KVM Options

[Mani_Daryabeigy]

Hello everyone!

I’m planning to set up my workspace and need some advice regarding KVM switches, particularly from Level1Tech. Here’s the setup I’m aiming for:

My hardware:

• 1 Gaming PC (NVIDIA RTX 4090 GPU)

• 1 MacBook Air M3

• 3 Monitors:

  • Alienware AW3423DW (1440p, 175Hz. HDR, Link)
  • Acer XR341CK (1440p, 75Hz, Link)
  • Samsung LS32B30 (1080p, 75Hz, Link

• KVM switch: A KVM that supports DisplayPort 1.4 and can handle these three monitors plus USB peripherals.

My Ultimate Goal

I’m planning to move to the Apple ecosystem and use Macbook air for my day-to-day computing tasks and use the PC purely for gaming or any CPU-intensive tasks.

My Questions

1. KVM Selection: I’m looking into the KVM options from Level1Tech, but I’m not sure which model would suit my needs. Which one would you recommend for managing this setup?

2. MacBook Air M3 with 3 Monitors: I know the MacBook Air M3 doesn’t support three monitors out of the box. Are there any good workarounds, like docking stations or adapters, that could enable this? Or should I consider scaling back my setup to two monitors for the Mac?

3. Alternative Setup: If the 3-monitor setup for the Mac is too complicated or not possible, I’m considering a fallback option:

• Use 3 monitors on the Gaming PC (2 through the KVM, 1 directly connected).
• Use 2 monitors on the MacBook (through the KVM).
• Connect the Samsung LS32B30 directly to the PC and exclude it from the KVM for the Mac. Would this be a more straightforward approach, and would the KVM handle the switching seamlessly in this scenario?

4. Software Solution: Is there a reliable software-based solution that would allow one of the machines to be directly connected to the monitors while accessing the other machine via a remote desktop connection? Ideally, it would support 1440p 175Hz HDR over a 1 Gigabit LAN. This might help simplify my setup by reducing the reliance on physical KVM switching.

I’m open to suggestions, and I appreciate any advice on which Level1Tech KVM model to go with and how best to optimize this dual-PC, multi-monitor setup!

I believe I should use one of these two:
Combo USB-C Power Delivery & DisplayPort 1.4 KVM - Triple Monitor — Level1Techs Store
1.4 Display Port KVM Switch - Triple Monitor - Two Computer — Level1Techs Store

Thanks in advance!

[Level1_Amber]

Option 1

@Mani_Daryabeigy

MacBook Air M3 with 3 Monitors: I know the MacBook Air M3 doesn’t support three monitors out of the box. Are there any good workarounds, like docking stations or adapters, that could enable this? Or should I consider scaling back my setup to two monitors for the Mac?

I would encourage you to read this article to decide if this is something up your alley:

How to connect two or more external displays to an Apple Silicon M1 Mac

Something important to note is that all of these solutions are, for a lack of better word fickle. You could get it working through software and Apple pushes an OS update that breaks your setup, for instance. It can also be expensive…

One option for a dock might be this one:

Amazon.com: ALOGIC Triple 4K Display Universal Docking Station DX3 with 100W...

Then, you can charge the MAC and buy the 1.4 Display Port KVM Switch - Triple Monitor - Two Computer to use with the 3x DisplayPort out.

Option 2

@Mani_Daryabeigy

1. Alternative Setup: If the 3-monitor setup for the Mac is too complicated or not possible, I’m considering a fallback option:

• Use 3 monitors on the Gaming PC (2 through the KVM, 1 directly connected).
• Use 2 monitors on the MacBook (through the KVM).
• Connect the Samsung LS32B30 directly to the PC and exclude it from the KVM for the Mac. Would this be a more straightforward approach, and would the KVM handle the switching seamlessly in this scenario?

^ This would be totally fine. If you do this, I would probably get the Combo USB-C Power Delivery & DisplayPort 1.4 KVM - Dual Monitor instead. Does your PC have a thunderbolt USBC out?