Question KVM switch or something else?

[z1ggy]

I do see a fellow poster has a similar question to what I'm going to ask, but I don't want to hijack his thread and also I think my needs are slightly different.

Simple request, like most: Use one kb and mouse to control 2 computers.

Computer 1: Work laptop. 2xUSB 2.0 (these are used for combo headset/mic & wireless mouse), 1x mini DP output
Computer 2: Home PC. Many USB ports of 2.0 & 3.0 type, 1xDP, uses wired kb & wired mouse

I'd ideally like to use the nice mechanical kb I have along with my wired desktop mouse to switch between use of work laptop and home PC. However, I am a bit lost because if a regular 2xUSB switch ends up combining my mouse and kb inputs... won't that end up getting screwy on at least one of the machines? Furthermore, I'm running different resolutions on each computer; laptop is something like 1920x1080 (maybe even 1600 x 1024, idk) and desktop is 2560x1440. I've read bad things about cheaper KVM's being used on with different resolutions.

Am I going to end up needing to do something wacky or am I better off just buying a standalone wireless kb/mouse combo for the laptop and then get a switch to just go back and forth between video inputs to the monitor?

 

[_Rick_]

Late, but: USB is a serial bus and can branch fairly trivially - if the bandwidth on the host port is sufficient, then a KVM + USB hub can easily support dozens of devices.
It's only once high-bandwidth devices (cameras, audio, storage, video, network) enter into the mix, that you need to look closer at how the ports are being routed.
If you find a USB 3.1 10Gbit port, any number of devices (excluding non nvme-ssds) will be able to connect to that.
You'll just have to deal with each side's OS detecting logic pinging you for each new device detected, each time you switch over.

Also: If this is a regular use case, I'd recommend looking into monitors with integrated KVMs. Monitor inputs are unlikely to be KVM-able for cheap in the near future, with the obscene bandwidths of DP and HDMI 2.1, but binding monitor inputs to usb inputs is easily setup - and then you just need to press a single switch on your monitor to switch between machines.