Gefen's DVI KVM Switcher
By Barb Dybwad 
posted Aug 19th 2005 4:30AM
posted Aug 19th 2005 4:30AM
Many of the available KVM options provide switching for VGA connectors, so here's an option for switching between two DVI inputs. The 2 x 1 DVI KVM Switcher will allow you to swap DVI, USB 2.0 and audio between two machines. As a nicety, it includes two 6 foot DVI cables, two 6 foot USB cables and two audio cables so you don't have to cannibalize too much from that cable snakepit you have in your closet (don't think we don't know). It's a little on the pricy side for a KVM switch at $199, but if you need the DVI support it might just be the KVM you've been waiting to see from across a crowded room.
I've been waiting for an affordable DVI KVM switcher, and this doesn't look like this is it. So my search continues...
Belkin make one.
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Product_Id=146401
Yeah man snakepit!
It got that way after the cables ate all my adapters!
Check out http://www.synapps.de/synapps/bin/view/Main/CinemaDisplayWindowsReloaded for a report on the Dual-Link Dual DVI Gefen Switch...
Rafael
In all honesty, you can just buy a second monitor (for about the same price, even) and use Synergy (http://synergy2.sf.net) instead... it allows you to mouse between computers as if they were like dual monitor desktops. It's very awesome, I have it set up right now.
Anyone know the cheapest DVI (only) switch boxes out there?
With only two digital inputs on my HDTV, it's going to get awkward when there is HDTV Cable, Media PC, Upconverting DVD player, PS3, Xbox360 etc. etc.
The cheapest I have seen is 1x2 way at $199 and 1x4 way at about $300.
?
Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, buy the Belkin DVI KVM. It sucks. It doesn't just kinda suck, it sucks big heavy donkey balls. I'm very happy to see a Gefen DVI switcher for less than $400. Here at work I've been on the warpath trying to find a good DVI/USB KVM that doesn't suck, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. This just might be it.
I've seen the Belkin go for as little as $130, but it doesn't appear to support the full resolution of my 23" Cinema Display. (and what's the point of a DVI switcher if it doesn't support full resolution?) If this one does, I'm in.
I expect I'm not alone with my setup -- I have a G5 desktop and a PC laptop, and want to occasionally switch over to Windows on the same display. DVI is obviously overkill for the VGA-out PC, but this would save a LOT of space and trouble -- and no, a second monitor doesn't fix the space issue.
For the record: full 1920 x 1200 resolution. Excellent! Only bad news is, I think you need BOTH connections to be true DVI, not analog video with a DVI adapter sitting on it. Still, could be a good solution for many Mac lovers since so many Apple machines have DVI outs.
Oh yeah, and for those Xboxes and PS3s and whatnot, too.
I second the use of Synergy. That thing is one of the coolest apps ever. For the price of that $400 KVM, you can get another flat panel instead and use this program. You will be a lot happier with the functionality.
newegg.com has several DVI KVM switches- some starting at $100 or so [PS/2- USB are a little more]. There are also some dual head DVI KVM switches in the realm of $180...
Here is a great switch from ATEN 4 ports for under 199
http://www.computers4sure.com/product.asp?productid=2711206&affid=10000483
I have in a mixed PC/MAC enviroment and it works flawlessly
Or you could use any number of remote desktop programs. XP Pro's Remote Desktop Connection is quite fast, and clients for both PC and Mac are free (once you've got XP Pro)
If you have a DVI-D cable + a VGA cable and your display is intelligent enough, you can use a DVI-I splitter cable like the ones at cable123.com and switch between the two using the display itself (I use this to switch between a component-to-VGA and a DVI-D input on my projector); hook up your USB ports to a cheap VGA KVM and you're all set.
I use the Adderview DVI switch. Pricey but lots more bells and whistles than the cheaper ones.
Most DVI KVM switches to this point were way too expensive. The Gefen unit previous to this of similar specs was $399. And it's still the only one listed at MacMall. This is way better than the IOGear one that's $40 less. That one only supports 1600x1200. If you have a smaller monitor it should be fine. But I must have 1920x1280 for my 23" Cinema display. This is a great price for what it does!
Geeze, thanks for bringing this up. I just spend $169 on one of these buggers. My girlfriend is going to be mad at you. :-P
Randy,
I'm glad you're having good luck with the Aten box. I had high hopes for them, but the 2-port version we have hasn't really liked any PCs hooked up to it so far. I'm going to try with another PC/Mac combo when I get a chance.
AHM,
Remote Desktop can handle a lot of things, but it can't do everything. (Gaming being the big obvious one I can think of.) Also, while very fast, it's just not as fast as the real console.
There are also times when you just NEED real console access. Installing an OS, any lockups/BSODs/Kernel Panics, etc. Having to dig around in the cabling and switch things back and forth (or dig out extra equipment) would quickly become too much of a PITA to rely on RDP or VNC.
Geeze, thanks for bringing this up. I just spend $169 on one of these buggers. My girlfriend is going to be mad at you. :-P
how about those crazy nut jobs out there with dual dvi?
I agree about Belkin. DO NOT BUY. I don't think they test thier products. The DVI one is in the same case as the VGA one but you can't connect anything to it because the actual case blocks the second dvi port. Belkin finally (as in 4 months-3.5 months more than promised) and the whole thing sucked. It didn;t work well and made funny noises. Best of all, because it was 3.5 months longer to get it, i couldn't return it. (plus the other stuff i wanted to return, i couldn't becase i waited and it took too long. Belkin cost me $250. $160 for the KVM and the other $90 for other stuff)
I have since all by boycotted all belkin products. You will never see me recommend one unless nobody else makes somehting even similar.
My screen has both DVI and VGA inputs, so I have a VGA cable from my PC and a DVI cable from my Mac, with Synergy handling the keyboard and mouse switching. The increased price of a dual-input monitor was less than the cost of a good KVM switch.
Just something to think about.
I bought the IOGEAR 4 port miniview KVM DVI switch. Looks exactly like the one from ATEN but with different name.
Don't buy the IOGEAR cause you'll be taking it back like me. It won't recognize the Mac keyboard (even though it's Mac compatible), and it won't take a VGA to DVI signal from an adapter.
What's more is it has a clicking sound when you attach the audio cable(s) to it. By the way, these problems are both Mac/PC.
At this point I am seriously thinking of getting a cheap but good quality 17" LCD w/integrated speakers for the second PC.
You can also try the 4 port Avocent -switchview-, as I did. But don't bother with all the description hype. The results for me were not so good on this KVM. Their are problems with the usb device support. I had a port completely go dead on the B1 channel on the 27th day of 30 day warranty period, lucky me to get a refund. Not to mention all the USB mouse and keyboard lock-ups associated with it. Sure the Audio and powered USB is a plus, but not for a 299.00 black box coaster. They need to improve their products before I even think about buying another KVM. The Addlogix adds firewire support, but on their website, they have a return product recall warning. Very scary, to pay this high price tag, and get caught up in a Quality Guarantee exchange loop. Total BS JRB