KVM Switch Setup Help
My mother has started working from home more, and my neice is at the age where she is starting to have more homework.
They have 3 computers, the older family tower, mom's work laptop, nieces laptop. Theyre constantly unhooking printers, a cricuit, and other peripherals.
I decided to suprise them with a triple monitor setup and KVM switch to clean up the home office for Christmas and condense everything. I basically mimicked my setup at home. I have however run into two snags with their setup.
I will be asking questions about this KVM Switch:
I will be asking questions about this dock:
Snag 1: The older tower has two HDMI ports, no hope here of running 3 monitors. The issue is the KVM switch I have accepts 2 displayport inputs and one HDMI. Basically I need to get my HDMI signal from the computer into a display port hole in the KVM switch. This for some reason is really confusing me. Should I put a HDMI to DP dongle at the computer and run a DP cable to the KVM? Does that dongle need to be powered? Alternatively, do I run an HDMI cable close to the KVM switch and run an HDMI to DP dongle there? Would it need powered?
Snag 2: The two laptops do not charge with the dock I bought.
I have been unable to find a dock that does what I need though that will charge. They are USB-n thunderbolt.
The main issue is I can't seem to locate a KVM switch that has 2 display port and 1 HDMI and is also powered to charge the laptop. I find them instead with two HDMI and one display port.
Any help or recommendation on products is greatly appreciated to finish this early Christmas present-
Posted Dec 7, 2025, 4:49 AM UTC