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Dec 16, 2023

A KVM Switch Saved My Desk From Cable Clutter

Published May 9, 2022 Haley Perry Share this post I’m neurotic about my desk

Published May 9, 2022

Haley Perry

Share this post

I’m neurotic about my desk space. I can't work unless my space is completely clear and organized, and I’ve spent an unconscionable amount of time below my desk like a mechanic under a hood, meticulously hiding loose cables. But even after all that work, I was often frustrated by the tedious dance of plugging and unplugging all of my peripherals every time I wanted to switch between my work and personal computers. So I started looking for ways to simplify the swap between two computers sharing the same monitor, and thankfully, I found KVM switches.

A KVM (keyboard, video, and mouse) switch allows you to plug multiple computers and peripherals into one hub and, with the press of a button, switch back and forth between the computers without having to move or rewire anything. Some monitors and keyboards have built-in KVM switches, but if yours don't, you can find a ton of options for hubs that range in price and size. I drifted toward the cheaper end of the spectrum because I first wanted to see if a KVM switch would solve my problem before springing for a more expensive version with more features. It's been over a year since I purchased the $20 Rybozen 4-Port USB 3.0 Switch, and that model has worked perfectly—I haven't needed to upgrade.

This easy-to-use switch allows you to switch between computer peripherals without having to plug and unplug a bunch of cords.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $21.

Before buying a KVM switch, I took stock of which peripherals I used on a regular basis: a USB microphone, an external webcam, and a wireless mouse and keyboard that each connect through a USB-A dongle. So I looked for a KVM switch that had at least four USB-A ports.

Ideally, I wanted a switch that would also swap my monitor input automatically. But because I connect my computers to my monitor using both DisplayPort and HDMI—a feature available only in more expensive KVM switches—I decided I could live with changing the input on my monitor manually. For me, this small annoyance was worth the difference between a $20 KVM switch and a $200 model.

In my initial research, I was concerned about latency affecting my peripherals, and I got especially into the weeds when I considered the switches that offered video output. But I learned that I, like most people, don't need to worry about that. I found that unless you play games competitively online, or if you have a nice PC gaming rig and you want specific resolution and refresh-rate support, you aren't likely to notice any problems with lag—even with a cheaper KVM switch.

I decided I could live with changing the input on my monitor manually. For me, this small annoyance was worth the difference between a $20 KVM switch and a $200 model.

Setting up the KVM switch was a breeze. The Rybozen switch came with two USB cables out of the box, which I used to connect each of my computers to the back of the hub. Through the four USB ports in the front, I connected my peripherals. For extra peace of mind, I also attached the switch to the bottom of my desk using double-sided Velcro to keep it, and any wires running to it, out of sight.

And that was it—now, with both computers turned on, a simple press of the button on the KVM switch seamlessly pairs my peripherals with one or the other in less than a second. The only thing I have to do to transition between my work and personal computers is manually select the input on my monitor and press a button on the KVM switch. With a desk free of clutter and no devices to fuss with, I can finally work without distraction—well, without that distraction, anyway.

This article was edited by Kimber Streams and Annemarie Conte.

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