🔄 Switch It Up: Elevate Your Workspace Experience!
The IOGEAR 2-Port USB-C KVM with Power Kit allows you to effortlessly manage two USB-C devices while providing power delivery, making it the perfect solution for professionals seeking efficiency and versatility in their workspace.
A**I
Best
VERY useful item with high quality
K**I
A KVM Switch that did not work!
Its a plug and play product, the only thing that worked in this product was the keyboard and mouse, the important thing did not, that was the display ports!. I had it connected to Nvidia Quadro M2000 and Nvidia Quadro K2200, both did not work!. The display ports on both of my graphics cards were functioning properly, I tested them with a simple display port to a VGA adapter, it worked, tested them with DP to DVI adapter, they worked! I also tested them with a cable that is a DP to HDMI, THEY WORKED! lol. I even reduced the resolution and tried different monitor refresh rates on different monitors! I failed to make this KVM Switch work!. I really tried. I am left with a product that is waiting to be picked up and sent back to amazon.
B**K
STABILITY
very easy to install and works very well for over the last 6 weeks
C**A
Truly amazing product to connect 2 computers to the same keyboard, mouse, monitor
I used to have the good old switch box that no longer works with the latest technology. I had to upgrade to a new KVM switch and I shopped all over to find a good one. Specifically, I needed one that integrated a mac and pc and that used display ports versus HDMI. I must admit that the mess of wires that came with the unit scared me quite a bit when I first saw them but once you sort them out, everything makes sense. I did not use any of the mic or audio inputs because I have a cinema display and a DAC for my Mac. I did not cut those wires but I had to tuck them away. If I could recommend something to the company, it would be to make those wires removable. Other than that, I absolutely love the discreteness of this device. You can hide the box completely and use the little button to switch computers. It is really discrete and works like a charm. I especially love the fact that when I switch to the Mac, it automatically wakes up the computer. There is a little delay when switching back and forth but I never switch rapidly back and forth. I gather this is because the switch has to re-sync each time I switch (going from Mac to PC is probably like switching from Spanish to English).
E**I
Worked as intended but not well enough.
This product does not work with hdmi to dp converter. Works well when all system is dp.
B**R
Will do for now
Regarding: GCS1944; Sorry if TLDR;[UPDATE 2021.09.14] - GXS24KIT (rackmount kit)I obtained this rack kit item to add on my GCS1944. The width of each ear is actually 2 7/8 inches, which is good, and thankfully they are not a full 3 inches as specified on their web site. After adding the ears to the GCS1994, the full width of the switch is now just a hair under 19 inches, which should work out perfectly for me to add this KVM switch to a rack.[ORIGINAL REVIEW, minus rackmount references]Overall, it seems to work, with caveats.I don't believe that DP was designed with KVMs in mind. The port switching transitions involving DP sources take longer, and IOGear's product doesn't seem to add performance benefits on that front. The ConnectPro brand boasts faster transitions (and some amount of built-in EDID transition support), but you might have other issues with their KVM products, and they cost more and are backordered, so I picked up the GCS1944 for now.With most DP-KVMs, there are port transition issues that arise (resolution/window positioning/non-waking). Supposedly upcoming Windows 10 updates may address these to some extent, but it may not be exactly perfect from what I've read. I don't know that the updates will be able to address the non-waking monitor issues. I can't speak to a Linux system experience with this KVM currently.Details on my GCS1944 assessment follow.-----GENERAL PERFORMANCE:My systems that have any DP source output take from about 15 to 20 seconds to transition (KVM/Audio/USB). The IOGear support staff will see those timings as normal. My systems connected with only HDMI or DVI sources generally transition for me within 8 seconds.-----OTHER ISSUES (not including slow transitions):1) [Windows] Improper resolution upon waking;2) [Windows] Window Re-positioning upon waking;3) Monitor doesn't wake at all;- SEE 'TIPS FOR TRANSITION' NEAR THE END OF THIS POST ON RESOLVING THESE ISSUES-----GCS1944 items to note:-My firmware is newer than what is available online for this model. Mine came with v1.1.102, online only has 101. The support staff eventually stated that mine was a "firmware we are testing," and another stated it as "shipping firmware only"... which seems rather odd to not provide the firmware online as well if it's shipping with the product. One of them actually stated "I wouldn't recommend using yet"... even though they are shipping with the product? Another said I should just stick with 102. There seems to be no way to "backup" the existing firmware. Then it seems that in the world of KVM manufacturers, there is an "aversion" to publishing all the different firmware one could potentially use, well noted with ConnectPro customers for example.