KVM problem with my ATI cards

[Sam]

I have recently gotten a KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switch for DVI
monitors. The problem is that although I can successfully boot up each
machine, if I try to switch between computers, I get a totally blank
screen. Not nice.

The switch manufacturer says that I need to find a driver that "retains
monitor information when a monitor is disconnected from the computer." I
think this information is also known as EDID. One computer has an ATI Rdeon
9500 and the other one has an X800-pro. Both machines have Windows XP on
Nforce2 based motherboards.

Does anyone have a clue as to how to do this?

Thanks.

Sam

 

[HockeyTownUSA]

I have recently gotten a KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switch for DVI
monitors. The problem is that although I can successfully boot up each
machine, if I try to switch between computers, I get a totally blank
screen. Not nice.

The switch manufacturer says that I need to find a driver that "retains
monitor information when a monitor is disconnected from the computer." I
think this information is also known as EDID. One computer has an ATI
Rdeon
9500 and the other one has an X800-pro. Both machines have Windows XP on
Nforce2 based motherboards.

Does anyone have a clue as to how to do this?

Thanks.

Sam

Ahhhh. Finally someone else doing the KVM dance. For the longest time I have
been using a DVI with PS/2 peripheral switch. I had a similar issue with my
Dell 2001FP which has EDID. I did a flash of the monitor (if you have this
one) and as weird as it sounds, then it "gradually" improved. I now can
switch between PC's and get video. Before, sometimes I would switch and get
a blank screen. I just flipped the switch on the monitor and then back on
and then the video would show up. I use an X800 XT PE on one machine (for
games) and a GeForce Ti4200 for work related stuff on the other PC.

You shouldn't have to do anything. It should just "learn" your
configuration. I can't imagine any kind of driver for your PC that would do
that.

I don't know what else to tell you, other than power everything down. Hook
up only one PC and power back up. Do a quick switch between PC's (even
though the other isn't connected), then switch back and still see if you
have an image. If so, then hook up your other PC, power up (with that PC
selected on the KVM) and then see if they switch. I fiddled for a while
before mine finally "took".

I know it shouldn't be this hard, but it appears it can be.

My latest fiasco is trying to get a DVI and USB setup to work properly.

Oh well. Can't always get what you want even though I spent $250 on this
whole new KVM setup.

 

[Sam]

Ahhhh. Finally someone else doing the KVM dance. For the longest time I have
been using a DVI with PS/2 peripheral switch. I had a similar issue with my
Dell 2001FP which has EDID. I did a flash of the monitor (if you have this
one) and as weird as it sounds, then it "gradually" improved. I now can
switch between PC's and get video. Before, sometimes I would switch and get
a blank screen. I just flipped the switch on the monitor and then back on
and then the video would show up. I use an X800 XT PE on one machine (for
games) and a GeForce Ti4200 for work related stuff on the other PC.

You shouldn't have to do anything. It should just "learn" your
configuration. I can't imagine any kind of driver for your PC that would do
that.

I don't know what else to tell you, other than power everything down. Hook
up only one PC and power back up. Do a quick switch between PC's (even
though the other isn't connected), then switch back and still see if you
have an image. If so, then hook up your other PC, power up (with that PC
selected on the KVM) and then see if they switch. I fiddled for a while
before mine finally "took".

I know it shouldn't be this hard, but it appears it can be.

My latest fiasco is trying to get a DVI and USB setup to work properly.

Oh well. Can't always get what you want even though I spent $250 on this
whole new KVM setup.

It makes you wonder what they test these devices on. Obviously not the same
thing that a lot of us computer builders make. I have two home-grown
systems based on the Asus A7N8X series motherboards (one is the newer E
model and the other is not). Obviously these are standard AGP cards and I
have the current 5.4 drivers installed. My monitor is a 2 year old Samsung
SyncMaster 191T... I've never seen anything about doing a "flash" of this
monitor, though.

Sam

 

[HockeyTownUSA]

It makes you wonder what they test these devices on. Obviously not the
same
thing that a lot of us computer builders make. I have two home-grown
systems based on the Asus A7N8X series motherboards (one is the newer E
model and the other is not). Obviously these are standard AGP cards and I
have the current 5.4 drivers installed. My monitor is a 2 year old Samsung
SyncMaster 191T... I've never seen anything about doing a "flash" of this
monitor, though.

