Struggling to understand KVM Combo cable requirements

KVM Model:

Combo USB-C Power Delivery & DisplayPort 1.4 KVM - Dual Monitor

USB Interface (5-gigabit or 10-gigbit):

5Gb


I am considering getting the above Combo KVM, but I’m struggling to fully understand the cabling diagrams and what’s actually necessary.

My setup is as follows.

2x 1440p 144+hz monitors
1x Mech Keyboard
1x Mouse

Desktop using DP 1.4x2 out and type c in

Laptop with thunderbolt

It isn’t clear to me if all the ports on the KVM need to be populated. Do you need to use a type c to DP cable, or can you just use a single type C cable for power + dp + data between the KVM and laptop?

A picture is worth a thousand words, do any of these help you?

I tried looking at those, but it was unclear to me whether you had to use additional cables, or if the type C PD was enough to cover everything for a laptop with one cable.

If not, is the only one-cable solution to go into a dock, and then go from the dock to the KVM?

Ah gotcha.

So, the KVMs connections are tied together in rows. If you plug the laptop into the bottom USBC port, it does not have a connection to the top DisplayPort port. With just a USBC on the bottom you will get PD, data, and display to 1 monitor. The DP to USBC is required above it to get your 2nd monitor connected. I hope that made sense, let me know I can go further into it or make a video showing it in action :slight_smile:

I see, that answers my question, in that it sounds like the only way to have a 1-cable solution is to use a dock in combination with the KVM. Thanks

Right yes, I should have clarified that is correct.