When purchasing a monitor, whether for gaming or working, you can find a large number of models on the market to satisfy all needs, from the most basic to the most demanding. Most monitors have multiple video input ports, and I’m sure many of you are wondering if you can use both inputs at the same time with the same PC… well, we’ll answer that question below.
Most monitors focused on office application use include a HDMI port. Others, in addition, also a VGA port (a disused port that some manufacturers continue to rely on).
Where there are a greater number of connectivity options is in monitors aimed at gaming users. These monitors typically include one or two HDMI ports, one or two DisplayPort ports and some even continue to use the DVI port.
Many users don’t quite understand why some manufacturers offer so many connectivity options on their monitors when they will actually only use one. This is true in most cases, but it is not always the case.
Connect a monitor to two PCs
When we want to use monitor, keyboard and mouse with different PC, many users buy one KVM (Keyboard, Video and Mouse) to which all peripherals are connected, including the monitor
With a simple button, the user can use the monitor, keyboard and mouse with another PC without having to disconnect and connect anything. While it is true that this is a great method for using the same devices with multiple PCs, it is not the best option for all users.
Some users want to use the same monitor, but with different keyboards and mice. This is where it makes sense for a monitor to have multiple video inputs. This allows multiple PCs to be connected to a single monitor.
Manufacturers that include various connectivity options allow users to select which one input type You still need to show the PC through the setup menus.
Others, like the Philips line of professional monitors, include a dedicated button to switch between different video inputs quickly. This maker also allows using a keyboard shortcut to switch between different input sources without having to let go of the keyboard.
To switch between the different video inputs that a monitor may have, it is not necessary to turn it off. It is also not necessary turn off the PC. If the monitor indicates that it has an available video input, it will automatically display it.
Some monitors, like the Philips ones I mentioned as an example, are even designed to include the function provided by KVM. This feature is particularly useful when the space available for multiple computers does not allow for more than one monitor.
PC towers do not pose a problem since they are generally placed on the floor, without taking up space on the table. Monitors that include more than one video input are not more expensive than traditional monitors and the reason is that depending on the graphics card, the HDMI port is limited in the number of FPS it is capable of displaying.
