Connecting 1 monitor to 2 computers.

[farley99]

Is there and adapter to connect 1 monitor to 2 computers? What is it called?

 

[soaplover]

It's called a 2 port vga/video switch .
You can get it an any PC/data store .

 

[franklin97355]

You can get a two port KVM switch for around $40 that will share the keyboard, monitor and mouse between two computers.

 

[edfair]

There are also mechanical switches that do an A/B function. This may be what Soaplover is referring to. I've found that they generally work well at the beginning but eventually have corrosion problems that cause the solution become unreliable.

The KVM would normally be the way to go, since they keep signals on those parts that need signals to make the OS happy. But they are more expensive, and you have to buy cables in most cases. And since they are generally powered off the keyboard connector if you only want to switch video you have to buy a power supply too.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[soaplover]

I didn't mean mechanical ones ,they are electronic switches. And thats wat they are calld in shops .
To port are all needed (that meaning 2 pc's inkluding ports for keyboard and mouse)
Have ypu seen any of this supporting usb/keyboad Usb/mouse
if not one needs some usb-ps2 adapers also.

 

[peterocc]

Franklin and edfair were right. What you are looking for is called a KVM (or Keyboard Video Mouse) switch. and Yes, they do support USB KB & Mice.

Hope this helps!

Peter

 

[jrbarnett]

Hi,

Farley99 only asked about monitor switches, not input devices as well. It is worth remembering that many modern monitors may have both DVI and VGA inputs (or two of one type) and can be switched between them fairly easily.
This may suffice for his needs.

John

 

[franklin97355]

Here's an example but I've seen less expensive ones.

http://www.kvm-switches-online.com/gcs62.html

 

[soaplover]

I think fearly99 needs to come back
and specify excatly the functionality he/she is after.
.........

 

[nlm9802]

some do support USB, some don't. I bought the 2 port Linksys KVM off buy.com for 35$ 2 sets of cables were included in the box. It does not support usb, but I use wireless ps2 anyways. here's a link for it

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10333399&mp=84&loc=101