You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!
When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.
When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.
I want to add a Mac Mini to my set up. What do I need in order to share a Mac Mini and a PC with the same: ethernet, Keyboard, Monitor, and Mouse. I don't want to use Bluetooth, I want all of it to be wired because it's a gaming PC. I think what confuses me is terminology, USB-C, Thunderbolt, DP, HDMI. If I need an adapter, I don't know which one. I have been looking at KVM Switches and also new monitors with KVM native.
A KVM switch will take care of the input devices and the monitor sharing. But there will be some differences when using the PC keyboard with the Mac because the keys are different.
Keyboard mappings using a PC keyboard on a Mac - microsoft support
If the keyboard and mouse are bluetooth devices then that may present an issue. You'll have to find a KVM that does bluetooth.
As for networking, you'll need to supply an ethernet cable to the Mac and set up its connection. It'll get its own network address from the router just as your PC does.
The solution will depend partly on which Mac mini you intend to add to your setup. What year is the mini and what macOS will it be running? You must be specific to ID the ports the mini has and its capabilities.
A KVM switch will take care of the input devices and the monitor sharing. But there will be some differences when using the PC keyboard with the Mac because the keys are different.
Keyboard mappings using a PC keyboard on a Mac - microsoft support
If the keyboard and mouse are bluetooth devices then that may present an issue. You'll have to find a KVM that does bluetooth.
As for networking, you'll need to supply an ethernet cable to the Mac and set up its connection. It'll get its own network address from the router just as your PC does.
The solution will depend partly on which Mac mini you intend to add to your setup. What year is the mini and what macOS will it be running? You must be specific to ID the ports the mini has and its capabilities.
While you're shopping I recommend that you purchase an inexpensive USB keyboard and mouse set. Wireless devices are great when they work (on Mac or PC) but wired devices are great and necessary when it comes time to troubleshoot. Buy an inexpensive set and keep handy in a drawer for those times when issues come up.
Some general wired-connections technical info…
I suspect you’re going to have to buy one and try.
Thunderbolt is a PCIe bus extended outside the processor. You can connect an external PCIe card cage / expansion chassis, for instance. Thunderbolt buses can be daisy-chained.
Thunderbolt has several different versions, currently Thunderbolt 1 through Thunderbolt 4. Thunderbolt 1 and 2 had a Thunderbolt-specific connector, Thunderbolt 3 and 4 use USB-C connectors.
Thunderbolt also provides both DisplayPort, and power. DisplayPort is an audio-video connection.
While Thunderbolt can be daisy-chained, any DisplayPort device must be the last device on the bus.
USB-C is a connector spec. USB-C connectors can be used for different protocols that can provide for power delivery, for Thunderbolt (with DisplayPort), and for USB 3.x or USB4 connections.
Different USB-C host connectors and different device connectors can have different protocol support. USB-C is the connector. What runs through the USB-C connector and USB-C cable can vary.
When in doubt about a USB-C cable, a passive USB-C Thunderbolt cable is usually the right choice. Even for USB 3.x and USB4 connections. Some USB-C cables can be limited to USB 3.x or USB4 and power.
HDMI is a digital audio-video connection.
You’ll need a Thunderbolt, DisplayPort, or HDMI connection and display to display protected content; DRM’d materials. You won’t be able to view high-resolution protected content on any non-DRM’d or any analog connection.
Another option is a monitor with a built-in KVM. Samsung CJ89 series monitors are one such, and at least some of the Dell UltraSharp USB-C/DisplayPort monitors.
There are KVM switches and I’ve had mixed success with those. Of those external switches I’ve worked with, I’ve had the least issues with Vertiv Avocent, and with IOGEAR. (Some of my host connections are… unusual.) I’ve not used USB-C/DP monitors.
Whichever KVM or KVM/monitor you pick, make absolutely sure the connectors line up with what you have, and that the switch explicitly supports both Mac and Windows.
In addition to a keyboard and mouse connected to the KVM, have a keyboard and mouse that can be connected directly to the Mac and Windows box (as mentioned in a previous reply), if that’s not the same keyboard. This if something goes wrong with the KVM or its cabling.
Thanks. Your thoughtful response also raised more questions. You said, “Whichever KVM or KVM/monitor you pick, make absolutely sure the connectors line up with what you have, and that the switch explicitly supports both Mac and Windows.” This re-states my problems . Thanks
How many monitors will be shared? one, two or more?
Old intel Mac Mini with Thunderberlot 3 models can support more than two external monitors. However, M1-based MacMini can only support two monitor connections, one via it built-in HDMI port and one via the Thunderbolt 4 port on it.
A right KVM switch model is much better pick than a monitor with built-in KVM switch function.
Aside from the suggestions presented for the display and USB devices, your ethernet issue is solved by getting a very simple and relatively inexpensive 5 port ethernet switch. Your "source" ethernet cable plugs in the box and you simply connect the computers with their own ethernet cables.
The one I use in my setup is this, though there are many others to chose from:
https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Gigabit-Ethernet-Unmanaged-1000Mbps/dp/B00KFD0SMC
im shopping for the Mac Mini, so probably the M1
share a Mac Mini with a PC
