IOGEAR's 4-port KVMP switcher might possibly do it all

If you've got a slew of systems, a pocket full of cash, and a lot of work that needs to get done, then IOGEAR might have a little something that you're interested in. Enter the company's new GCS1784 4-Port Dual Link DVI KVMP switch, a fairly robust system that allows you to control all four of your gaming / science-calculating / video editing / email-sending machines simultaneously. The device features 7.1 audio, video resolutions up to a whopping 3840 x 2400, and the company's patent-pending "Display Emulation Technology," which apparently remembers your monitor's preferences so you don't have to. The GCS1784 is $799.99 and available now.

[kiwee @ Nov 4th 2008 6:40AM]

; )
a science-calculating gamer who loves video editing while sending emails is a must see !

[stefan @ Nov 4th 2008 7:25AM]

Your query returned 0 match(es).

[iNToIT @ Nov 4th 2008 8:18AM]

Damnit. Then anyone have a light(er)?

[kiwee @ Nov 4th 2008 6:44AM]

is there anything similar to this on the market? .. i want to compare prices

[Holger @ Nov 4th 2008 7:11AM]

well there are switches out there, but usually it's just the monitor, mouse & keyboard (sometimes sound too) that get "switched" around... and usually they are options to control a lot of servers in a server room. ie. you have a room full of computer but only 1 mouse, keyboard & monitor...

[Kevin @ Nov 4th 2008 9:23AM]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/campaigns/campaigntemplate.asp?CampaignID=778&srkey=dvi%20kvm

[r3loaded @ Nov 4th 2008 10:19AM]

Noob question: What's the difference between a KVM and this KVMP?

[Tarnation @ Nov 4th 2008 7:57AM]

I was absolutely giddy until I saw the price. If this were cheaper than buying 4 brand new monitors maybe I would consider it.

I know it is for the person who want 1 keyboard, monitor, and mouse. $800 is a bit much though.

[SayntLewis @ Nov 4th 2008 8:20AM]

It would be perfect...except that it doesn't support dual monitors.

Maybe next version.

[Chad @ Nov 4th 2008 8:50AM]

It has two USB ports you could connect to Displaylink monitors.

[Carl M @ Nov 4th 2008 1:53PM]

Gefen has a switch that supports dual DVI monitors.
In fact, they have a couple models, including one that supports dual-link DVI monitors.
http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproductlisting.jsp?listingCategory=Switchers&productType=dvikvm

[Sheldon Cooper @ Nov 4th 2008 8:28AM]

"allows you to control all four of your gaming / science-calculating / video editing / email-sending machines simultaneously."

If its a switch doesnt that mean by definition it's NOT simultaneously?

[Carl M @ Nov 4th 2008 1:56PM]

It's "simultaneously" in the same way that a single-core CPU runs multiple programs "simultaneously": by time-slicing.
So it's not really simultaneous, but if you do it quickly enough, it gives the impression of being so.

[Rhino @ Nov 4th 2008 8:41AM]

I would use the machine I play game to remote connect the rest for free...

[kiwee @ Nov 4th 2008 8:56AM]

how is my LG M228WA monitor doing most of this for free .. it has a scart , dvi . vga . component and s-video . ive hooked up 3 pc on it.... works fine . i just have to use the remote to choose which one i want to use ...

[solarbuddy @ Nov 4th 2008 10:00AM]

Hey, everybody's missing the point on this. One of the current plagues on the landscape is that modern OS's need to check with your digital monitor on boot to come up with a screen resolution. If a system reboots and the KVM is looking at another system, some--Vista and Ubuntu, for example--will not grok that you have a 24" monitor and will come up in some totally lame low-rez mode that can't be changed without a reboot.

If this sucker actually fakes the connected systems into "seeing" high-res monitors that temporarily aren't there it would be awesome, albeit pricey as hell.

[SScorpio @ Nov 4th 2008 10:43AM]

I have another IOGear KVM and I experience this exact issue. I have found the DVI Doctor at Monoprice that supposedly read and then stores the EDID code for a monitor. http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011003&p_id=3048&seq=1&format=2

I haven't bought one yet due to it being $55 and supposedly it messed with HDCP support. A few of these would be cheaper than buying this though.

[mssaddf @ Nov 4th 2008 10:35AM]

I'm with r3loaded, I don't get what the p in kvmp is for. Any help out there?

[Eddie @ Nov 4th 2008 10:41AM]

Peripherals. So, you could have a USB hub on each machine fed in to this thing (or a single hub fed to the target machine), and you'd get the whole lot when you switch. Most of the cheapo KVMs don't feature the "P," so this is a nice feature. Not an $800 feature, but it's still really cool.

[phanbouy @ Nov 4th 2008 12:22PM]

big pkvmpin

[z3razerviper @ Nov 4th 2008 10:45AM]

I have the 2 port version of this paid 230 and overall i like it some little quirks but overall a good KVM. I like how it switches usb. I do wish it had an OSD that woudl make setting things up easier.

[laughtalk @ Nov 4th 2008 11:54AM]

I think Belkin has a comparable KVM for a lot less...pretty stylish too...It doesn't come with the 7.1 audio but do come with the standard audio/microphone ports and DVI-D Dual-Link ports.

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=404605

[p.flynn2 @ Nov 4th 2008 12:14PM]

thats great and all.... but does it drive my car and do my laundry???

no but really. hdcp over dvi?

[magnus @ Nov 4th 2008 12:28PM]

i have problem when ever i send massage, please work this and always allow me to send my massage.

[k-y @ Nov 4th 2008 12:43PM]

Wasn't this already previewed on engadget a few months ago?

[Carl M @ Nov 4th 2008 1:45PM]

One thing I want in a "KVM" switch:

Don't switch the audio, but mix it all together instead.

Of course, you can just do this with a separate mixer already.

[Ian @ Nov 4th 2008 2:52PM]

no spdif ftl

[Harry @ Nov 4th 2008 3:38PM]

The thing that kills me with KVMs (and I happen to use an older IOGEAR one, actually) is that mouse support is really hit or miss. The last two mice I tried (both Logitech cordless ones) did not work properly and I actually traded a brand new mouse one for an old/used one that I knew worked with my KVM.

Logitech's official stance is that their equipment is not compatible with KVM. Quite unrealistic, but I can also see their side of things.

I wish there was some indication of how compatible devices will be, especially before dropping this kind of coin.

[Harry @ Nov 4th 2008 3:43PM]

Ooops, for what it's worth, I have an older VGA-only 4-port + USB IOGEAR KVM (I forget the model number - it's at home) and I'm otherwise happy with it.

The Logitech V220 *works*. The V320 and the VX Revolution did *not* work. I tried a couple of cordless Kensingtons, they had large bulky receiver units that did not fit properly.

[E. Douglas Jensen @ Nov 4th 2008 5:24PM]

Try the AdderView DVI KVM. It does cope with some different mice (but not all pointing devices unfortunately).