Video quality w/ a switchbox

[DontShootMe]

Tonight I hooked up multiple windows systems with a cheap mechanical 4-to-1 KVM switchbox. Everything works OK but the video has fairly bad ghosting on all connected systems. I'm using allegedly good quality shielded vid cables on all systems.

I do like having the switch instead of 3x KVM like I'd been using. Can anyone recommend a good setup? Is it as simple (and expensive) as popping for a decent electronic switch? Or are there significant performance differences between the electronic ones? Any help would be appreciated.

Steve

 

[Hender]

I don't know what the deciding factor is, whether it's just the construction of the KVM switch or the electronic vs. mechanical, but the cheap $20 KVM switches so numerous on eBay and the like seem to be pretty low quality overall. I paid a little more and picked up a D-Link 4-port switch, and I have no ghosting effects or artifacts at 1280x1024x85 on multiple machines.

If you lower your resolution, the ghosting should go away.

 

[merlocka]

I have a linksys KVM and I get slight ghosting at 1280x1024x85-100. I don't recommend it. The mechanical switches are generally garbage. I tried one and it was poop at 1024x768.

My RC5 stats are better than yours! Nya nya!

Nope

 

[MisterMac9]

I am using a no name 2 to 1 electronic switch that cost around $100 at a computer show. No ghosting or anyother video problem. But I had a mechanical switch before that and it had no ghosting either (it eventual broke so I replaced it). I am not sure whether higher resolutions are more likely to show problems, but I am only running 800x600 with 24 bit color depth with a 17" monitor. Before I bought a switch I was worried about degraded video but it turned out OK. I did buy good cables. The dealer claimed good cables are essential to avoid problems. But you said you have good cables too.

 

[DontShootMe]

Thanks, all. For grins I tried dropping to 1024x768 and it looked much better ghost-wise, however that resolution looks too grainy on my PF790. Guess I'll check out an electronic box. Belkin has one that also switches audio, and that would be a plus.

Steve

 

[baneonrt]

We ordered several 4 port Linksys KVM switches for work. Had ghosting problems so sent them back in favor of the Belkin PS2/USB/Audio switches. We're very happy with these. No image problems at all on my machine at 1600x1200x85Hz. One other advantage to the Belkin is that it can be flashed for updates.

Steve