Cheapest easiest way to share a monitor between a laptop and gaming pc

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ccondardo

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May 12, 2013
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I have a macbook pro and a gaming PC. I have 1 monitor I'd like to share (not at the same time) between them. I have this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JVV8XL2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 but for some reason it no longer wants to work.

I don't need something that fancy, but ideally something I can plug two monitor cables into which then goes into the monitor. Then whenever I turn on a computer I can use whichever import is on or connected.

Is there an easy solution? I've got a USB 3.0 hub with all the peripherals connected which I can just plug in based on which computer I'm using, so the monitor is the only component I can't easily switch, unless I swap out the DVI-D in the back of the monitor when switching machines.
 
Solution
J
Probably the cheapest solution would be to connect a short hdmi extender cable (M-F) to the monitor and place the other end on a convenient (easily reachable) place. Then have a hdmi cable (M-M) connected to your desktop PC with the other end placed near the extender female end. Then have the third hdmi cable (M-M) of your desired length which you will use when you need to connect the laptop. I used this solution for switching between PC and PS3 and it worked good. It's also much cheaper then buying another switch.

Example of extender cable:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Premium-Quality-Extension-pjp-electronics®/dp/B00658DD32/
or you can use M-M cable and F-F adapter...
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basroil

basroil

Glorious
Oct 19, 2013
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Why not just use two different inputs for your monitor? Most support at least two! VGA to your mac, DVI for the gaming PC, simple as that (or HDMI for one and DVI for the other, or DP for one and HDMI/DVI for the other, depends on your monitor).

If the monitor doesn't have multiple inputs, you should probably replace it because it's either really old or really bad
 
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ccondardo

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May 12, 2013
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I could try that, however I want both devices running at 1440p. It is a 27" Monoprice which has VGA and DVI. I believe the VGA will not scale up to full size on both devices.
 
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jano152

Reputable
Jul 18, 2014
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4,520
Probably the cheapest solution would be to connect a short hdmi extender cable (M-F) to the monitor and place the other end on a convenient (easily reachable) place. Then have a hdmi cable (M-M) connected to your desktop PC with the other end placed near the extender female end. Then have the third hdmi cable (M-M) of your desired length which you will use when you need to connect the laptop. I used this solution for switching between PC and PS3 and it worked good. It's also much cheaper then buying another switch.

Example of extender cable:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Premium-Quality-Extension-pjp-electronics®/dp/B00658DD32/
or you can use M-M cable and F-F adapter:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hdmi-Extender-Female-Coupler-Adapter/dp/B00B5T1S9W/

The second cheapest alternative would be to buy a very cheap hdmi switch, like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Duronic-HDS3-Switch-output-Switcher/dp/B0020426AG/
or this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-00116015-HDMI-2x1-Switcher/dp/B007M6ND9K/
 
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Solution
C

ccondardo

Honorable
May 12, 2013
30
0
10,530


Simple cheap and easy. Thanks for the idea.
 
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