TESmart HKS202-P23 vs DKS202-M24: HDMI or DisplayPort?

Buy the TESmart HKS202-P23 V2 for two HDMI computers sharing two 4K60-class monitors. Buy the TESmart DKS202-M24 for two DisplayPort computers when high-refresh support, 5120×1440, or a DP-first monitor chain makes the more expensive signal path worthwhile.

Neither model is a one-cable laptop dock. Each computer needs two video feeds plus USB data, and neither KVM charges a laptop. The choice starts with the ports already on both computers and both monitors—not with the larger resolution number on the product page.

This is a research-based comparison. SolderMag has not completed matched switching, latency, image-quality, EDID-retention, USB-throughput, adaptive-sync, thermal, or long-term reliability tests. The recommendation is based on current TESmart documentation, exact connection topology, published display modes, box contents, and exact US Amazon product identity.

Quick answer

If every relevant port is HDMI and dual 4K60 is enough, buy the HKS. If the computers and displays are already DisplayPort and refresh-rate headroom matters, buy the DKS. Adapters are a warning that the topology is wrong.

HKS202-P23 vs DKS202-M24 specifications

These are published capabilities, not measurements. A GPU, dock, adapter, cable, KVM, monitor input, color-depth setting, HDR mode, DSC path, and graphics driver can all affect the final result.

Choose the HKS202-P23 for a straightforward HDMI desk

The HKS is the cleaner office purchase. It is designed for two computers that each provide two HDMI outputs and two monitors that accept HDMI. TESmart's 4K60, 4:4:4 ceiling fits text, code, spreadsheets, ordinary video, and general desktop use.

Its EDID emulation is more valuable than the resolution label. A cheap switch can make the inactive computer behave as though both monitors were unplugged. Persistent display information can reduce window rearrangement when switching between work and personal machines.

TESmart also documents a matrix-style display mode that can show one computer on each monitor. The caveat is that its EDID emulation applies to the normal mode where both screens follow one computer, not every matrix arrangement.

The HKS is not limited to 60Hz at every resolution. TESmart lists 3440×1440 at 100Hz, 2560×1440 at 120Hz, and 1080p at 240Hz. Those modes are useful only if the exact sources, cables, and displays also support them.

Buy it when HDMI is already the native route and you do not need more than its documented modes. Skip it for DisplayPort monitors, 4K above 60Hz, 5120×1440, or a desk built around adaptive sync.

The full HKS202-P23 review maps its display modes, EDID limitation, USB layout, per-screen switching, and exact cable count.

Choose the DKS202-M24 for DisplayPort and high refresh

The DKS is the specialist option for two DisplayPort computers and two DP monitors. TESmart lists DisplayPort 1.4, 32.4Gbps link bandwidth, DSC, FEC, G-Sync, FreeSync, 8K60, and 4K modes through 144Hz.

The useful part is not the 8K badge. It is the broader set of documented gaming and ultrawide modes, including 5120×1440 at 120Hz, 3440×1440 at 144Hz, and 2560×1440 at 240Hz.

Those figures are ceilings. "Supports 4K144" does not prove dual 4K144 with HDR, full color depth, VRR, and every GPU. DSC may be required, and one weak cable can bring down the whole path. Keep a practical return option when a specific high-bandwidth mode is non-negotiable.

The DKS also adds Gigabit Ethernet to its shared USB and audio features. That can reduce another cable change between desktops, though a performance-sensitive network user may still prefer each computer's direct Ethernet connection.

Buy it when native DisplayPort connections and the exact published modes solve a real problem. Skip it if both monitors are ordinary HDMI 4K60 panels; the extra capability then adds cost and cable complexity without improving the desk.

The full DKS202-M24 review covers its DP cable map, EDID reasoning, published gaming modes, included host cables, and laptop limitations.

Both are six-video-cable setups

The connector changes; the cable logic does not.

For either KVM:

1. Computer A supplies two video feeds to the KVM.
2. Computer B supplies two video feeds to the KVM.
3. The KVM supplies one video feed to monitor 1.
4. The KVM supplies one video feed to monitor 2.
5. Each computer also needs a USB host connection for peripherals.
6. Power, keyboard, mouse, optional audio, and other shared devices add more cables.

