KVM switches, which is better, Cybex aka Avocent or Aten aka IOGear?

[Nocturnal]

I really dig the new IOGear GCS1774 however there is a known issue where the IOGear KVM does not work with any nForce 3 or 4 chipset and there is no ETA on a firmware update. So far they're telling people to use a PCI USB card in order to properly use the KVM which is an extreme hassle and not a great way to get someone to buy their $300.00+ dollar KVM switch.

On the other hand, Avocent which after searching this forum for a few hours I find out that many people liked the Cybex brand and I could not find many complaints about the Avocent brand either. They have a comparable KVM which has a USB 2.0 hub and has both connections (PS/2 and USB) for both the keyboard and mouse. Then, there is the ONE USB cable that connects both keyboard/mouse into the various computers that you connect to the KVM. On the other hand, the IOGear has two USB cables one for the mouse and one for the keyboard and that takes up two USB ports on any computer that I would be working on.

I could go for the IOGear and hope that at work I don't come across an nForce 3/4 chipset mobo or that there is an updated firmware by then or I could probably go with the Avocent. I don't know.

What are your thoughts on the Avocent?

 

[Ronin]

I personally use Omniviews, and I love them to death. I've had no problems with them, and I use them on multiple systems.

 

[Kenazo]

I have a trendware which worked great w/ both my old NF3 and my new NF4 system. Then again it's only a two port that cost $25.

 

[TGS]

I'm using a cybex branded one right now. Seems to work fine. I've also used the network enabled avocent devices. Which is fairly nice getting on systems that aren't up into the OS yet. Though I prefer a Web based Terminal Server at least for windows boxes.

 

[Gorgonzola]

I too am sifting through the piles of KVM swicthes available trying to make a choice. I am currently looking at the Aten CS-1762 (although I did not know about the nForce issues which will affect me).

Can anyone tell me why:
1.There are so few KVM swicthes that support modern technology e.g. USB, DVI, Audio all in one (despite the fact they are obviously aimed at home users and not enterprise use)?

2. Why they are so expensive for what seems to be a fairly straight forward device? I must be over-looking something!

EDIT: I forgot to add... Is Aten and IOGear the same company? Or do they just share technology?

 

[Sunner]

We use one of Cybex' enterprise oriented switches at work, it's ok, but at $8.000 for the whole thing I'd expect more.
And it's VT100 terminal cards suck.

 

[Nocturnal]

Originally posted by: Gorgonzola
I too am sifting through the piles of KVM swicthes available trying to make a choice. I am currently looking at the Aten CS-1762 (although I did not know about the nForce issues which will affect me).

Can anyone tell me why:
1.There are so few KVM swicthes that support modern technology e.g. USB, DVI, Audio all in one (despite the fact they are obviously aimed at home users and not enterprise use)?

2. Why they are so expensive for what seems to be a fairly straight forward device? I must be over-looking something!

EDIT: I forgot to add... Is Aten and IOGear the same company? Or do they just share technology?

Aten and IOGear is the same company. I think Aten is more of their "higher" end line like Lexus is to Toyota and then IOGear is the more consumer friendly, non-professional type of gear. However, the CS-1774 and the GCS1774 are the same models.

I too have been SEARCHING hard for a KVM that is up to date. I do not know why it is so hard to get something that works properly. I was looking at the Avocent SwitchView MM2 which has almost all the same features as the GCS1774 except for the switch.

I haven't heard many complaints about Avocent either. I know they were once Cybex and Apex.

So Gorgonzola, I don't have an easy answer for you other than I'm searching for something like that myself.

I wanted the GCS1774 so badly. I spoke to their tech support as well as Aten and they both said they're working with nVidia to figure out what is causing the issue and that there is no ETA on the fix. Oh well

 

[Gorgonzola]

In that case I guess the hunt continues....

grrr!