Setting Up Two Towers?

Ok i have a 32 bit dell XPS with Vista and a new 64 bit amd with win 7 pro.

I was wondering is there anyway to run them both at the same time with my 24 in HD monitor.

thanks in advance


PS: im not the best with figuring out what my pc specs are if you hadnt noticed lol

 

Although you can't display both at the same time on a single monitor, you can use a KVM (Keyboard Video Monitor) switch to toggle between the two PCs.

If both PCs use PS/2 (round) keyboard and mice input, it's best to stay with a KVM switch that uses PS/2 connections plus a PS/2 keyboard and mouse. If one or both of the PCs have only USB connections, a USB KVM switch is the better choice.

A few options:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817404033 (PS/2)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817196015 (USB)

Hope this helps.

 

Yes, you can run RDP - remote desktop, or VNC, pull the other machine up in a window and use snapping to put them both on the same screen. Granted the desktop won't be 'right' but you can run 2 PCs' apps on the same monitor. You can also use Grid Vista to cut up the screen area.

 

If your monitor has HDMI ports and one of your PC's is HDMI capable, you can hook both up that way . . . switch back and forth between VGA/HDMI. Clunky, but it works.

A KVM switch a fast option but you need to buy the switch, and opinions vary on what negative effect, if any, this has on a monitor. Remote desktop (RDP) is as fast, but you can't take full advangage of the remote computer's graphics . . . but it is the easiest solution to access and control a remote computer using one monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

I can't speak to using VNC, though I suspect it is much like RDP as far as the graphics go. I could be very wrong on that hunch.

Guess what method you use depends on what you want to do with the secondary PC. I RDP into my old "main" computer when I have video to crunch. I can use my new build for fun and still keep track and control what the secondary computer is doing.

 

Both monitors are HDMI ready, and the only KVM switches i could find were VGA ones...ill have to look harder

 

Here is a PS2 KVM switch.

http://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-2-Port-MiniView-Switch-GCS62/dp/B00006IRR8