looking for RELIABLE and FAST DVI kvm switch

[Red Squirrel]

I don't understand why this is so hard to find. DVI KVM switches in general are hard to find, they're all VGA, like if it was 1990 or something. I did manage to find one, the TK-217I. Iti's complete garbage. The keyboard and mouse on the secondary just randomly died. Now it randomly dies on primary, I have to keep unplugging and plugging back, overall, it's garbage.

Why is it so hard to make a KVM that's actually reliable? I need this to be able to switch between my Linux machine and Windows machine flawlessly. They use DVI for monitor and USB for keyboard and mouse. Rather simple normal setup, but oddly very hard to find a switch for.

I'm open to any recommendations. I just want something that works.

Also, it needs to be something that has a physical toggle switch or has a hot key that does not require special software, because one of the machines is Linux.

 

[Childs]

I have Gefen DVI-DL w/USB KVMs and they work well. They can be a little pricey, but you can usually find a deal on eBay for a used one.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Just bumping this, my other switch just died... USB not working on secondary PC.

Looking for other options for something that will be reliable and not die on me. It has to be DVI and USB. I really don't get why they're still trying to sell PS2/VGA ones. It's not 2002 any more. Hardly anything even has PS2 any more not even servers.

I'm also in Canada so it has to be something I can get here. I checked amazon for Gefen but that's slightly off my budget, I'm hoping to pay under $500.

Worse case scenario I'm just going to make my own, essentially just need to use a bunch of transistors to get the connections to switch. Idealy I'd want to emulate keyboard, mouse and monitor though.

My requirements are:

- At least 2 ports
- No software needed to switch between PCs. Either a hard button, or a keyboard key (preferred)
- DVI monitor
- USB keyboard/mouse
- Audio not required

Also open to know what brands to avoid/look for. Trendnet is on my avoid list given this is my 2nd one that dies.

 

[tnt118]

We run some 60-70 computers on various KVMs, and we've never found anything non-VGA that was worth the cost. Drives me crazy because we make more sacrifices than I'd like because of that.

 

[aigomorla]

squirrel are u looking for just a simple KVM or a real enterprise class KVM Switch?

For simple... believe it or not... im using a IOGEAR... (goes hides) but its lasted longer then 1 of my enterprise KVM switchs i had on a KVM Console....
But it might be just my luck.

Here's one:
http://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-4-Port...TF8&qid=1442433427&sr=8-6&keywords=IOgear+kvm

The 2 port ones are cheaper if thats all you need...

 

[Red Squirrel]

At this point I don't care if it's enterprise or not I just want it to work. As long as it does not rely on software for anything as chances are good such software would only be for Windows.

Found it on the Canadian site so that's good:

http://www.amazon.ca/IOGEAR-4-Port-...TF8&qid=1442433427&sr=8-6&keywords=IOgear+kvm

If that Iogear one works for you reliably, then I think I may go for it. It's only $30 more for the 4 port in Canada so I may as well go with that. Bonus is I plan on moving my work bench to the same desk as my main desk as I'll just be making a really big desk, so I'll be able to use the KVM to connect to any PC I'm working on. Though I might still have a separate keyboard/mouse/monitor for that as it's nice to be able to see both at once.

 

[InfiniteLurker]

A few years back I had a similar need and was just as frustrated trying to find something that worked for my set up. I needed a dual-monitor capable KVM that supported 2560x1600.

I ended up with this from Iogear and it worked really well for me for years (only reason I sold it was because I reconfigured my setup to a single 4K monitor and PC):

http://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-4-Port-Dual-Link-Switch-GCS1644/dp/B0029U15GC

 

[rchunter]

I've been using this for a few months now. Kind of slow switching probably because of the high resolution (2560x1440). It works alright though.

http://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-4-Port...id=1443100268&sr=8-1&keywords=IOGEAR+GCS1204G

 

[Childs]

At this point I don't care if it's enterprise or not I just want it to work. As long as it does not rely on software for anything as chances are good such software would only be for Windows.

Found it on the Canadian site so that's good:

http://www.amazon.ca/IOGEAR-4-Port-...TF8&qid=1442433427&sr=8-6&keywords=IOgear+kvm

If that Iogear one works for you reliably, then I think I may go for it. It's only $30 more for the 4 port in Canada so I may as well go with that. Bonus is I plan on moving my work bench to the same desk as my main desk as I'll just be making a really big desk, so I'll be able to use the KVM to connect to any PC I'm working on. Though I might still have a separate keyboard/mouse/monitor for that as it's nice to be able to see both at once.

I've used that IOGear before. It was OK, but it didn't support DL DVI so I couldnt use it with my 1440p monitor. Also, rebooting machines while not on that active kvm port would cause the machine to think it didnt have a monitor. Anyways, it was what I was using before I got my Geffen.