Any KVM switch recommendations ?

[TheGreenGoblin]

I'm looking for some something with 4 ports , VGA and PS/2 ports for mice and keyboards and that can do at least 1024x768 @ 85 Hz . I've taken a look at Belkin's Omniview switches and they look nice but seem a bit pricey . Am willing to spend up to 200-300 $ Canadian which would be approx 160 - 190 $ US . Any suggestions would be appreciated .

 

[Breaker78]

I've got a linksys, and its great. Just do a search on buy.com, thats where I got mine. I've used both this and the Belkin OmniView and the linksys is worlds nice. I only have a 2-port, but I've seen a 4 port and they are way more compact then the omniviews. Also, I can switch screens with a key-board shortcut, which is nice, since my box can be under the desk.

I got my 2-port with cables for less than $60. A four port should be right in your range.

 

[Strych9]

Cybex makes good KVM switches also.

 

[Wik]

I also have a Linksys 2 port model. Works very good. I have used it at 1024x768 85hz and 1280x1024 85hz without any problem. It is very handy just hitting CTRL twice to switch.

 

[Zach]

My Cybex works pretty well. It never gets a break, with one of it's computers on 24/7. Needed a 'reboot' once, but only once. For the price, it's great.

 

[DnetMHZ]

i own the Linksys 2 & 4 port models and would recommend either of them.. very nice and compact product.. and they don't require power which is nice

 

[TheGreenGoblin]

K thanks for all the input guys , I'll take a good link at the Linksys models .

 

[Chatterjee]

try to get KVM cable kits online though. compusa charges WAY too much for them ... $20 a set... so for a 4-port you need $80 worth of cables!

-S

 

[Mday]

make sure you get good cables.

 

[bigshooter]

The linksys 4 port comes with cables.

edit: Depends on where you get it, i guess it doesn't always come with cables.

 

[TheGreenGoblin]

I have read that good cables are a necessity , any known good cable brands out there ? or any online retailers ( preferably Canadian) that carry em ? Last thing I want is cable related problems .

 

[igiveup]

LOL. CompUSA charges wayyyyyy to much for everything in the store.

 

[blstriker]

The best thing to do is get the cables and switch as a set. This will save you a lot of money. Linksys cables are really thick good quality cables. I can't see any loss of image quality by using the kvm. It makes running two computers really easy.

 

[Nosferatu]

There is one thing about buying the cables. I have a 2 port Linksys and a 4 port bobo brand. The monitor cable was not the same on both and would not fit. The cable kit with the Linksys is male to female. The regular one is male to male. Something to keep in mind.

 

[jcg]

cybex worked for me!!!

 

[Hermannthegerman]

As far as these things go, make sure you know how you will be switching between computers before you buy the kvm switch. I have one from Linksys, and I really wish I had known that it was ctrl ctrl. It doesn't seem like it would be a problem unless you are playing a game. A lot of games use control as the jump key. True you can change the default keys in most games, it is really a hassle. And it is not fun when you are playing your favorite game, and suddenly instead of seeing the blood of your enemy flying across the screen, you see your servers login screen.

 

[macssuck]

Cybex fan here

 

[blstriker]

I know what you mean, I play starcraft a lot and the crtl button thingy messes up my game sometimes. I've gotten use to it though.

 

[Elledan]

I'm using a Belkin OmniCube for two PC's (Win2k & SuSe Linux). Both run at 1280x960 without any problems.

 

[Breaker78]

The Linksys 4 port box doesn't have the ctrl-ctrl key to switch screens.

It uses something like crtl+shift+N where N is the number you want to go to.

I personally love that crtl crtl is a shortcut to switch comps on the 2-port.

Its so much easier then going to the belkin and puching the button and waiting for each screen to come up, cycling through the selections.

Enough of this thread.

*UNSUBSCRIBE*

 

[AKA]

I use the Omnicube 4 port by Belkin. And it uses the scroll lock key.. tap it twice then either # 1-4 for whatever port you want.

I bought the 4 port about 2 yrs from buy.com for $89 which included 2 sets of cables. Normally it would be selling everywhere else around $140. Right now is a good deal on it.. although I dont think it comes with cables anymore.

Belkin Omnicube 4 port for $88.95 at buy.com

If you add that to cart it will show 6' Belkin PS2 cable kit to add for $9.96, thats all 3 cables for video, mouse and keyboard.

If you bought that 4 port and 4 cable kits your still under your price.

 

[SirAllen]

I too am in the market to purchase a KVM. Video an mouse quality is VERY important to me, I play a lot of video games and I don't want to even know I'm on a switch. One manufacturer that cought my eye is Tripp-Lite, anyone have any experience with their units? They claim to support up to 1920x1440 w/o any noticeable degration.

I have experience with Omniview SEs, nice units, but I'm concerned that they don't support high enough resolutions and refresh rates (I plan on taking my machine into work to try it though ). The only problem I've ever had with them is that they'll lose the mouse once a blue moon which could only be fixed by rebooting, hasn't happened in a long time though.