-My system performs more in line with the comparable ATEN CS1944DP documentation, which I believe is mostly the exact same hardware. I'm not sure if this is a result of the 102 firmware, but the HSM-[Q] command works on mine for Monitor Re-detection, which is not documented in the current GCS1944 pdf, not sure if that works with 101 firmware. Also, quick port pressing moves over ALL items (kvm+audio+usb) by default, as described in the ATEN documentation, where the GCS1944 documentation states that it will only move the KVM over. Although I see you can manually toggle that change that with [HSM]+[S]. If I could backup/restore the 102 version, I would try 101 perhaps to see if there were any performance benefits, but I would be concerned if the monitor re-detection option is missing.-Online specs describe the GCS1944 as being 13.9 inches wide, this is wrong. It could be a simple typo, as the ATEN equivalent documentation states 13.19 inches, which is the more accurate item dimension.-----Details on my setup and related GCS1944 experience so far:-Currently using older 1080p monitors, 2 matching model ViewSonic monitors with DVI connections using DP-to-DVI active adapters from the KVM. It works fine, no loss of clarity.Whenever the source is straight DP to the KVM, I'm more likely to experience issues. If I use HDMI or DVI adapters to DP (both Active), any issues are far more rare. Although I've been planning to update my monitors, I wonder how newer monitors with DP ports could impact performance.-Using wired mouse and keyboard at this time.-Some of my systems with DP sources (but not all) occasionally fail to wake, or wake with reduced resolution settings. This happened so often from a GTX-1660 Super card, that I ended up switching that connection to the DVI output instead (with VisionTek DVI-to-DP) to go along with an existing HDMI out, and now the transition for the 2 monitors for that system occurs in about 8 seconds (as opposed to 20 seconds before), and has no need to run PW or MK for window positioning (see 'TIPS' below), although I think I had non-waking issue once. On an older laptop with docking station and 2 DP outs, lots of issues. I'm concerned about how the GTX-1660 Super card (w/up to date drivers) will perform in the future should I need the DP port again for higher resolutions.-Perhaps IOGear/ATEN can come up with some newer firmware that will allow for faster DP transitions. As it is, they should post more firmware options online, even beta firmware, as one size may not fit all. When I mentioned the transition delays up to 20 seconds to tech support, this was not surprising to them. Another option could be adding a software agent to the host computer that could be triggered upon the KVM USB activation, although I'd think they could design ways to store monitor profiles on the KVM itself, and just invoke the profiles via hotkey commands.-----AUDIO:I'm using a line mixer to feed from the computer audio outputs, so I haven't been concerned as much about running the audio through the KVM up to this point.I only use the microphone with one system, so that is plugged in directly to that system's front interface.-----Tech Support: As was stated appropriately elsewhere, regardless of the medium you use to communicate with, many among the IOGear support staff seem highly "peevish." Not all of them are this way however.-----TIPS for TRANSITION ISSUES (mostly when straight DP-to-KVM sources are involved):--- Resolution issues:I've encountered resolution issues occasionally on some of my systems with DP sources. As to WHY, I believe this could be related to varying monitor configurations defined in the Windows registry, and Windows may use the wrong entry sometimes. Search for posts related to:HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\ConfigurationOutside of the registry editing (which I haven't tried yet), I've had some success using the KVM hotkeys ([HSM]+[Q]+[<port #>]+[ENTER]) to re-detect the monitors to return to the proper resolution.--- Window Positioning:Consider running 'PersistentWindows' (now on v 5.7); or MonitorKeeper. I suggest running them "as administrator". Both Free! For Win7 systems, PW has done better for me.I also have DisplayFusion, which allows you to save/restore window positions.However with DF, on restoring, the focus won't realign the same, and I believe it restores previously minimized windows.I believe PW can also save/restore snapshots, haven't tried it yet. But I still like DF for other dual display purposes. But with PW, I haven't really needed to save/restore so far, it does well without.--- Monitor Not Waking- try these commands before resetting the display cable:* Restart Video Driver: [CTRL]+[SHIFT]+[WIN]+[B] -Windows 10/11 only* KVM hotkey re-detect: [HSM]+[Q]+[port #]+[ENTER] -If supported by KVM firmware* Display Mode Selection: -Windows only; [WIN]+[P], then select something other than Extend (like 'Duplicate'); then invoke Win+P again, reset to 'Extend'; This works on Win7 as well!You may lose window positioning with this command, but it should at least wake the monitor.This last option may be the most reliable means to re-awaken the monitor outside of unplugging/re-plugging in the cable .-Question: Will 'always-active' DDC-EDID phantom connectors help the resolve DP EDID non-waking issues? Not a cheap add-on, and there are not many options out there. The related technology is far from perfect at this time from what I've read.CONCLUSION: I'm making do with the GCS1944 for now, I hope it will serve me for a fair amount of time.
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3 weeks ago
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