Best KVM Switch — DVI, VGA, HDMI, USB, and Dual Monitor KVM Switches to Connect Multiple Computers

Since its establishment in the year 1979, ATEN, a specialist in the production of management and connectivity solutions, has had only one aim in its sights; to create “Simply Better Connections”. It’s a brand that believes we don’t have to cramp our lifestyles to get and stay connected to the data and the people that matter to us. For it, the creation of sharing solutions that enable us to seamlessly and efficiently enjoy all these, and a little more, is its mission. The brand comprises of innovative products that provide solutions for connectivity, professional video/audio and earth-friendly energy to its target consumers, including home offices, small offices, small-medium businesses, and enterprise customers.

The ATEN 4-Port USB KVMP Switch is one of ATEN’s CubiQ series, a collection of revolutionary KVM switches. This 4-port KVM switch allows the user, that’s you, to easily connect and operate 4 different computers at a time. It’s DVI and audio enabled so you get quality video with a 1920 x 1200/60 maximum resolution and synchronized audio as you work. On its rear panel, you’ll find a portion marked “console” with ports for a monitor, USB ports for keyboard and mouse, microphone and speaker jacks. There are four other portions with similar input ports for the four systems you’ll be connecting.

There is also the added benefit of its 2 USB 2.0 ports to which printers, hubs, drives and any other peripheral devices can be connected. What’s impressive here is that all four computers have access to these devices, albeit on a “one computer at a time” basis. That’s quite neat, considering its compact design and size. Here are some more awesome features:

• Works with Mac, Windows, Linux and Sun operating systems
• Connects to Windows keyboard at once and has Mac/Sun keyboard emulation feature, although they’ll only work with their own computers
• Power on Detection that quickly switches from a powered-off computer to one that’s on
• Video DynaSync™ feature that optimizes display resolution
• Hotkey, 4 push-buttons and mouse port selection options
• Mouse port emulation/bypass feature supports multifunction mice and most mice drivers
• Firmware can be upgraded via USB
• Package includes 6-foot long cables

Just in case you have any questions, the ATEN support team provides excellent customer service; we thought you should know that.

IOGear is a major producer of connectivity devices with a line of complete Connectivity, Desktop, Digital Video/Audio, Mobility, Gaming and KVM solutions. It is a brand driven by quality to manufacture the best products for performance, durability and reliability. Its goal is to help customers get the best from their tech devices in both work and play. This company is continuously evolving to design business solutions that re-invent product categories.

The IOGear 2-Port USB VGA KVM Switch is designed to give you access to two computers at a time, using a VGA monitor and a USB-wired mouse and keyboard. It comes with a bonded inbuilt cable design that saves you the space all those individual cables would take up, and it also saves the extra cost of having to get separate wires as well. The 2 cables are located at one end of the switch and with them you can connect to the laptop or desktop computer of your choice. Its 6-foot remote switch cable is also located at the same end and it allows you to switch between computers with simple clicks of its buttons.

On the adjacent side of the cables, you’ll find a VGA monitor port with which the monitor is connected to the switch via VGA cable (not included) and 2 USB ports for your wired keyboard and mouse. For video, it supports a maximum of 2048x1536 resolution, which means you can use monitors with large screens and still get great quality pictures.

With this switch, you can use Windows 7 (or later), Mac OS 9 (or later) and Sun Solaris 9 (yeah, or later too) operating systems. It supports Mac keyboard and programmable mice with not more than 3 buttons as well. There is also a 3-year limited warranty. Its other features include:

• Easy to use plug-and-play features that don’t require installation of driver software
• USB-powered, requiring no power adapter
• Secure switching between internet and intranet-connected computers to enhance internet security
• Indicators on the face of the KVM switch to show which computer is in use
• Compact, lightweight design for ease of location and use

For those of you looking for a Dual Monitor KVM Switch, the IOGEAR 2-Port 4K Dual View DisplayPort KVMP with USB 3.0 Hub and Audio is a techy favorite.

ConnectPRO was established in 1992 by a computer engineer who made custom-built integrated automation devices for a number of his friends. From those humble beginnings twenty-five years ago, this brand has grown into a ground-breaking innovator that can boast of adding its own touch to KVM switching technology. Today, it remains committed to producing customized first-rate engineering solutions that include premium cables, KVM switches, video splitters, video switches and products for hands-free device control and management. For ConnectPRO, no job is too small and the best measurement for success is customer satisfaction.

This ConnectPRO UD 12-Port KVM Switch comes in a package complete with all the necessary cables and a power adapter. With this switch, you get to connect to and control 12 different computers at the same time using a DVI monitor and a USB-wired keyboard and mouse. It works with any version of Windows, OS X and Linux operating systems, and is also compatible with touchscreen computers.

