Looking for a VGA-USB KVM \ VOGONS

Looking for a VGA-USB KVM

Topic actions

First post, by Boohyaka

Posted on 2020-09-18, 08:51

Boohyaka Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 555
Joined: 2020-02-07, 13:53

Hey, anyone with experience and recommendation for a simple 2 PC's KVM? I'd be hooking two DOS/Win98SE computers to a CRT screen and using USB keyboard and mouse, no need for sound, network or anything else, just VGA+2 USB.

I only used KVM's at work many moons ago and for managing servers they were fine, are they acceptable for fast gaming in terms of video and input latency? Are some models better than others?

Thanks! 😁

Reply 1 of 6, by Cyberdyne

Posted on 2020-09-18, 09:15

Cyberdyne Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 1122
Joined: 2011-09-18, 18:45
Location: Estonia, Tallinn

Most KVM switches are just that, electronical semiconductor switches of wires. So no latency. Only with VGA, the analog signal can degrade, and that is also mainly because of longer cables.

I am aroused about any X86 motherboard that has full functional ISA slot. I think i have problem. Not really into that original (Turbo) XT,286,386 and CGA/EGA stuff. So just a DOS nut.
PS. If I upload RAR, it is a 16-bit DOS RAR Version 2.50.

Reply 2 of 6, by Boohyaka

Posted on 2020-09-18, 09:43

Boohyaka Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 555
Joined: 2020-02-07, 13:53

Allright I get you, makes sense! I guess I'll go with that one then, it's pretty cheap, I'm not taking huge risks there:

14016305_a_123.jpeg?impolicy=ProductTileImage&resizeWidth=1399&resizeHeight=1399&resizeType=downsize&quality=high&cropWidth=0&cropHeight=0

Reply 3 of 6, by kaputnik

Posted on 2020-09-18, 11:04

kaputnik Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 859
Joined: 2016-01-12, 11:00
Location: Stockholm, Sweden

In my experience, Aten is always a good choice. You probably won't be disappointed 😀

Reply 4 of 6, by andrea

Posted on 2020-09-18, 13:37

andrea Offline

Rank Member

Rank: Member
Posts: 161
Joined: 2018-06-08, 13:53

Boohyaka wrote on 2020-09-18, 09:43:
Allright I get you, makes sense! I guess I'll go with that one then, it's pretty cheap, I'm not taking huge risks there: […]
Show full quote

Allright I get you, makes sense! I guess I'll go with that one then, it's pretty cheap, I'm not taking huge risks there:

I have one of these, different brand but looks the same. A nice thing about it is that the USB ports are dumb passthroughs with no smarts involved. This allows you, assuming you have dual standard USB/PS2 compatible devices, to use them as USB on one computer and as PS2 on the other using only dumb adapters.

Reply 5 of 6, by Boohyaka

Posted on 2020-09-18, 15:35

Boohyaka Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 555
Joined: 2020-02-07, 13:53

That's good info and good to know, thank you!

Reply 6 of 6, by kalohimal

Posted on 2020-09-19, 05:07

kalohimal Offline

Rank Member

Rank: Member
Posts: 377
Joined: 2018-07-30, 13:08

I'm using one of these. Good thing about it is that it can run off from USB from any hosts, and no external power brick is needed. And it's cheap too.

The attachment kvm usb.jpg is no longer available

Slow down your CPU with CPUSPD for DOS retro gaming.

Go to top of page Go to top of page

Back to General Old Hardware