Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Thunderbolt 4 Monitor/KVM Switch?

O

oharag

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 30, 2015
30
4
I have a Mac mini M1 (thunderbolt 4) as well as a MBPro 2014 (thunderbolt 2). I would like your recommendation for the following:

- a monitor that is at least >20" that can pivot (V & h) that can be daisy chained using Thunderbolt 2/3 or 4.
- a KVM thunderbolt KVM switch that can connect my M1 Mini and MBPro to the above monitor.

Is there such products? I would basically like to switch between my TB 2 MBPro and my TB 4 Mac mini using two monitors. Any thoughts?

I have a Caldigit TS2 - and originally thought I could use the Thunderbolt 2 as well as HDMI on the back of this device to drive two separate monitors (I drive a LG 24" TB2 monitor horizontally using TB2 out of Caldigit TS2 and a Dell P241711 vertically using HDMI out of Mini). I then find out that Thunderbolt 2 connection does not support driving two monitors! So I had to use the TB2 connection to monitor and the HDMI port on my MacBook Pro 2014! This is the same for my Mac mini M1! So what is the use of a Caldigit hub??? Or any hub for that matter? Sure it has ethernet (MacBook Pro doesn't have ethernet port) sure it has additional USB ports. But for $200+ it's a waste.

I believe the Mac mini can now drive two monitors doing TB daises chain. This is what I want out of a HUB/KVM switch. Can TB3 monitors also be daisy chained similar to TB 4?

I have no clue the difference between Display Port and TB. I believe TB4 can be used for either or (TB or DP). Is this true? If yes what do I lose? I believe DP is just video, and TB can be used for all types of devices (video/data etc...).

Someone on internets said - go buy a DP KVM switch and attach this to the Mac mini. If this is an option how would this play out for my Mini/MBPro?

Sorry to be long winded - connections always seem to be so convoluted in some cases - especially TB connections.

Thanks
 
Every few months I check to make sure there hasn't been a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 switch, ideally with PD.. All I want is just two inputs and one output. That's it. It seems crazy nothing on the market exists. It needs to be Thunderbolt so I can with a single tap swap between my two displays, and keyboard and mouse.
 
flyingmanatee said:
Every few months I check to make sure there hasn't been a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 switch, ideally with PD.. All I want is just two inputs and one output. That's it. It seems crazy nothing on the market exists. It needs to be Thunderbolt so I can with a single tap swap between my two displays, and keyboard and mouse.
Click to expand...
Depending on your setup a DisplayPort 1.4 KVM + Thunderbolt 4 hub might be a workaround. What can devices are you looking to share between the Mini and MBPro?
 
petardosh said:
Depending on your setup a DisplayPort 1.4 KVM + Thunderbolt 4 hub might be a workaround. What can devices are you looking to share between the Mini and MBPro?
Click to expand...
Traditional KVMs won't work as it's a Thunderbolt 3 display which provides power and also has a USBc hub plugged into it which routes HDMI to a receiver (as I have floor standing speakers connected to my setup) and to second 4k display. Also connected to the USBc hub is a keyboard/mouse.

Instead I have a setup where I have to swap my inputs in my main display and switch my input on my receiver when I want to bounce between my MacBook Pro(s) and my Mac Pro 2019 and I lose out on the keyboard and mouse sharing. It'd also reduce two HDMI cables out from my Mac Pro to a singular thunderbolt 3 which is a bonus.

A thunderbolt 3 switch would let me leave the receiver / thunderbolt 3 display on the same inputs and just jump between my Mac Pro 2019 and either my M1 Max/MacBook Pro 2017.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back