On the rear panel, the console portion has 1 port for your DVI monitor which supports monitors with up to 1920×1080 resolution for crystal clear display. It also has 2 USB 2.0 ports for the mouse and keyboard; you should note that these ports are best suited for one hundred percent USB HID peripherals. Which brings us to the manufacturer’s patented DDM (Dynamic Device Mapping) that this big boy comes with. This feature allows a constant connection between the computers, keyboard and mouse so that you get a truly instantaneous transfer when you switch from one computer to another.

This switch has clearly-labeled buttons on its front panel that are backlit; they alternate between red, orange and green to indicate the current status of each computer. They’re also used to switch between ports. For a computer or port selection option that doesn’t require any stretching, there is hot-key support.

Here are more KVM switches from ConnectPRO for your consideration:

• ConnectPRO EOC-KVMUSA1 KVM Console Extender: For full console control from 1000 feet away
• ConnectPRO UR-12-KIT 2-Port USB 2.0 KVM Switch: With hot swappable ports
• ConnectPRO Master-IT UDD-12A + KIT - KVM/Audio Switch: With DDM technology and hotkey selection
• ConnectPRO UD-12+KIT, 2-port USB DVI KVM Switch: With DDM technology and hotkey selection

In 1990, TRENDnet set up shop in Torrance, California, and set out to establish itself as the global brand it is today. Its growth has been marked by stellar performance that’s caught the eyes of the international community and earned it quite the number of awards; some of its most recent achievements include PC Magazine’s Editor’s Choice in 2013 for its TEW-812DRU router, PC World’s vote for Top Quality Brand in 2009 and CRN’s Top 5 USA Networking Brand in 2009. With a desire to enable users to enjoy multimedia content, broadband access and shared peripherals for true connectivity. Its product portfolio consists of Wireless, Powerline, PoE, Internet Camera, Switch, USB/FireWire, Print Server, Modem, Network Adapter, KVM and Multimedia products.

The TRENDnet 4-Port USB KVM Switch Kit comes with all the cables needed to connect 4 CPUs to the switch. The cables include VGA/USB cables, speaker and microphone jacks so you can easily access all four computers using the console’s VGA monitor, mouse and keyboard and also enjoy 2-way audio content through the speaker and microphone connected to the console. The VGA interface is compatible with monitors with up to 2048 x 1536 resolutions, giving maximum picture clarity even on screens with a large display.

The switch supports both Windows and Linux operating systems and allows you to work from PCs, Mac Mini, iMac and Macintosh G3/G4/G5. Getting this unit up and running is a walk in the park as it doesn’t require your installing any driver software; it’s basically plug-and-play. It has an Autoscan function that switches, automatically, between the 4 connected computers for a hands-free computer monitoring. 4 push-buttons port/computer selections on the switch with their indicators take away the guesswork from deciding what computer is connected to what port.

Here are some more features of this KVM switch:

• Hotkey commands are available for easy switch between ports without having to reach for the push-buttons
• Windows-based switching software for on-screen switching
• Hotkeys are user-definable but for Windows OS only
• The ports are hot-pluggable, making it a flexible set up
• USB-powered unit eliminates the need for the extra weight of power adapter
• USB keyboard and mouse emulation increases peripheral options

There is a 2-year limited warranty backing this unit. For best results, the manufacturer advices it should be used with wired keyboards and mice.

When Rosewill opened its doors for business in 2004, it hit the ground running as it put all that was necessary into manufacturing tech products that were reliable as computer accessories and recognizable as high-quality solutions. Its first products comprised such computer components as power supplies, computer cases, cables, keyboards and mice. Today, the brand has grown and strategically developed its product line and has gone on to carve a niche for itself in the gaming and home electronics markets. It’s constantly developing new products and updating existing ones to ensure its customers are able to get the most recent technology and a consistently great quality.

The Rosewill 2-Port USB KVM Switch recalls the saying “good things come in small packages”; well, that’s a truism for this little guy. It has its cables built into its rear and saves you the hassle of having to make the connections yourself. The cables attached include 2 VGA cables, 4 USB cables (for the keyboards and mice of the computers to be connected). The cables are the split-style sort so you don’t have to worry about where all those cables are going to lie. On the front panel, we have the console portion with a VGA interface and 2 ports for a USB-wired keyboard and mouse that connects the entire set up to a VGA monitor with a maximum resolution of 2048 x 1536, great for clear display on large screens, and the dedicated keyboard and mouse.

It has a remote that’s also built into its rear panel with which you’re transferred from one device to the other with a few clicks of its push-button. With this switch, you can work from any operating system as it supports Windows, Mac and Sun Solaris. Another thing we’d like to gush about is its price – it’s affordable and gives you value for every cent spent.

Here’s another KVM switch from this company:

• The Rosewill RKV-2P 2 Port Slim Desktop PS/2 KVM Switch: With audio and microphone connectivity; supports video resolution up to 2048 x 1536

You also get great customer support from the tech guys at Rosewill.