SQ1007387 (1.4 Display Port KVM Switch - Dual Monitor - Two Computer)
USB Interface (5-gigabit or 10-gigbit):
10-gigbit
Problem:
Black screen at irregular interval for variable duration. Can be as frequent as flashing every 5-10 seconds for extended periods were the monitor disconnects for 1-2 seconds or longer delays between flashes where the flashing lasts between 1-2 seconds or long enough that the monitor fully disconnects and refuses to re-connect. Happens some days and not others. Happens on the desktop or in game. The game of choice does not seem to matter.
Other Notes:
This is where it gets weird. This is only reproducible on my Windows gaming PC but not when connected to my MacBook Pro with a Thunderbolt Dock. I thought it might be a 4K@120hz issue but on my Mac that’s a non-issue.
Things I’ve tried:
I swapped the ones running between my Mac and the KVM with the ones running between my PC and the KVM. Problem persisted.
I swapped around which was PC1 and PC2. Problem persisted.
I tried hard setting Windows to 60 Hz and disabling FreeSync. Problem persisted.
Replaced 3080 Ti with 9070XT. Problem persisted (very frustratingly).
Swapped which power brick was powering which monitor. Problem persisted.
The only thing I haven’t been able to do yet is try different monitors or a different KVM as I don’t currently have access to either as an option.
The monitors are some first generation Eve (Dough) Spectrum 27" 4K monitors.
I bought it back in 2021 and it was fine for most of that but over the last 2-3 years or so it seems to have gotten worse and worse to the point now where I basically can’t use my PC at all. I don’t know that it’s the KVM is the issue. I don’t have a lot of faith in these monitors…
Same kind of issue… was happening to both of my systems (rackmounted desktop and Laptop via TB Dock). No common timing, sometimes it will not happen for hours, other times it will be several blanking cycles within 3 to 5 minutes. I’ve tried replacing the cables from the laptop on the desk next to the KVM with “high quality” DP 2.1 capable cables to try and rule out bad cables but no real change. I’ve also updated the monitor firmware as an attempted solution with no change in performance.
Recently tried to upgrade the run from the rackmounted system to some fiber optic cables from HeyOptics (2x DP 1.4 cables, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 multiplexed to a OM3 MPT cable out to the desk and then broken back out) and I’ve found that the KVM doesn’t supply sufficient power on Pin20 to drive the DP adapter. Plug directly into monitors everything is fine (and awesome to have a single cable running from desk to rack) but not via the KVM.
My KVM is a Dual Monitor, Quad System and was shipped out to me back in Oct 2023 as a device build time reference… Anyone with a newer device seeing something similar?
I’d really love some kind of verification that my unit is just… Bad. I’ve had it for a while so if I have to replace it I will but I’d like to know that’s where I am.
if it’s not the cables it could be external interference. try a ferrite bead or two.
have seen the fiber optic cables pick up interference at the connector ends as well. it might be worth trying club3d on both sides instead of one copper one fiber.
99/100 times intermittent blackout is not the kvm but when troubleshooting you’re troubleshooting the full cable chain from end to end
…It’s the cable. I tried the ferrite beads (that was a new one to me) but that didn’t do it. I thought I’d swapped the cables around at some point but I just did it again and the screen blackout follows one of my cables.
I have no idea why this would happen on the gaming PC but not the Mac. The best I can think of is the Mac is never driving the monitor as hard as the PC is and so whatever is happening is that cable maybe has a bandwidth issue? Why it would happen when just running it pointed at the desktop… I don’t know.
What I do know is that if I replace the cable and that fixes it I’m going to have to figure out a worthy sendoff for this source of so much frustration.