Sam

I know. I get tired of spending money to be the real beta testers for these
people. Things like this should just "work" without having to dick around
with it. I am so irritated right now because one would think that finding a
KVM switch with DVI and USB wouldn't be too hard to find, but it is. And it
doesn't work as well as I'd hope. Right now I'm running at 1280x1024 on my
1600x1200 native resoltion LCD because if I go to 1600x1200 I get terrible
"sparkles" on my screen. See here:

http://home.comcast.net/~fighterpilot/temp/displaysparkle-nzone.jpg

Good luck in your endeavors. Wish I could help more!

 

[Villain]

I know. I get tired of spending money to be the real beta testers for these
people. Things like this should just "work" without having to dick around
with it. I am so irritated right now because one would think that finding a
KVM switch with DVI and USB wouldn't be too hard to find, but it is. And it
doesn't work as well as I'd hope. Right now I'm running at 1280x1024 on my
1600x1200 native resoltion LCD because if I go to 1600x1200 I get terrible
"sparkles" on my screen. See here:

http://home.comcast.net/~fighterpilot/temp/displaysparkle-nzone.jpg

Good luck in your endeavors. Wish I could help more!

HT,

Jeez, you know, I was thinking of getting a KVM to run between my main
machine and the box I use for video processing, but after reading your
posts, I don't know.

I have the 2001FP myself (love it!) and a 256 meg 9800 Pro. I have
left the machine on and walked away from it for 30 minutes or so and
come back to no video. I would have to hit the reset switch or power
down to get video back. Power cycling the monitor would only give me
the "Dell/Genesis/Ultra Sharp" logo and then blank. My Windows
settings in control panel are set to never turn anything off, `cause I
normally don't leave the machine on for a long time if I'm not using
it. The only way I've found to prevent this is to use a screen saver.
I have also lost video while doing picture rotation.

I wondered if this was the monitor or the card, but it never was
enough of a problem for me to investigate.

Also, I realize this doesn't have a damn thing to do with your KVM
switch problem, but I thought I'd post it any way, since you guys were
discussing losing video at one point. I have in the past seen what I
thought were unrelated posts point me in a relevant direction. Good
luck with your switch.

Villain

Paranoia is just another word for longevity.

 

[Sam]

I know. I get tired of spending money to be the real beta testers for these
people. Things like this should just "work" without having to dick around
with it. I am so irritated right now because one would think that finding a
KVM switch with DVI and USB wouldn't be too hard to find, but it is. And it
doesn't work as well as I'd hope. Right now I'm running at 1280x1024 on my
1600x1200 native resoltion LCD because if I go to 1600x1200 I get terrible
"sparkles" on my screen. See here:

http://home.comcast.net/~fighterpilot/temp/displaysparkle-nzone.jpg

Good luck in your endeavors. Wish I could help more!

I've used KVM's for years with standard VGA connections. No problems with
the video at all. It's the DVI connection that's driving me nuts.

After doing a bit of searching, one possible solution that I've found is to
use a gizmo called _DVI Detective_ (manufactured by Gefen), which fits in
between the switch and the computer. It's job is to remember the video
settings, also known as EDID ("Extended Display Identification Data"). EDID
is a VESA standard and has the data structures containing the display
identity and all the other the basic display specifications.

However, since this thing costs $69 each, I was hoping for a software
solution.

Sam

 

[Jack Mc Kenna]

Ahhhh. Finally someone else doing the KVM dance. For the longest time I
have been using a DVI with PS/2 peripheral switch. I had a similar issue
with my Dell 2001FP which has EDID. I did a flash of the monitor (if you
have this one) and as weird as it sounds, then it "gradually" improved. I
now can switch between PC's and get video. Before, sometimes I would
switch and get a blank screen. I just flipped the switch on the monitor
and then back on and then the video would show up. I use an X800 XT PE on
one machine (for games) and a GeForce Ti4200 for work related stuff on the
other PC.

You shouldn't have to do anything. It should just "learn" your
configuration. I can't imagine any kind of driver for your PC that would
do that.

I don't know what else to tell you, other than power everything down. Hook
up only one PC and power back up. Do a quick switch between PC's (even
though the other isn't connected), then switch back and still see if you
have an image. If so, then hook up your other PC, power up (with that PC
selected on the KVM) and then see if they switch. I fiddled for a while
before mine finally "took".

