Why is it so hard to find a good DP KVM switch?

By Steven P.
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Grand Master

Steven P. Administrators

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I have the Samsung CRG9 and I operate it with 5120x1440 at 100Hz w/ 10bit color
 
Now I have a GEEKOM Mini PC I am reviewing with onboard Iris Xe graphics and I found this KVM switch (cost me €65 at a local reseller) after looking around for a few days, I got it because of the claims of high resolution switching and it really does work. I can get up to 120Hz no problem with the KVM in between my PC and the monitor, but for some reason when switching between devices the KVM switch will enable HDR on the monitor in such a way that it can't be toggled off in Windows 10 on my main PC (with NVIDIA RTX 2070 SUPER). It does not toggle HDR on the Mini PC with Iris Xe graphics (resolution is set to 5120x1440 at 100Hz).
 
A lot of messing around finally gets it off, but this also results in the picture being set to 5120x1440 @ 60Hz w/ HDR I can't see anywhere in the OSD of the monitor to disable HDR either.
So basically the KVM does what I want but it has quirks with switching.
 
I found this one too, which is the TESmart PKS0201A10 but that has even lower screen resolution switching, it doesn't even list the 5120x1440 refresh rate, it says Not Applicable, but it does have EDID emulation, which is what I am after, to emulate the screen being constantly being connected for faster switching, but also to avoid the picture resetting.
Anyway for whoever got through all this, I hope someone can help me. How come that cheap AliExpress KVM can do full 5120x1440 at 120Hz but the more expensive ones with EDID have lower refresh rate support?
 
BTW what I have always found odd is that although I have set the screen to 5120x1440 at 100Hz with 10 bit color, the OSD shows it at 120Hz:
 
image.jpeg
Always showed it at 120Hz
 
image.png
Windows has it set at 100Hz
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Grand Master

binaryzero

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Because KVMs aren't really considered a consumer peripheral, you'll find more of them being used in the server\enterprise space. DP isn't really a thing on that side (know of any servers with DP?)... Probably why you can find plenty of ones with VGA?

Sure, there's consumer KVMs, but err yeah, they leave much to be desired.

IP KVMs ++

Grand Master

Steven P. Administrators

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On 24/11/2022 at 13:42, Matthew S. said:

How is that monitor? (sorry dragging off topic but in the market for a new monitor)

It's bloody great, it is basically two 2K screens side by side as one (2560x1440 x2) https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/monitors/gaming/49-crg9-dual-qhd-curved-qled-gaming-monitor-lc49rg90ssnxza/

The colors are really great, but Samsung have always had great display panels. The QLED part is a bit misleading, as that is just the backlighting and local dimming. You won't get true blacks like a proper OLED TV. 

I would never go back to dual displays, it took a while to get used to but now I couldn't be happier with it. I paid €1,150 for mine in Nov 2019 but the same store I bought it at has it now for €200 more, in the U.S. it is far cheaper at $850. It also supports G-Sync, but not through NVIDIA's officially tested displays, although it can still be enabled and works great.

Grand Master

Matthew S.

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On 24/11/2022 at 09:25, Steven P. said:

It's bloody great, it is basically two 2K screens side by side as one (2560x1440 x2) https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/monitors/gaming/49-crg9-dual-qhd-curved-qled-gaming-monitor-lc49rg90ssnxza/

The colors are really great, but Samsung have always had great display panels. The QLED part is a bit misleading, as that is just the backlighting and local dimming. You won't get true blacks like a proper OLED TV. 

I would never go back to dual displays, it took a while to get used to but now I couldn't be happier with it. I paid €1,150 for mine in Nov 2019 but the same store I bought it at has it now for €200 more, in the U.S. it is far cheaper at $850. It also supports G-Sync, but not through NVIDIA's officially tested displays, although it can still be enabled and works great.

I use AMD cards anyways soo looking at freesync.  Does it support multiple sources?  (I think my Vega 56 is only DP 1.2)

Grand Master

Steven P. Administrators

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It's up to DP 1.4 or HDMI 2.0. I already posted the link for the full specs https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/monitors/gaming/49-crg9-dual-qhd-curved-qled-gaming-monitor-lc49rg90ssnxza/

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