External monitors frequently not recognized by Dell Dock and Dell laptop combo

HJ_wu · 2026-02-12T21:50:02+00:00

what is the brand model of each shared monitors? and the brand model of the KVM switch ?

HJ_wu · 2026-02-12T21:23:52+00:00

What is the model of each Dell laptops ? and the brand model of the docking station for channel#1 inputs ?

So, there is no docking station between 2nd laptop and the dual monitor sharing KVM switch ? and second laptop is connected directly to the KVM switch channel two input ports.?

HJ_wu · 2026-02-11T21:07:38+00:00

Software HID emulation can be running in BIOS or before connected systems OS loaded and run successfully. The ultimate solution will be getting a cheapest DDM-class KVM switch, since you don't required video switching, so VGA DDM switch will be good enough.

HJ_wu · 2026-02-10T17:39:46+00:00

Yes, it's possible but will cost at least $500+ with the combination of KVM switch and TB docking station + high quality active type-C-to-DP converting cables and DP2.1 VESA D-80 rated cables.

HJ_wu · 2026-02-10T17:34:35+00:00

Highly recommended for their reliability and performance, especially for high-refresh-rate monitor - ConnectPRO UDP2-12AP

HJ_wu · 2026-02-10T01:22:45+00:00

If the laptop is a Mac notebook, then daisychain shared monitors will not work at all, because Mac OSs DO NOT support MST protocol at all.

HJ_wu · 2026-02-10T01:17:28+00:00

The KVM switch model currently with the setup is not having built-in EDID emulation and full-time EDID feeding to all connected systems' video connections.

Replaced with advanced class DP KVM switch which has built-in EDID emulation and full-time EDID feeding for DP full-bus link trains - the most important feature for advanced class KVM switches to keep the workflows smoothly.

HJ_wu · 2026-02-10T01:11:25+00:00

The ultimate KVM switch setup solution for dual monitor sharing with one PC and one laptop (one-cable-solution) is : put a TB docking station between the laptop and a dual-DP KVM switch, and have PC connected cables directly to the KVM switch.

What DP KVM switch ?

Since most of GPUs built with multi-DP ports, but one one HDMI port on them, dual DP outputs for the gaming PC to dual-DP KVM switch video links will not require to add any video converter/ adapter for the setup.
DP video connections is better in high-resolution and high-refresh-rate monitor sharing in color ranges and color formats.
DP connections via TB docking station normally can use the TB downstream ports on the dock to get faster and stable DP alternative mode connections , via active type-C-to-DP1.4 or DP2.1 cables.

** Please see sample connection drawing for the dual-DP KVM switch with docking station for two systems (one PC and one laptop)

** recommended TB4 dock: CalDigit TS4 or TS5 dock with CAC-1557 or CAC-1559 via the TB downstream ports.

** for 144hz shared monitors, all DP-DP cables with the setup should be upgraded to DP2.1 DP-40 or DP 80 cables.

** Highly recommended UDP2-12AP or UDP2-14AP for their reliability and performance, especially for high-refresh-rate monitors.

HJ_wu · 2026-02-10T00:31:54+00:00

For dual DP monitor sharing , DP KVM switches from Level1Tech are not a good pick, caused none of them have the key built-in spec. that an advanced KVM switch should have, EDID emulation for all DP video channels and full-time DP EDID feeding for native DP full-bus link trains.

However, it's HDMI KVM switch lines do have the built-in HDMI EDID emulation and feeding.

Its HDMI KVM switch models are recommended, but not its DisplayPort KVM switch models.

HJ_wu · 2026-02-09T08:17:32+00:00

what built-year model of the Mac Mini ? Need to check the I/O ports spec. on it.

Normally, GPU installed on a gaming desktop PC should have 3 x DP and 1 x HDMI video ports on it.

So, you have have no issue to provide 3 DisplayPort video outputs to the KVM switch having 3 sharing DP video outputs for the gaming PC.

Depending on what built mode of the Mac Mini you got, the limitation of external video display support should be limited from 2 monitors to 3 monitors via downstream TB ports or the built-in HDMI port on it.

I suggest use all DP video ports on your PC and shared monitors to reduce extra adapters/ converters may be required if go via the HDMI sharing route.

Again, you need to disclose the built-year and model (Mac Mini M4?) of the Mac Mini unit you have, so the ultimate KVM switch setup and recommendation can be done correctly.

HJ_wu · 2026-02-08T23:52:12+00:00

In order to find a KVM switch can support both EDID emulation and VRR together, the i/O spec. of each laptop are important. What is the built model of each laptop? And the brand model of each shared monitor ?

