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Good KVM?

H

Horizon_Galaxy

Weaksauce
Joined
Feb 21, 2014
Messages
116
I recently built a gaming PC and purchased a new 1440p screen for a new home office setup. The last piece to the puzzle is I need a switch for my USB Keyboard and mouse, and my audio cable so I can use the same speakers and keyboard with two computers.

I've been trying to do some research but was overwhelmed by the world of KVM switches. Could someone direct me to a good, low cost option that doesn't add any lag on the mouse or keyboard? I don't even know if that is an issue. I just need to switch my keyboard, mouse and audio between my macbook pro and my gaming PC.

Thanks!
 
"Good" and "low cost" don't exist together when it comes to KVM switches. And you're going to experience some lag regardless of which switch you choose.

What are you using for your video connection?
 
tiraides said:
"Good" and "low cost" don't exist together when it comes to KVM switches. And you're going to experience some lag regardless of which switch you choose.

What are you using for your video connection?
Click to expand...

Video from each computer is connected directly to the monitor. The MacBook Pro is connected via displayport and the Gaming PC via dual-link DVI.

So what I really need is a USB switch, so when I want to switch between computers I can quickly use the same keyboard and mouse. I know a basic USB switch, introduces very little lag. I also, however, need to switch audio as I only have one set of speakers. This seems to push me into a KVM even though I don't need to switch the video.

I'm hoping to find something that doesn't take up a lot of space, which is why I was trying to find one box to do it all instead of getting a seperate USB switch and audio switch, but perhaps that is the best way to go.
 
I use a USB Iogear with VGA. I don't use the video switching. It has audio switching, but to be honest I've never used it. They are under $50 IIRC.
 
motolube said:
I have been using this one for more than a year now w/o a single glitch

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182157

I have never used the audio myself so perhaps, this one is not the one for you. Sorry
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone. I may just go with a USB switch and figure out the audio switching later. A USB switch is all I really need for the keyboard and mouse.

I'm just having trouble finding a 3.5mm audio switch. The USB switch will take care of the keyboard and mouse, but I don't have anyway to hook up two audio sources to one set of 3.5mm speakers.
 
When it comes to KVM the lower cost devices tend to be less reliable than the higher cost ones.

Here's a Gefen KVM that supports 2560x1600, displayport, USB and audio. You'll need to switch from DVI to DP on your PC.

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/ext-dpkvm-441.jsp?prod_id=10026

Equivalent IOGear DVI version but you'll need a DP to DVI adapter for your MacBook. IOGear has versions that feed of of USB but they're less reliable than wall wart powered.

http://www.iogear.com/product/GCS1782G/
 
I ended up picking up an IOGEAR GUS404. It just does USB switching but has a nice button I can place near the keyboard. It doesn't switch audio which I still need to figure out, but it has been a good product so far. Thanks for all the help!
 
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