KVM's reduce performance

[ikonia]

Morning all,

I was thinking about putting a 2 port KVM in between my gaming PC and my laptop docking station so that I could switch between the laptop and PC on the same monitor/keyboard/mouse

the concern I have is that will my performance on the mouse and keyboard start to degrade and maybe even lag a little as its going through the kvm ?


any comments on this would be appriciated.

I'd also like to hear recommendations for a good kvm switch assuming it doesn't degrade the performance of the gaming.

Thanks.

[daniel_owen_uk]

Wont degrade at all.

What devices do you use? USB? DVI/VGA?

[Furton]

You might get some VGA signal degradation if you use a cheap KVM with cheap cables.

I'm using a 4 port Belkin KVM switch, no problems at all.

[Stoo]

The old ones used to be limited in terms of resolution and refresh rate, but virtually all modern ones will support anything you throw at it..

The only downside is that most of the KVM's today still use the VGA Connector rather than the DVI, so if you're using a TFT with a KVM the display won't be as crisp..

You'd probably be better off spending a little more and getting one of the ones that use usb connections too, as it makes them that bit more flexible

[Stoo]

Never mind.. it was a cable.. Doh!

[mike_w]

I've got a Belkin 2 port KVM here, I haven't noticed any difference, or being any worse in games.

[5cupa]

Have used two belkin KVM's one with built in cables and one with completely separate setup never seen any degrade on performance and as mentioned the older ones used to suffer with video signals.

[Captain Fizz]

The ONLY issue I've had with KVM's is Black Box's shortcut key... Double tap control and it goes into a menu where you can select which PC by letter, reset the KVM etc.

But no "lag" in games - No reduction in visual quality unless you use skinny cables.

You would never know you had a KVM installed until you select the other PC!

[rajagra]

Have used two belkin KVM's never seen any degrade on performance

I can only assume that nobody here is using Logitech mice. If you load the software to use all the snazzy features e.g. sideways scrolling and extra buttons, then switching machines (using a Belkin KVM switch) causes loss of all but the most basic mouse functionality - you can still move and click, but the scroll wheel and extra buttons do nothing.
One solution is to not load the software - you lose all the extra buttons, but at least the scroll wheel works consistently!
Maybe newer Belkin KVMs have fixed this problem?
Apart from that there is no slowdown or anything, just a fuzzy display if you use cheap/long cables.
Oh yes, sometimes if you use Scroll.Lock-Scroll.Lock to switch machines, the keyboard stops responding, you just need to push the button on the KVM switch to fix this.

[BUFF]

Yup, I use a Dakota KVM & a Logiyech keyboard but if you load the Logitech software not all of the extra programmable keys work properly (Logi support say known issue).
Also, my KVM is an older PS/2 model & it doesn't seeem to like optical mice at all

[SilentDeath]

I was bored one day, and made my own. Heres a pic: http://server6.uploadit.org/files/kb...0USBSwitch.jpg

To answer your question, any USB switch will not affect performance atall becuased hte signal is just passed through untouched.
PS2 ones however, *could* as the signal is interpreted by the switch, but I *doubt* that any do, as the signalsare fairly simple...
All thats to watch out for is VGA degradation - However instead of using a KVM switch, you might want to consider getting a dual input monitor -not many CRT's are, but just about every TFT with DVI will be...

As both my mouse and keyboard are USB devices, I decided to make it a USB switch.

To increase functionality I used a old USB hub, so essentially 5 devicesare switchable.

note that for DOS/BIOS support, USB keyboards can NOT be pluged into a hub, they must have there own switch.. (which is one reson why I used two switches).
The switch you would need is a 4PDT, meaning 4 poles (wires) and two positions (two computers), OR 4P3T if you want 3 computers.. (can be used with just two..)

www.maplin.co.uk Code: FF76H For the 4P3T switch.

[BUFF]

However instead of using a KVM switch, you might want to consider getting a dual input monitor -not many CRT's are, but just about every TFT with DVI will be...

I run 4 pc's through mine so a dual input monitor isn't good enough (although it does happen to be a dual input monitor).

[Kumagoro]

The signal could be degraded by cables and the KVM is the impedance matching is poor.

[ikonia]

opinions recieved - many thanks