That is six HDMI runs for the HKS or six DisplayPort runs for the DKS. The box contents cover host-side connections differently, but neither retail package should be assumed to provide every output cable without checking the selected bundle.

Label the four host feeds before installing the KVM behind a desk. Swapped host inputs can look like a compatibility failure even when every component works.

HDMI vs DisplayPort is about the whole chain

Do not convert between standards just because a KVM looks better on paper. An adapter may remove VRR, reduce the available refresh rate, mishandle HDR, or work only in one direction.

Choose HDMI when both computers and both monitors already use HDMI for the intended mode. Choose DisplayPort when the GPUs and monitors are DP-first and high refresh, DSC, or an ultrawide mode requires it.

If one computer is HDMI-first and the other is DisplayPort-first, neither of these symmetric KVMs is automatically ideal. A mixed-input model or direct monitor inputs plus a USB switch may be cleaner.

Our dual-monitor KVM buying guide maps the HDMI, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt-first options without assuming that one connector is universally better.

EDID: the shared reason to pay for TESmart

EDID tells a computer which display is connected and which modes it supports. When a basic KVM removes that information from the inactive host, windows can collapse, applications can move, and returning to the computer becomes a small repair job.

TESmart documents EDID emulation on both models. That makes either one more appropriate than a basic switch for a carefully arranged workstation.

EDID is not a guarantee. Sleep states, graphics drivers, mixed monitor models, firmware, docks, and operating-system behavior can still affect window retention. The HKS also limits EDID emulation to its normal display mode.

Pay for EDID when the problem exists. If each computer is used briefly and window placement does not matter, direct inputs or a cheaper switch may be enough.

USB, audio, network, and switching

Both KVMs share a keyboard, mouse, common USB peripherals, and audio. Both provide front controls, an IR remote, and keyboard hotkeys.

The DKS adds Gigabit Ethernet, which can be useful when one network connection should follow the active computer. The HKS has a more office-focused USB and headset layout without that network consolidation.

Do not treat either as a guaranteed universal USB dock. High-polling mice, macro keyboards, wireless receivers, webcams, capture devices, audio interfaces, and bus-powered SSDs are more demanding than a basic keyboard and mouse. We have not measured throughput, reconnect time, power delivery, or polling behavior.

If video does not need to switch, our USB switch vs KVM guide explains when keeping the display path direct is the better compromise.

Laptop and MacBook warning

Neither model accepts one USB-C or Thunderbolt host cable. Neither charges a laptop. A laptop must provide two independent HDMI or DisplayPort feeds plus USB data before it matches the KVM.

A dock can expose those connections, but it adds another device, adapter path, and compatibility decision. The laptop must also support two external displays natively; the KVM cannot create a display engine the computer does not have.

Mac external-display support varies by chip, model, lid state, resolution, and refresh rate. Check Apple's guidance for the exact machine. Our guide to running two monitors from a Thunderbolt dock on a Mac explains the common MST and native-display traps.

For one Thunderbolt 4 laptop plus one desktop, the TESmart HDC202-X24 review covers a purpose-built asymmetric KVM with up to 60W laptop charging. That model still cannot bypass a laptop's display limits.

Who should buy the HKS202-P23?

Buy the HKS if:

• both computers expose two HDMI outputs;
• both monitors accept HDMI at the required mode;
• dual 4K60 is the main target;
• EDID-based display retention matters;
• 3440×1440 at 100Hz or lower documented modes are enough;
• the lower-complexity office topology matters more than gaming headroom.

Skip it if a monitor needs DisplayPort for its best mode or if 5120×1440 is part of the desk.

Who should buy the DKS202-M24?

Buy the DKS if:

• both computers expose two DisplayPort outputs;
• both monitors are DP-first;
• a documented high-refresh or ultrawide mode justifies the premium;
• EDID retention, hotkeys, shared USB, audio, and Ethernet all reduce daily friction;
• you understand the role of DSC, cables, GPU output, and monitor input limits.

