I just watched the LTT review of the L1KVM and it reminded me of a rabbit hole I went down related to multiviewers (multiple input sources to one output). The short story is that I would love to get a 32:9 monitor and have it presented to the OS as 3 individual monitors.
The long story is that I have 3x27" monitors. I find this to actually be a bit too large, so I was planning on getting a 49" 32:9 ultrawide. I started trying out programs for virtual monitors, but they all seem to be glorified window snapping tools. I always find software that breaks them such as screen sharing (webex), full screen gaming, and some CAD programs I use. I think the root issue is that the OS (windows in my case) still sees one large display. I don’t see much in the way of a software solution outside of Nvidia creating an inverse surround mode.
Looking at hardware solutions landed me on multi-viewers. There seems to be very little middle ground in this market. They are either cheap amazon junk that can only do 1080P, or broadcast level equipment that cost more than my car. Ideally I’d like something that can combine 3 sources into 5120x1440@144Hz. I think combining this with the KVM would be awesome. I could use 3 monitors for my work computer, then switch to my home computer and use it as one ultrawide.
is there a difference between this and a picture-by-picture from a monitor or a dedicated switch with PiP/PbP?
I was told that it’d be hard to find something like that for cheap
in here, and I didn’t have much luck myself when I looked for “Picture by Picture switch”.
After searching for “multi-viewer”, I found many affordable options.
I have seen some PbP switches, but they are rather limited. Most only do 1080P with lower refresh rates and they don’t have the ability to split a 32:9 display into three. I’d like something configurable so it could work with different display layouts
Unless I misunderstand, isn’t this builtin to most/all ultrawides?
If I understand you correctly, I’ve been doing this for years.
This multi-input feature is built right into the monitor. The caveat is you need three wires, and you need to pay attention to the inputs (I wish it had more input options) - you’d have to mix HDMI/DisplayPort in the case of the one linked. The monitor’s builtin config menu lets you choose which input gets assigned to what part of the monitor, and how to allocate the “monitors” sizes.
It gets tricky with a KVM setup like I have (active converter/adapters) but I’ve gotten it working flawlessly as three different monitors. I had to shop around to find good displayport/hdmi converters.
TBH I wouldn’t want to use this as a single monitor, it’d be terrible, unless it was for a game specifically designed for ultrawide. (I remember distinctly when I first got this set up, it wouldn’t even work as a single - luckily it forced me to try out this alternate and much better 3 monitor setup. As 3 “monitors” you get window snapping etc. for free, and the center works great for games.)
Linux Mint w/Nvidia 1080. A newer GPU (and maybe distro with a newer kernel?) might be able to switch to single mode. It was many years ago when I tried that out though… probably just this slightly dated GPU can’t support it I guess.
I was aware that each manufacturer has their own tools to do this, but I thought they were also software based. Based on what you are saying that may not be the case. So when you have three cables plugged in your OS sees three ~1706x1440 monitors?
Yep, nothing external needed and definitely no software to install (except for possible converters if your GPU doesn’t have the right outputs), all built in for this particular monitor. I have another Samsung gaming one too (only 1080p ultrawide, for productivity it was too vertically constraining) and I think it has a similar feature, although less useful being smaller. So I assumed this feature was always there.
The ultrawides really need it too, it’s hard (impossible?) to find software that works well with a single ultrawide monitor.
The one I linked above has a setting that divides like this, by using two HDMI in and a displayport in:
1280x1440
2560x1440
1280x1440
It even “lies” to the OS giving each one a unique name, the main “bug” is the displayport connected “monitor” # 1 says it’s 49". (Other than that text no issues, and for all I know it’s a software issue.)
These are the layout options it lets you pick between using menu buttons on the back. #2 and #3 seem a little weird but I guess there’s a use for those somewhere.
My only complaint about it is that it leaves me wanting just a LITTLE more real estate on the side monitors, which I use for browsers, and terminal/conky. But it works fine even for a browser. That graphic makes them look narrower than they really are. In reality the side monitors are almost square shaped.
TLDR: this is basically the same as having three separate monitors, all jammed together with no dividing bezels.