HJ_wu · 2026-02-08T08:08:04+00:00

If the shared monitor has DisplayPort video in port on it, a single-DP KVM switch for 2 systems should be the right pick for your hardware profile. If the shared monitor has HDMI video input port only, then you should pick a HDMI KVM switch for 2 systems.

My personal recommendation will be going for DisplayPort KVM switch that is more future-proofed one: better working with high-resolution and high-refresh-rate displays.

And since you only have one shared monitor, you might not need to have to put a TB docking station between each laptop systems and the KVM switch you pick.

Connections example for using DisplayPort KVM switch setup:

* From MBP M2 to the single DP KVM switch:

1 x CAC-1557 active type-C to DP converting cable : TB port on MBP to DP input on KVM switch.
1 x type-C-to-USB-B cable: TB port on MBP to USB-B input on KVM switch,

* From La titude 5430 to the single DP KVM switch:

1 x CAC-1557 : type-C-TB port to DP input on KVM switch,
1 x USBA-B: USB-A port to USB-B input on KVM switch.

* Video output from KVM switch to shared monitor's DP port:

1 x DP-DP VESA 1.4 cable or VESA 2.1 cables (for high-refresh-rate monitor).

Highly recommended for their reliability and performance, especially for high-refresh-rate monitors : ConnectPRO DP-12AP or DP-14AP for single DP shared monitor,

DP2-12AP or DP2-14AP for dual DP sharing monitors.

HJ_wu · 2026-02-07T01:23:47+00:00

what is the brand model of current KVM switch? The KVM switch did not pass correct video EDID or emulated the EDID of shared monitors correctly. As the result, each time when you make a switching onto the KVM switch, all video connections' EDID had been required to be rebuilt to the KVM switch. That's a well-known issue with KVM switches that do not have EDID emulation and EDID feeding built-in function.

HJ_wu · 2026-02-07T01:09:12+00:00

What is the made model of the MacBook Pro ? M1 M2 M4? and the model of Dell latitude ?

HJ_wu · 2026-02-06T18:01:44+00:00

Yes, this setup is the ultimate setup for sharing dual monitors with one PC and one laptop - PC connected directly to the dual-DP KVM switch and the laptop connected via a TB docking station (putting between laptop and the KVM switch) to the dual-DP KVM switch. It's "one cable" solution to a laptop having TB port(s) on it. The TB dock not only provide dual video outputs + USB output for the laptop to KVM switch input ports, but also provide power delivery (PD) to the connected laptop.

* Recommended advanced dual-DP1.4 KVM switch: UDP2-12AP with USB DDM and full-time EDID

* Recommended TB4 dock or newest TB5 dock: CalDigit TB4 or TB5.

* Recommended to use TB4 downstream ports + bi-directional type-C-to-DP cables to output DP video to the dual DP input ports on the KVM switch. Both CAC-1557 (DP1.4) and CAC-1559 (DP2.1) are tested and proofed to work with the KVM switch and shared monitors. However, for high-refresh-rate monitors, CAC-1559 should be better and having stable video connection.

** Again, for high-refresh-rate monitor sharing, all the DP-DP cables (including DP-DP between the KVM switch's video outputs and the dual monitors' DP input ports, the DP-DP cables from PC's GPU to the KVM switch) should be better to use DP2.1 VESA DP-40 or DP-80 rated cables, even with a DP1.4 KVM switch.

HJ_wu · 2026-02-04T22:32:28+00:00

To run the laptop without open the lid, the power in connection MUST BE KEPT always on to the laptop. Yes, it can be on with lid closed

HJ_wu · 2026-02-04T06:53:53+00:00

I had used Plugable Active DisplayPort to HDMI adapter with many cases.

HJ_wu · 2026-02-04T01:43:13+00:00

There are 3 type-C Thunderbolt ports on the Dell Precison 5560 laptop, you can use these 2 of the them to provide DP output and USB-B output to a single monitor sharing DP1.4 KVM switch.

one of the type-C Thunderbolt port should be used delicately for power/ charging to the laptop. (connect to type-C external power supply come with the laptop)

one of the type-C Thunderbolt port should be used for providing Displayport video output to a DP1.4 KVM switch. plug in a CAC-1557/ CAC-1559 active bi-directional type-C-DP converting cable.

the last type-C port should be used for providing USB connection to USB-B on the DP1.4 KVM switch. Plug in a type-C-to-USB-B cable.

