DVI Only Switch?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chris LeFebvre
  • Start date Start date
C

Chris LeFebvre

I presently have four computers hooked up to a Cybex KVM switchbox,
this setup really seems to work fine, no problems. But as I've rebuilt
my computers over the last year I've upgraded my video cards to Nvida
6800 series cards that have a 2nd DVI head. What I'd like to do is have
a second manual four port DVI only switch (no keyboard or mouse
nessesary) to attach a second monitor to the second port of the four
computers so that I can have one screen showing the first port on one
computer and the second screen showing the second port on a different
computer. Unfortunatly I haven't been able to find such a switch (no
luck with Google, maybe I'm just not using the right key words), does
anyone know of such a switch?

BTW, in the same vein <G>, I recently got a set of 5.1 surround sound
speakers and all four of my computers have high definition capable sound
cards and I really wouldn't mind being able to switch the sound from one
to another. Anyone know of a good switchbox for this application?

Thanks,

Chris LeFebvre
 
Chris said:
I presently have four computers hooked up to a Cybex KVM switchbox,
this setup really seems to work fine, no problems. But as I've rebuilt
my computers over the last year I've upgraded my video cards to Nvida
6800 series cards that have a 2nd DVI head. What I'd like to do is have
a second manual four port DVI only switch (no keyboard or mouse
nessesary) to attach a second monitor to the second port of the four
computers so that I can have one screen showing the first port on one
computer and the second screen showing the second port on a different
computer. Unfortunatly I haven't been able to find such a switch (no
luck with Google, maybe I'm just not using the right key words), does
anyone know of such a switch?

BTW, in the same vein <G>, I recently got a set of 5.1 surround sound
speakers and all four of my computers have high definition capable sound
cards and I really wouldn't mind being able to switch the sound from one
to another. Anyone know of a good switchbox for this application?

Thanks,

Chris LeFebvre
Click to expand...

You should be able to get enough brand names off this page, to dig up
some candidates. These are DVI KVM.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0143+1305620698&Configurator=&Subcategory=143

The sound may be tougher to solve - not in the technical sense, as
switching between sound sources is not really that tough. This
question about sound has been asked before, and I don't remember
anything good showing up. One problem with audio, is price gouging,
where the simplest function costs an "arm and a leg".

Paul
 
I presently have four computers hooked up to a Cybex KVM switchbox, this
setup really seems to work fine, no problems. But as I've rebuilt my
computers over the last year I've upgraded my video cards to Nvida 6800
series cards that have a 2nd DVI head. What I'd like to do is have a
second manual four port DVI only switch (no keyboard or mouse nessesary)
to attach a second monitor to the second port of the four computers so
that I can have one screen showing the first port on one computer and
the second screen showing the second port on a different computer.
Unfortunatly I haven't been able to find such a switch (no luck with
Google, maybe I'm just not using the right key words), does anyone know
of such a switch?

BTW, in the same vein <G>, I recently got a set of 5.1 surround sound
speakers and all four of my computers have high definition capable sound
cards and I really wouldn't mind being able to switch the sound from one
to another. Anyone know of a good switchbox for this application?

Thanks,

Chris LeFebvre
Click to expand...

Why not just buy another Cybex KVM? When your're on the second screen of
the different computer wouldn't you need a mouse and keyboard?

As for the sound, you're SOL for 5.1 unless you can connect the S/PDIF
outputs into a multichannel amplifier/receiver/home theater. You'll have
to match the amplifier inputs optical/coax to the outputs from the sound
cards, otherwise you'll only get stereo using analog.
 
Hi Jaster:
Actually, I have a spare switchbox of the same type I'm using on the
first port / key board and mouse and I tried what you're suggesting.
These boxes draw their power from the keyboard although they do have a
jack for an optional power pack, I got a power pack from radio shack of
the correct DC voltage and milli-amps and hooked it up but it still
doesn't seem to work and of course these are six years old and even
though they work fine Avocent (who bought Cybex) really has no interest
in helping with this problem so I figured it was time to search for
another solution.

- Chris
 
Hi Jaster:
Actually, I have a spare switchbox of the same type I'm using on the
first port / key board and mouse and I tried what you're suggesting.
These boxes draw their power from the keyboard although they do have a
jack for an optional power pack, I got a power pack from radio shack of
the correct DC voltage and milli-amps and hooked it up but it still
doesn't seem to work and of course these are six years old and even
though they work fine Avocent (who bought Cybex) really has no interest
in helping with this problem so I figured it was time to search for
another solution.

- Chris
Click to expand...

I forgot there's only one keyboard/mouse input per cpu. So, you would
need 2-way switches for each keyboard and mouse.

Perhaps you should look into VNC - http://www.realvnc.com/what.html
 
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