Cable question - two different laptops to one monitor

Hi all,

I have a Dell Monitor (2407wfp) that I use with my Lenovo T400 (via a docking station, allowing a DVI to DVI connection).

I also have another laptop that I would like to be able to use with the Dell monitor 2407wfp. The second laptop is a Dell Latitude E6410.

Ideally, I would like to not have to unplug and switch cables from the monitor every time I want to switch laptops, but there is only one DVI input slot on my monitor. Is there any cord/cable/connector/replicator that will allow me to have both laptops connected to the DVI input in my monitor at the same time, and I could just change a setting to switch input sources?

Of note, the monitor also has a VGA input slot, but I can't get the higher resolution with the VGA, so I would like to be able to input to DVI. If there is no better solution, I can just use the VGA slot for the Dell laptop and the DVI slot for the Lenovo laptop. But, I thought I'd check here first to see if anyone has ideas.

Thank you so much for your help!

 

Does the e6410 even have DVI out? My e6400 doesn't. Also, VGA is most certainly able to output 1920x1200.

 

Exactly what I thought, when you plug it in with VGA do you just plug it in and see or do you plug it in and adjust the resolution?

 

Sounds like you need a KVM switch Newegg.com - KVM Switch, USB KVM Switch, 4 Port KVM Switch, 2 Port KVM Switch, Dual Monitor KVM Switch

 

Never really understood the point here since switchers are typically used when it's inconvenient to make connections. These seem like a lot of money to pay especially when you're connecting to a "portable" device.

 

Thanks everyone so much for your help thus far!

The Dell E6410 doesn't have DVI out, just VGA (but I have a VGA to DVI converter cable).

If I can just do straight VGA to VGA and get the same quality picture as DVI, that would of course be much simpler. But when I connect the Dell laptop to the monitor via VGA, and select 1920x1200, the display does a weird wrap-around thing where the left-hand side of the laptop screen is actually showing up on the right-hand side of the monitor display. Is this just a setting I need to adjust?

Again thank you so much.

 

IOGEAR makes more retail friendly KVM switches. They even have ones where you can transfer data between the computers.

 

Sounds like you need a graphics driver update. Which adapter do you have? Nvidia or Intel?

 

I didnt see anything that hinted that he needed a kvm switch, seems like he just needs a regular every day switch to change the video input witch is a lot cheaper than the added function of a kvm switch that also does the shared keyboard/mouse functions.

But if he is using two different input methods (vga & dvi) he should need absolutely nothing at all, just change the input on the monitor when needed via its menu.

VGA does 1920x1200 and I used to have 2 2407's and a 2408 before I upgraded to my U24010s so I know it does input switching.

 

I just realized that KVM stands for Keyboard, Video and Mouse (don't mind me, I'm slow ). I should have said "Something like a KVM switch" instead.

Does it do that with some other display? If not so, then it's an issue with the monitor.

 

I'm able to connect my Lenovo Thinkpad T400 using 1920X1200 with no problems.

Any chance it's a Win7 compatibility issue? I am running Win7 on the Dell and Vista on the Thinkpad.

 

VGA (D-Sub 15) isn't a digital connection. The most that D-Sub is capable of is outputting video and collecting EDID information about what modes are supported by the monitor itself. If you've updated your video drivers, and still have the issue, try to hook something else up to the monitors D-Sub port and see if that port is defective. It's happened before. If the monitor acts fine, you have other problems. 1920x1200 should work just fine over D-Sub no matter. I'm running it on my desktop right now to a 25.5" Asus 1920x1200 off an NVIDIA graphics card.

 

Did you try a different external monitor?

It's been a while since I fooled around with the monitor profile, last time I was on Linux. Maybe it's not getting the right profile...