What is the opinion of Reddit about the
Black Box USB-C 4K KVM Switch, 2-Port?

A total of 7 reviews of this product on Reddit.

1 point

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16th Feb 2022

This is the USB-C KVM that I use. It does not power either USB-C port (just a sink), but it works fairly well.

https://www.blackbox.com/en-au/store/product/detail/usb-c-4k-kvm-switch-2-port/kvmc4k-2p

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Box-USB-C-Switch-2-Port/dp/B07P12S2K4

It is expensive though.

1 point

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7th Nov 2021

>PC using PNY GeForce GTX 1070 [personal]

Your biggest challenge will be that this PC maybe has a USB-C, but does it support DP Alt Mode? Your graphics card does not appear to have a USB-C with Dp Alt Mode, so if you say that the motherboard has one, it probably doesn’t support DisplayPort Alt Mode.

You’ll then need something like a Wacom Link to get you to a USB-C with DP Alt Mode.

This is the KVM I use: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Box-USB-C-Switch-2-Port/dp/B07P12S2K4

Its output is only 1 DP, so in order to plausibly drive two monitors, you’ll need to add a DP MST splitter after the KVM: https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-2-Port-DisplayPort-Multi-Stream-Transport/dp/B075754ZYC/

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>2x Acer Nitro XV272U, each running at 2560×1440 * 60 Hz

These are two pretty big displays. You might run out of display bandwidth in 2-lane mode, but the black box KVM lets you switch between 2 and 4 lane DP Alt Mode. You may lose USB 3.x ability through the KVM though.

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Good luck.

1 point

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7th May 2021

Have you looked at https://www.amazon.com/Black-Box-USB-C-Switch-2-Port/dp/B07P12S2K4

You can do:
* DisplayPort [email protected] 4:4:4 with USB2
* DisplayPort [email protected] 4:2:0 with USB3
* DisplayPort [email protected] 4:4:4 with USB3

Not sure what the bandwidth is on USB3 though.

There’s also https://www.amazon.com/USB-C-Peripheral-Sharing-Switch-US3342-AT/dp/B07XQLY5JK

But it does NOT support DP-Alt Mode, so it’s just for USB, but does do 10gbps.

With that in mind, you can get TWO switchers. One just for USB, and one for DisplayPort. With one of these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076ZKZLXT/ you can split the video stream.

1 point

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16th Dec 2020

Black Box USB-C 4K KVM Switch, 2-Port https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07P12S2K4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_sVE2FbC1B84HP

I found this. It is two display ports it looks like but looks like it would work

1 point

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23rd Sep 2020

hardware KVM solutions exist but tend to cost significantly more money than a hack from the other post with display-switch. some semi-random examples https://www.amazon.com/Black-Box-USB-C-Switch-2-Port/dp/B07P12S2K4 (USB-C but won’t charge your laptops even if they can be charged via USB-C, 1 monitor over DisplayPort with claimed up to 4K60Hz, 300$), https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=36652 (NOT USB-C, but if you have dongles/docks/special cables to connect both laptops to DP in – may work, only 4K30Hz, but dual monitor).

I don’t have much experience with hardware KVMs, but if you want a better chance for someone to suggest a device that would work for you – adding more details on exact laptops, docks and monitors (including refresh rate, resolution, ports available like HDMI or DP) appears to be necessary (e.g. 4K60Hz changes options quite a bit, some only work with DisplayPort, not clear how you charge laptops etc. etc.)

if you are looking for KVM that switches USB-C to USB-C including video signal – there is a relevant thread https://www.reddit.com/r/USBC/comments/blyzzm/is_there_such_thing_as_a_usbc_kvm_type_of_switch/emt4664?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 and example like https://acroname.com/store/s85-rdvr-usbcsw?sku=S85-USB-C-SWITCH (tl;dr USB-C -> USB-C KVM that supports power and displayport signal are rare and usually extremely expensive, most likely doesn’t justify reusing your USB-C dock and wouldn’t work with Thunderbolt dock afaik)

1 point

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3rd Aug 2020

It’s not cheap but here it is:

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Box-USB-C-Switch-2-Port/dp/B07P12S2K4

It has a single full-sized DP receptacle going to the monitor. Going to the laptop, are two USB-C receptacles. It incorporates the C-to-DP adapter internally.

The thing has a switch on the back to switch between 4 lanes DP mode and 2-lanes DP mode. In 2 lane mode, the USB-A hub inside turns two of the USB-A ports to USB 3.1 ports, but sacrifices display bandwidth.

It also has several USB-As that are “HID only” which is a nasty trick they do to fake a USB HID device internally so that the thing can intercept special key combinations on the keyboard you attach to it in order to switch the KVM.

I use one of these myself. It isn’t perfect, but it works if you’re careful how to use it.

Also, none of the USB-C ports provide power to the laptop, if you require that.