Today my KVM is being delivered from L1.
It’s the DP 1.4, 4-computer, 2-monitor, 10 Gbps model.
Three of the four computers I plan to connect have both Type A and Type C USB ports rated at 10 Gbps (USB 3.1 Gen 2). The fourth only has Type A USB 3.0 rated for 5 Gbps.
The challenge for finding suitable USB cables to connect these machines to the KVM switch is that I’d really like to place the KVM switch on my desk, under the monitors, for convenience in accessing the selection buttons. Whereas the shelf unit where the four computers can sit is about 6 feet away as the crow flies, requiring cables at least 10 feet (3 meters) long.
So far I’ve found Club3D 16 ft cables, C-to-C, for $54 each:
Club3D USB-C cable, 5m, 10 Gbps
An OkyLink active 15 ft cable, A-to-C for $38 each:
OkyLink active 15-ft A-to-C USB cable, 10 Gbps
And an OkyLink passive 10 ft cable, A-to-C, for $16 each:
OkyLink passive 10-ft A-to-C USB cable, 10 Gbps
What are the odds that either of these OkyLink cables will actually deliver 10 Gbps and have a long lifetime (given that they won’t be frequently plugged and unplugged)?
Obviously I’d rather spend less than more on these; however any time wasted trying a cable that ultimately doesn’t work as advertised is worth more to me than saving $20-40 per cable.
BTW, there is always the option to find a solution that places the KVM switch right next to the four computers, allowing use of 1-meter USB cables from computers to KVM. Then I would only need one long USB cable capable of 10 Gbps throughput. I would put a high-speed USB hub on my desk in that case, and could use cheap 10-ft USB cables for the keyboard and mouse. However, and this is a big unknown to me, what options are available to control the KVM switch from 10 feet away? It has no IR remote control nor a port for a wired remote control. Do the keyboard hot-key commands work reliably for this?
Any advice from folks who’ve been here and done this?
