ATEN US3312 2-Port USB-C 4K Computer Switch
Overview
The ATEN US3312 is a 2-port USB-C KVM switch built for desks running dual computers off a single display, keyboard, and mouse. Instead of unplugging cables every time you need to jump between a primary workstation and a secondary machine, the US3312 hands you a remote port selector on a 1.8m cable so switching happens at your fingertips, not behind the desk. It passes video at up to 4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz, so a 4K monitor stays 4K regardless of which host is active — no downgraded refresh rate, no compressed color when you switch sources.
This is a straightforward, single-purpose device: two USB Type-C computer connections in, one selected output, with a physical remote selector doing the switching. If your setup involves two USB-C laptops or workstations sharing one 4K monitor and one set of USB peripherals, the US3312 is built for exactly that job.
Key Features
- 2 x USB Type-C Computer Connections: Both CPU1 and CPU2 connect via a single USB Type-C male cable each — no separate video and USB cabling to manage per host, which cuts desk clutter versus older KVM designs that need a full cable bundle per computer.
- 4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz Video: Full 4K resolution at 60Hz passes through the switch on either connected port, so you're not trading image quality or motion smoothness for the convenience of a shared display.
- Remote Port Selector (1.8m cable): The physical selector sits on a 1.8-meter cable, meaning it can be mounted within arm's reach on the desktop rather than forcing you to reach behind the monitor or under the desk to change the active computer.
- 2-Port LED Status Indicator (White): The selector shows which of the two ports is currently live, so there's no guessing which machine is receiving your keyboard, mouse, and display output before you start typing.
- 0-80% RH Non-Condensing Operating Humidity: Rated for standard office and light industrial environments without special climate control, which covers the vast majority of desk and equipment-room installs.
- Firmware-Upgradable (v1.1.104): ATEN ships firmware updates for the US3312, letting the switch pick up compatibility and stability fixes after deployment rather than being locked to day-one behavior.
Integration & Compatibility
The US3312 connects to two USB Type-C hosts and drives a single downstream display and USB peripheral set, making it a fit for control rooms, NOC desks, and any workstation where an operator needs quick access to two systems — for example a primary production machine and a secondary monitoring or backup system — without a full multi-monitor KVM deployment. Because switching is handled at the remote selector rather than through software, there's no driver or OS-level configuration to manage on either connected host; it functions the same way regardless of which operating system each USB-C computer is running. For rack-adjacent installations, the 1.8m remote selector cable gives enough reach to mount the selector at the front of a rack while the US3312 itself sits with the connected hardware. The unit is also documented for Mac firmware updates (us3312-mac-v1.1.104.zip), so mixed Mac/PC host pairings are a supported use case rather than an afterthought.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many computers can the US3312 connect to?
A: Two. Each connects via a single USB Type-C male cable — CPU1 and CPU2 — through the switch's KVM computer ports.
Q: What resolution does the US3312 support?
A: Up to 4096 x 2160 at 60Hz on either connected computer.
Q: How do I switch between the two connected computers?
A: Using the remote port selector, which sits on a 1.8-meter cable and shows the active port with a white LED indicator.
Q: Can the US3312 firmware be updated?
A: Yes. ATEN publishes firmware updates for the US3312, including a Mac-specific package (current version v1.1.104).
Q: What environment is the US3312 rated for?
A: 0-80% relative humidity, non-condensing — standard office and equipment-room conditions.
The spec that matters most on the US3312 is the 4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz video path — a lot of 2-port USB-C switches quietly cap you at 30Hz or drop to 1080p when you're driving a 4K panel through the switch instead of direct. The US3312 doesn't make that tradeoff.
Technical Highlights:
- 2 x USB Type-C computer connections: Single-cable-per-host design (CPU1 and CPU2) means no separate USB and video runs to manage — less cable clutter behind a dual-workstation desk.
- 4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz video: Full 4K60 passthrough on either port, so switching hosts never means switching down to a lower refresh rate or resolution.
- 1.8m remote port selector with white LED indicator: Puts port switching and status at your fingertips instead of forcing a reach to the unit itself, which matters in rack-adjacent or under-desk installs.
Deployment Considerations:
- Both host connections are USB Type-C only — confirm each computer either has a native USB-C output or you're prepared to adapt, since the US3312 doesn't list alternate host connector types.
- The 1.8m selector cable sets your practical mounting distance; plan the selector's resting position at the desk before you run cabling to the rack or equipment closet.
This is the right call for a NOC or monitoring desk where one operator needs fast, physical switching between a primary system and a secondary machine on a shared 4K display — the US3312 is built for that two-host, one-desk pattern specifically.
