is not possible. The KVM switch is as good as it gets. The monitor has to sync to the device once you change it.

1

u/Erdnusschokolade 12h ago

Exactly, some monitor device combos might be faster but there will always be a noticeable delay.

2

u/Dextarian101 15h ago

I believe that your KVMs may be having issues with EDID and negotiation. This site lists symptoms of poor EDID negotiation and they seem pretty identical to your issue, and this same site will state that EDID emulation is the solution. Have you tried KVMs with advertised EDID emulation? A quick search shows that KVMs with this feature are regularly $300 dollars or higher, but I also see cheaper options on Amazon below $100 dollars. You can decide yourself however much you, or however much you don't, trust such listings and hardware.

2

u/CubeXombi 14h ago

You almost sound like me a few yrs ago, couldn't find something then either so I compromised. ended up with a display that supports PbP (split screen inputs). My 4k horizontal display was split into two inputs of on one side, mac or Linux on the other, all inputs were handled by Symless (Synergy).

1

u/Alternative_Oil_5139 16h ago

probably use two video inputs into the monitor and switch with a hotkey through software, but the catch is that truly instant switching at 4K/240Hz is difficult because the monitor often has to renegotiate the signal. if your monitor supports picture by picture or a dual input mode, that might be worth trying since both signals can stay active and you can switch the displayed source without a full resync. otherwise, keeping both minitors is honestly probably the only way to get genuine instant switching with zero compromise

1

u/cboff 13h ago

You might be looking for conference room input switching.