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| IOGEAR 4 Port DVI KVMP Switch with Audio and Cables (GCS1764) | 
 enlarge | Brand: Iogear
Category: CE
List Price: $266.73
Buy New: $179.88
You Save: $86.85 (33%)
New (30) Used (2) from $175.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  27 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 9
Dimensions (in): 2.9 x 10.3 x 1.7
Warranty: 3 years warranty
MPN: GCS1764
Model: GCS1764
UPC: 881317003041
EAN: 0881317003041
ASIN: B0009UFOTS
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 1-5 of 27 | | NEXT » |
 Tiny, easy to install, and works like a champ. August 27, 2008
Purchased this unit for the 1920x1200 resolution, the DVI and sound inputs, and the 4 ports. Unit exceeded my expectations.
This unit is tiny! Less than 11 inches wide and 4 inches deep. It's about the size of a desktop 3 hole punch or a household spray can. The KVM cables and power plug into the back and the console plugs into the front. The unit is sturdy though. Case is metal and not plastic -- unlike some lower price KVMs. You can stack stuff on top of it.
I connected it to a computer running Windows Vista and a computer running Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Everything worked flawlessly. All computers running at 1920x1200 @ 60hz. Switching from computer to computer takes about 2 seconds. Switching time might be less with smaller screens. Ports are hot-pluggable so you can move connections from one port to another without causing issues. The unit beeps when switching ports.
Unit has an autoscan feature that cycles through all active computers. Autoscan displays each port for 5 seconds then moves to the next port.
Oh, it comes with HOTKEYS! Instead of having to reach for the KVM switch, you tap the SCRL-LOCK key twice, press the number of the computer you want to switch to, then press ENTER. KVM switches and your hands haven't left the keyboard. (For us Linux people who type a LOT, that is a time-saver). There are other hotkey combos too.
Finally, the unit has a 2 port USB hub built into the rear of it. You can plug in things like USB printers, webcams, and other things then share those among all computers too. How well that works, I don't know. Probably depends on what software you are using.
Am very, very happy with the IOGear unit. Would recommend to friends, family, and co-workers.
Some notes:
1) Manual says max resolution is 1600x1200. Website says 1920x1200. Amazon says 1920x1200. Manual is outdated.
2) When installing the KVM, you should power up KVM then power up your computers. I did it backwards and couldn't get 1920x1200. Also, some computers might have to be rebooted when plugging in the KVM port. Depends on hardware, video card, and operating system.
3) When you start your computers after connecting to the KVM, they might show up with a lower than normal display resolution. Again, varies depend on hardware, video card, monitor, and operating system. Just adjust your settings.
I'm so happy to have a KVM with sound. This is awesome!
Works great August 14, 2008
This product works great for me. Hooked up to it I have:
PowerMac G5 with ATI Radeon 9600
Core 2 Quad Ubuntu Hardy box with onboard Intel GMA X3500
Macbook Core 2 Duo with Intel GMA X3100
I first ordered a Startech Starview KVM, which showed no video from my laptop or Linux box. I returned it and got this instead. I should have gotten this from the start. Once I turned off the beeping and switched the keyboard mode to Mac, it works perfectly.
bad customer service July 31, 2008
I have several of these switches in use and have been satisfied with their operation in the past, this latest one had me a bit unhappy. It arrived with two defective cables, fine electrically but the knobs that turn the studs to secure the cables to the KVM/monitor just spin on the stud.
I figured it would be no big deal and called IOGear tech support only to be told that they would not ship me two replacement cables and that I'd have to ship the entire switch back to Amazon and get it replaced that way.
I made a second call to IOGear customer service and requested confirmation of this policy both to be sure the tech was correct and that they and I had understood the situation correctly. After giving them my case number and explaining he situation again I was bumped up a couple levels to someone that could replace the cables and my problem was solved.
After looking at a couple of the other reviews I have another point that should be considered by folks ordering this KVM switch.
The switch is DVI-I and will switch DVI-D, DVI-A or VGA signals. The connectors on the KVM are DVI-D dual-link, I have not confirmed that the switch will do the dual-link mode and the IOGear website doesn't mention it.
However the cables shipped with the switch DVI-D single-link ones, do not have the analog connections needed to deliver the VGA signal to the switch.
That means you will need to get a VGA to DVI-I cable for any systems that only do VGA. You will also need a DVI-I to DVI-I cable to connect the switch to your monitor. So far all doable if a bit clunky, the killer is that you must have a DVI-I capable monitor port or it won't work. My NEC Multisync has a DVI-I port and when connected it works just fine. My LG monitor has a DVI-D port and it will not work for displaying VGA signals.
Wikipedia has a good page on DVI for non-experts that explains all of this with pictures.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface#Connector
Bottom line for me is that while not perfect it is good enough, I'll order another when needed and add it to the stack rather than switching brands and starting a second stack.
 Could not get to work at 1920 x 1200 July 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
After having problems with another Iogear KVM switch at 1920 x 1200 (over VGA, not DVI) the reviews here that mentioned success at that resolution had me optimistic. Alas, I could not get this switch to work properly with 2 PCs at that resolution. The best I achieved was a display with lots of lines dancing around, and random red pixels. Worst case, there was just a band across the middle of the screen - the video changed every time I cycled ports. Another computer running at 1600 x 1200 - which is within the published spec - displayed the same degraded video. Iogear tech support was friendly but ultimately not able to offer any help other than to point me to the GCS1204 which is double the price. That switch is a dual link DVI for much higher video bandwidth, so I suspect it actually will work for my case.
It's unfortunate, as this is a nice KVM otherwise. The previous Iogear KVM I tried is the GCS1758 (I plan to have a 5th device for work/testing, so really want 8 ports) and while it's a well made KVM with some nice features it also had problems with video at 1920 x 1200.
Works as advertised June 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've owned multiple KVMs over the years, and this is the only one that has ever worked exactly as advertised. Not only does this one actually support Logitech mice (I've only tried wired ones), and the Microsoft Natural 4000 (the web/home and favorites keys work!), but USB devices are not disconnected when the hub switches away. USB 2.0 works. I have never, ever been able to get hotkeys to work on the other switches, but this one makes it easy. (My last switch was a 4-port Raritan that promised to support what the IOgear one actually does--and it did, as long as by "support" one means "connect as a HID-compliant mouse and keyboard." I'm impressed, and I've never said that about any KVMs before.
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