Can I keep my monitor connected to 2 computers?

My Asus monitor has VGA, DVI, and Displayport inputs. I was thinking of having it connected to 2 PCs at the same time, one PC with Displayport and the other PC with DVI, and using the monitor's input selection button for switching between computers. Will this cause a problem for the monitor? Seems like it should be okay but I don't want to screw anything up.
Thanks

No problem. Just keep unused computer off.

filmuser wrote in post #18460023
No problem. Just keep unused computer off.

Shouldn't be a requirement, but if they're both on you'll have to manually select inputs most likely. Auto input selection will probably get a bit confused.

filmuser wrote in post #18460023
No problem. Just keep unused computer off.

This is actually what the question is about: I want to keep them both on and manually select the one I want to view.

What you need can come from Staples. See https://www.staples.co​m …puters+one+moni​tor+switch. It's a KVM switch and actually allows you to use one keyboard, one monitor and one mouse between two PC's. I use the iOGear switch which is $28.

John from PA wrote in post #18460033
What you need can come from Staples. See https://www.staples.co​m …puters+one+moni​tor+switch. It's a KVM switch and actually allows you to use one keyboard, one monitor and one mouse between two PC's. I use the iOGear switch which is $28.

I have used KVM switches to work with up to 7 different computers. It allowed me to manage all the systems with one keyboard, mouse and monitor. Very efficient way to keep everything organized too since you can label the KVM switches to ensure you know what system you are working on.

Another vote for the KVM switch. I have one set up between three PCs. It's very convenient to be able to switch with a simple key combo. Also, you do not have to have a second keyboard and mouse cluttering things up.

use a KVM, but even better is to use multiple monitors and have the mouse and keyboard work with both systems! I have a laptop and a PC working side by side, it's like double the power, and I use a single keyboard and mouse.

There's software by Synergy that allows for this.

Okay, well, I was trying to keep the question simple: "Can I do this without causing problems?"
But since you insist: I have a Trendnet that lets me use both computers with one monitor, mouse, and keyboard. But it's VGA only and I'd rather have digital. If I can have both computers connected to the monitor at the same time, I can use digital inputs and just let the Trendnet handle the keyboard and mouse.
A KVM might let me use digital inputs (I don't know) but if I can do it the way I'd like to, there's no need to buy more gear.
So the question remains: Can I connect both PCs to the monitor, and leave them running, without causing problems for the monitor?

ncjohn wrote in post #18460028
This is actually what the question is about: I want to keep them both on and manually select the one I want to view.

Assuming the monitor allows manual switching between inputs, this should work. It won't break anything to try, but it may be clunky.

A KVM definitely might be a better solution depending on how it winds up working.

For your answer, no it doesn't hurt anything to switch inputs through the computer monitor itself. I create 3D animations, and have workstations which I'll keep running with renders and are still connected to displays that can be turned off for quite some time. Have never damaged a video card from it.

The monitor does allow manual switching; don't know yet how smoothly it works.
My concern wasn't about damaging the video card, it was about whether the monitor would tolerate two "competing" signals at once. It really seems like that would be fine but I don't want to kill a new monitor just because I don't know how things work. (I had a high-end stereo once that I totally killed by disconnecting one speaker while it was playing! Who'd have guessed?)

Thanks for all the feedback, folks.

KVM "switches" are actually quite complex so that they provide the switching action with minimal problems to the connected components. The picture below shows the internals of a 2-port switch.

I imagine it would work like a TV, should be able to accept multiple input streams.

that said, I'm all about making life easier..... I think my previous KVM, I would be able double tap an F key to swap me around. With synergy, I simply run both computers and monitors at the same time, and single keyboard and mouse.

Well disconnecting a speaker while the amp is still on is a different situation!! There isn't an issue with manually switching inputs on a monitor or TV. I can see why you'd want to have digital inputs since you can have higher resolutions then what VGA is capable of.