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Thread ID: 115299	2011-01-12 02:21:00	Suggest ways of doing the following please	DeSade (984)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1169047	2011-01-12 11:32:00	I game a lot but I also want other things available while I game. Running the games in window mode is just not gonna happen so thats off the table. I am thinking a good setup would be a KVM for the keyboard mouse and monitors and there comes the first problem. I don't want to set up a whole new desktop for this process but I also do not know if a laptop will fill the bill. The questions I have are Do KVM switches support dual monitors? Can you switch between the systems with a hotkey? Could I use a laptop as the system? Is it possible to keep a laptop running with the screen closed? Can a laptop connect to dual DVI monitors? Are there any issues with leaving a laptop mains powered and powered on for long periods? What I would prefer is a lappy hooked into the KVM running as the 2nd system with the screen closed so I can hide it away easier. I would like to hit the switch (or preferably a hotkey) and it flicks my keyboard, mouse and both monitors to the laptop. See in red	DeSade (984)
1169048	2011-01-12 11:50:00	Ok, well it is possible to keep a laptop running with the screen down, but it might put out a fair bit of heat. Get it a cooling pad and keep an eye on temps, and it should be fine. (and change power settings so that closing the lid does nothing/turns off the screen or something)	8ftmetalhaed (14526)
1169049	2011-01-12 11:59:00	Thanks So it seems a lappy will do the job.	DeSade (984)
1169050	2011-01-12 12:07:00	Well one would assume so. I mean, if you're listening to music it might not work so well with the screen down haha Just rereading the bit of your first post that I missed due to being tired, 1- no problems generally with leaving laptops on over long periods. My only suggestion would be to leave it without the battery in. Just run it off AC. That should also reduce power consumption and heat issues. 2- Dual dvi monitors - not so sure. I know many have HDMI that would probably do with an adapter, not too sure on whether bandwidth is capable of DL DVI resolution. actually, while typing this I figured something - if you used a laptop, how would you connect it to the monitors if the ports are already occupied by your PC	8ftmetalhaed (14526)
1169051	2011-01-12 12:13:00	I believe the idea is the monitors plug into the KVM and are then available for use on either machine. But only one will be switched at any one time. I will keep my main machine running my game for instance and the lappy running say a browser.	DeSade (984)
1169052	2011-01-12 12:17:00	Hmm.. just thinking aswell, it might be an issue finding a KVM that will work with DL DVI. Most I see only work with video and a couple of USB or PS/2 ports. Maybe You'll just have to get a setup that involves two monitors with either one or both hooked up to a second PC where you flick the monitors to the other outputs individually?	8ftmetalhaed (14526)
1169053	2011-01-12 19:55:00	I use 2 PC's myself and I don't use dual screen because I have very little use for it with a 2nd pc available. Expensive perhaps but the most versatile option. I used to try and run things in a dual screen setup but it tended to cause issues and software crashes. On a side note, not all games lock the mouse. Titan quest for example happily runs full screen on the main monitor and allows you to simply move the mouse onto the 2nd monitor and do other things, at least for me it does and by default.	dugimodo (138)
1169054	2011-01-12 20:11:00	KVMs that support DVI will cost more than the older VGA KVMs. Also the hotkey to switch the KVM is sometimes inconvenient to gamers. In my case the Ctrl key (hit twice) will switch machines - and in a lot of games Ctrl is the Fire key, so you can imagine the trouble that causes when gaming. A manually switched KVM may be less trouble. Also beware that KVMs vary according to using PS2 or USB peripherals, with the newer USB options also being dearer. I'm not aware of KVMs that support dual monitors - they probably exist, but will cost the earth.	Paul.Cov (425)
1169055	2011-01-12 20:49:00	Not too concerned about the cost, this type of setup will solve numerous annoying issues for me so its worth it, if it works as I want it too work. Your right about the monitors, only one of them needs to be switchable now I think about it. So that brings up another question, can you flick the monitors at will and still retain all the extended settings etc.	DeSade (984)
1169056	2011-01-12 21:48:00	I'm wondering about that myself to be honest. I would assume as long as it has the monitor connected, then the extended settings would stay but if a KVM switch were to disconnect the monitor from the first PC in order to connect it to the second signal, then it might indeed break the settings. Perhaps go HDMI or VGA to the second system with a KVM switch for just the KV part, if that happens though.	8ftmetalhaed (14526)
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