I know it shouldn't be this hard, but it appears it can be.

My latest fiasco is trying to get a DVI and USB setup to work properly.

Oh well. Can't always get what you want even though I spent $250 on this
whole new KVM setup.

I use a TRENDnet TK-200 KVM switch that cost about $25. on my 2 homebuilt
PC's, one with a ATI 9600 Pro, the other a Ti4200 and have absolutely no
problems running my DELL 21" momitor.

 

[Sam]

I use a TRENDnet TK-200 KVM switch that cost about $25. on my 2 homebuilt
PC's, one with a ATI 9600 Pro, the other a Ti4200 and have absolutely no
problems running my DELL 21" momitor.

That's not a DVI video switch, it's for a VGA connection. DVI is a lot more
expensive and apparently much more tricky to implement. I have used a
number of VGA KVM's without any problem at all.

Sam

 

[Mac]

Hi all,

Just saw this thread and have a question. Sam, which KVM
switch are you using that allows you to use DVI? I recently purchased
an LG Flatron L1720P which has both VGA and DVI inputs for my
(currently three) computers. With my Belkin switch, I use the VGA
input on the monitor, but would be interested in knowing which switch
you are using. The KVM I have also has USB inputs, but I am using the
PS connections on all my computers, so I don't use the USB.

Thanks,

Mac

 

[Inglo]

HT,

Jeez, you know, I was thinking of getting a KVM to run between my main
machine and the box I use for video processing, but after reading your
posts, I don't know.

I have the 2001FP myself (love it!) and a 256 meg 9800 Pro. I have
left the machine on and walked away from it for 30 minutes or so and
come back to no video. I would have to hit the reset switch or power
down to get video back. Power cycling the monitor would only give me
the "Dell/Genesis/Ultra Sharp" logo and then blank. My Windows
settings in control panel are set to never turn anything off, `cause I
normally don't leave the machine on for a long time if I'm not using
it. The only way I've found to prevent this is to use a screen saver.
I have also lost video while doing picture rotation.

I wondered if this was the monitor or the card, but it never was
enough of a problem for me to investigate.

Also, I realize this doesn't have a damn thing to do with your KVM
switch problem, but I thought I'd post it any way, since you guys were
discussing losing video at one point. I have in the past seen what I
thought were unrelated posts point me in a relevant direction. Good
luck with your switch.

Villain

Paranoia is just another word for longevity.

If you want to see a monstrous thread about the issue of DVI signal loss
check here:
http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33752579
I've never read through it, 'cause I've never had the problem but it's
one of those threads that you always see and never seems to go away. 20
pages worth and nearly 600 replies.

--
People of the United States! We are Unitarian Jihad! We can strike without warning. Pockets of reasonableness and harmony will appear as if from nowhere! Nice people will run the government again! There will be coffee and cookies in the Gandhi Room after the revolution.

The Official God FAQ: http://www.400monkeys.com/God/

Steve ¤»Inglo«¤
www.inglostadt.com

 

[Sam]

Hi all,

Just saw this thread and have a question. Sam, which KVM
switch are you using that allows you to use DVI? I recently purchased
an LG Flatron L1720P which has both VGA and DVI inputs for my
(currently three) computers. With my Belkin switch, I use the VGA
input on the monitor, but would be interested in knowing which switch
you are using. The KVM I have also has USB inputs, but I am using the
PS connections on all my computers, so I don't use the USB.

Thanks,

Mac

Believe it or not, I've tried 3 of them.

One was from Belkin (it just plain didn't work... lost mouse and keyboard
functions... lots of complaints from customers on the same thing).

Another was from StarTech.com (Starview 4 port model... it lost both
keyboard/mouse and video most of the time).

I now have the Gefen ExtendIt DVI Switcher, which does mouse and keyboard
perfectly but obviously has a video problem).

I was able to return the Belkin unit, but I still have the Starview one,
which I'm planning on putting up on Ebay for anyone else who wants to try
it. I use both a wireless keyboard/mouse which may complicate the issue and
only ATI video cards with a monitor that's set to the native resolution of
my LCD monitor (1280x1024).

Things may work just fine for someone with a smaller screen and a lower
resolution, different monitor or different video cards/motherboard. It's
hard to tell where the problem is coming from.

Sam