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Using Keyboard & Mouse With 2 Desktops

Joined
Jun 28, 2023
Messages
19 (0.03/day)
System Name GO DAWGS!
Processor Ryzen 5 7600X
Motherboard ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi
Cooling Noctua NH-U12A Chromax.Black
Memory G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO RGB Series (AMD Expo) 32GB DDR5 6000 CL30-38-38-96
Video Card(s) ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Ti (Non OC)
Storage WD_BLACK 2TB SN850X & Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB
Display(s) Alienware 38" Curved Gaming Monitor - AW3821DW
Case Lian Li LancooL 216 Black (Non RGB)
Power Supply Corsair RMX Series (2021), RM750x, 750 Watt, Gold
Software Windows 11 Pro
Sorry if posted in wrong section. I didn't know where to put this. I want to be able to use 1 keyboard and mouse between 2 desktops, but will only use one desktop at a time. Whichever desktop I need to use at a given time, the other will not even be powered on. One desktop is for gaming, the other is for everything else.

What I'd like to know is this; is there simply a USB cable that will allow me to do this? Yes, I'm aware of KVM and USB switches, but since I will only have one PC turned on during use, I would just like to find a USB cable that will allow me to do this. If someone is already doing exactly this, what cable are you using? Surely there is a cable for this, right?

If there are no simple USB cable options, I guess a KVM or USB switch will have to do and would appreciate your recommendation(s).

Thanks in advance everyone! I do appreciate your help!
 
You are still essentially asking for KVM functionality though? Just in USB cable form.

If only 1 PC is ever in use at a time, then if you have integrated USB hub functionality on your monitor you could just keep peripherals plugged into that. Extend the USB-B input to your monitor with an extension, then have a USB-A extension coming off each of your PCs, then whenever you switch PCs simply plug in the monitor hub into the extension coming off whichever computer you are using?

As long as all are decent quality USB 3.0 extensions.
 
You are still essentially asking for KVM functionality though? Just in USB cable form.

If only 1 PC is ever in use at a time, then if you have integrated USB hub functionality on your monitor you could just keep peripherals plugged into that. Extend the USB-B input to your monitor with an extension, then have a USB-A extension coming off each of your PCs, then whenever you switch PCs simply plug in the monitor hub into the extension coming off whichever computer you are using?

As long as all are decent quality USB 3.0 extensions.
Hmmmmmm. Might be the way to go. Just wanting to eliminate as much cable clutter as possible.

:toast:
 
Logitech is able to connect up to 3 desktops with 1 Mouse/Keyboard Set. I own that Master(MX) Mouse/Trackball/Keyboard. Desktop 1 is connected by the USB-Receiber, Desktop 2 by Bluetooth. If i want to switch i can do that directly at the device. I press a button on top ant the device is running on the other device.

 
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