Skip it when 4K60 HDMI already covers the job. More bandwidth is not useful when no connected display uses it.

Who should skip both?

Skip both for a one-cable laptop desk. Use a KVM/dock designed for the exact laptop and desktop topology.

Skip both if the monitors have spare inputs and changing them separately is acceptable. A USB switch keeps high-bandwidth video direct.

Skip both if one computer cannot drive two external displays. The switch cannot add support.

Skip both if a specific HDR, VRR, DSC, capture-card, or unusual peripheral workflow is essential and undocumented. Direct connections are safer until the exact path is proven.

Alternatives

TESmart HDC202-X24: the better match for one Thunderbolt 4 laptop and one desktop. It adds laptop charging and a hybrid host layout, but it is not a two-laptop universal dock.

UGREEN 55851 DisplayPort KVM: a cheaper dual-DP option with four shared USB ports and a wired controller. It lacks the DKS model's documented EDID behavior and broader control set. Read our UGREEN 55851 review before trading documentation for price.

Direct monitor inputs plus a USB switch: the sensible budget route when both displays already have enough inputs. It takes more button presses but removes the KVM from the video chain.

A monitor with a built-in KVM: worth considering when a display replacement is already planned. Our best work monitors guide covers USB-C and KVM-oriented choices.

Frequently asked questions

Is DisplayPort better than HDMI for a dual-monitor KVM?

Only when the computers and monitors use DisplayPort for the required mode. The DKS has more published high-refresh and ultrawide headroom; the HKS is the simpler 4K60 office choice.

Does the HKS202-P23 support 5120×1440?

No. TESmart explicitly says it does not. The DKS202-M24 lists 5120×1440 at 120Hz, subject to the full DisplayPort signal chain.

Does the DKS202-M24 support 4K144?

TESmart lists 4K144 among its supported modes. Treat that as a published ceiling, not proof of dual 4K144 with every GPU, cable, monitor, HDR, VRR, color-depth, and DSC combination.

Which model is better for two 4K60 office monitors?

The HKS is usually the better fit when all native connections are HDMI. Buy the DKS only if DisplayPort is already the clean path or other DP-specific features matter.

Do both models keep windows in place?

TESmart documents EDID emulation for both. It is intended to reduce monitor-disconnect behavior, but results can still vary with the operating system, drivers, sleep state, firmware, and monitor combination.

Can either KVM charge a laptop?

No. Neither model has a USB-C video-and-power host input. A laptop needs separate power and, in many setups, a compatible dock that exposes two video feeds.

How many video cables are required?

Six: four from the two computers to the KVM and two from the KVM to the monitors. USB host, power, peripherals, audio, and Ethernet are additional.

Final recommendation

Buy the TESmart HKS202-P23 V2 for two HDMI computers and two 4K60-class monitors. It is the practical office choice when EDID retention and one-action switching are worth the cable work.

Buy the TESmart DKS202-M24 for two DisplayPort computers when a documented high-refresh or ultrawide mode justifies the more demanding signal path. If the desk is ordinary HDMI 4K60, the extra bandwidth is wasted.

Sources and methodology

• TESmart official HKS202-P23 V2 product page for connection layout, display modes, and package positioning.
• TESmart official HKS202-P23 manual for ports, EDID scope, controls, and setup.
• TESmart official HKS202-P23 FAQ for display limitations and troubleshooting.
• TESmart official DKS202-M24 product page and product specifications for DP 1.4, EDID, published display modes, shared ports, and box contents.
• Amazon Creators API exact-product validation for HKS202-P23 V2 B0CQQYHQLL and DKS202-M24 B0F5M8MMBM in the US marketplace with the configured soldermag-20 Associate tag.

We weighted native connection fit, documented display ceilings, EDID scope, cable requirements, shared peripherals, laptop limitations, and whether the extra bandwidth solves a real desk problem. We did not use fixed prices, discounts, ratings, review counts, stock promises, or unsupported hands-on claims.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.