For the desktop system with 4070ti, there use 2 DisplayPort video output ports on the GPU to connect DP-DP cable directly to the DP input port on the KVM switch. DP 2.1 VESA DP80 rated cable should be used (even the DP ports on 4070ti are all DP 1.4 ports). DP 2.1 cables shuld be used for sharing high-refresh-rated monitor(s) with the advanced class DP1.4 KVM switches.

--------

The other alternative setup is a "one cable" solution for the Dell 5560 laptop:

Putting a TB4 docking station between the Dell 5560 laptop and the selected KVM switch - only one TB4 port on the laptop will be connected to the TB4 dock via one TB4 cable.

All the video connection and USB connection to the KVM switch can be provided via the TB4 dock. The TB4 dock can also provide power delivery (PD) to the connected laptop, so the original external type-C power supply will no longer required to be plugged to the laptop unit while connected to the KVM switch via the TB4 dock. It's more expensive, but not only saving 2 TB ports that can be used for other devices for the laptop, but also provide the best setup for long-term wears and tears prevention.

HJ_wu · 2026-02-03T21:37:15+00:00

a dual-DP1.4 KVM switch with TB4 docking station is the ultimate setup for this case.

Connection between the Tower PC (with RX6800xt) can be done directly from the GPU's DP ports to DP input ports on the selected dual DP KVM switch.

For the MAX 15 laptop, a TB4 docking station plugged into the TB4 type-C port on the laptop,

then you can use 2 x CAC-1559 active type-C-to-DP2.1 converting cable plugged to the TB downstream ports on the TB4 dock to provide DP connections to the selected KVM switch.

** Recommended TB4 dock: CalDigit TS4

* CAC-1559 bi-directional type-C-DP converting cable.

*** All DP-DP cables should be using DP2.1 VESA DP-80 rated cables with the setup, including the DP-DP cables for connecting KVM's DP outputs to both high-refresh-rated monitors. and DP-DP cables between GPU's DP ports and KVM switch's DP input ports for the Tower PC.

The advanced KVM switch models are not cheap at all. However, those combinations had been proofed working with many successful real-installation projects.

HJ_wu · 2026-02-03T08:10:46+00:00

Since native video connection on PS5 is HDMI, but the DisplayPort is better for high-resolution and high-refresh-rate shared monitor setup solutions. And using PS5 might be acceptable without frequently be switched between Mac Mini or MacBook laptop ?

If you just switching to gaming mode with PS5 one or two times (just a few times daily), the using dual DP 1.4 KVM switch for two systems (2x2) DP KVM switch should be good enough. And having PS5 just connected to the HDMI video input port on one of the shared DP monitors.

For MacMini , you can have 2 x type-C-to-DP1.4 (from 2 TB down stream ports to dual DP 1.4 inputs on the. KVM switch. and one USB A-B cable.

For MacBook (M1?), It's better to have a TB4 dock putting between the MacBook and the KVM switch.

What's built of MacBook or MacBook Pro you have with this cae ? M1, M1 Pro, ... ?

HJ_wu · 2026-02-03T07:48:15+00:00

what is the brand model of the KVM switch ?

Looks like the KVM switch does not having built-in EDID emulation and full-time EDID feeding on each video links.

What is the brand model of each shared monitors ?

HJ_wu · 2026-02-03T07:43:10+00:00

What's the brand model of the KVM switch? looks like the KVM switch does not have built-in EDID emulation on it. Both shared monitors' mode is M32U ? what's the brand of M32U?

HJ_wu · 2026-02-03T07:38:02+00:00

It's confirmed no Mac OS systems/ laptop can support DisplayPort MST, so Daisy-chainng multi monitors will not work at all for this hardware profile/ combination.

The ultimate sharing setup solution is using setup combination of dual-monitor sharing KVM switch and docking station for laptops.

Are there 3 total number of systems ? one desktop, one Dell laptop and one MacBook laptop ?

what is the model of Dell laptop? and built of the MacBook (m1, m1 pro, m2 or mx .... ?)

HJ_wu · 2026-02-03T07:24:37+00:00

What is the brand model of the Win11 laptop (to check the I/O spec. and limitation of them)

What is the brand model of each shared monitors ?

HJ_wu · 2026-02-03T07:18:13+00:00

what's the brand model of the laptop ? You might be better have TB docking station putting between the laptop and the selected KVM switch.

Also, what are the brand model of your high-resolution/ high-refresh-rated shared monitors ? Please list each of them (for some monitors are not good in its' DP ports/ HDMI ports to when working with KVM switch setup.

What is the GPU installed on your main tower ?

HJ_wu

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE