A Guide to Selecting HDMI 2.1 KVM Switches: Dual 4K@144Hz with VRR Support for Optimal Gaming Performance
StellaParomWhen it comes to gaming, every millisecond counts. You've invested in the latest gear-an HDMI 2.1 monitors like Samsung’s Odyssey G7 and G8 series, high-performance PC with NVIDIA's 30 series and AMD's 6000 series graphics cards , and lightning-fast peripherals expecting nothing less than an immersive, seamless experience.
But if you're using a KVM switch to juggle between work and play, you may be wondering why your gaming setup isn't living up to itsfull potential. Despite HDMl 2.1's promise of 4K@120Hz/240Hz, 8K@60Hz, and other game changing features, most KVM switches fall short. Let's explore why this happens and how TESmart's innovative solutions are transforming the game.
Table of Contents
HDMI 2.1 Promises Exceptional Gaming Performance, but Why Aren’t You Getting It with Most KVM Switches?
HDMI 2.1 offers incredible benefits for gamers, such as 4K@120Hz or even 8K@60Hz resolution, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and fast switching thanks to ADI chip solution. These features are designed to eliminate screen tearing, reduce input lag, and ensure a smooth, immersive experience. For any gamer, these are game-changers.
However, despite HDMI 2.1 KVM switches being available on the market, many users aren’t able to tap into the full potential of HDMI 2.1 technology when using them. The main issues lie in signal degradation and slow switching speeds, which cause the overall gaming experience to suffer.
First, many KVM switches, particularly budget models, introduce signal degradation during the transmission process. While HDMI 2.1 has a bandwidth of 48Gbps to support high-quality visuals and low latency, adding a KVM switch into the chain can lead to a loss in signal quality. This often results in black screens, flickering, or even a reduced frame rate. What should be a seamless switch between devices ends up causing long blackouts, where users are left waiting 5-10 seconds, which is unacceptable in fast-paced games like CS:GO or Apex Legends.
Second, the problem of slow switching persists. Many switches claim to support seamless switching, but in reality, it can take several seconds for the devices to switch over, completely disrupting gameplay or multitasking. If you're trying to switch between two computers, say from a game back to a work screen during a lobby wait, the lag time may mean you miss the start of the match altogether.
In short, while HDMI 2.1 promises excellent gaming performance, many KVM switches on the market don't uphold that promise. To truly enjoy the full power of HDMI 2.1, you need a KVM switch designed to overcome these challenges, maintaining signal integrity and ensuring fast, reliable switching.
How TESmart HDMI 2.1 KVM Switches Enhance Your Gaming Experience
This philosophy drives TESmart to innovate and push boundaries in the KVM switch market. We refuse to settle for anything less than excellence, and that’s why our HDMI 2.1 KVM switches stand out. While others may compromise on signal integrity or switching speeds, we ensure that every feature of HDMI 2.1 is fully optimized—delivering the smooth, high-performance gaming experience you deserve.
Why We’re Different: Years of Expertise in KVM Solutions
At TESmart, we’ve spent years perfecting our KVM technology to meet the needs of gamers and professionals alike. Our solution is not just another HDMI 2.1 KVM switch—it’s the culmination of our deep expertise in signal handling, switching speed, and compatibility.- Always Online Technology Unlike traditional switches that disconnect devices during switching, TESmart's ADI chip ensures that your setup is always online, delivering seamless transitions in just 1-3 seconds.
- Complete HDMI 2.1 Reception Our years of refining HDMI handling allow us to support advanced features like HDCP, EDID emulation, VRR, and ALLM, ensuring a full HDMI 2.1 experience without performance degradation.
Beyond the Basics: The Extra Mile in Performance
We believe in going the extra mile so that you don’t have to compromise on performance, whether you’re gaming, multitasking, or running high-resolution setups.
- Signal Regeneration & Enhancement TESmart’s ADI chip technology regenerates and enhances the HDMI signal, ensuring pristine image quality even with long cable runs. The signal undergoes EQ restoration and decoding, allowing for strong signal egeneration even over long distances. The sender module also maintains a constant connection, enhancing signal quality and reducing loss during transmission. Many budget KVM switches don’t offer this feature, which leads to signal degradation and performance loss.
- Faster Switching, Fewer Blackouts Our switches perform rapid transitions between devices—1-3 seconds for 8K@60Hz setups and 4K@144Hz gaming. Each receiver features a complete 2.1 module, acting like independent displays that stay online, ensuring quick switching. We designed this to minimize blackouts that plague traditional KVM switches, giving you uninterrupted gameplay and workflow.
Designed for Gamers, Loved by All
While we designed TESmart’s KVM switches with gamers in mind, their versatility and high performance make them a top choice for anyone who needs reliable, high-quality switching between devices.- Dual-Screen & Hybrid Display Modes Gamers, content creators, and professionals alike love the flexibility of our dual-screen mode, where you can either mirror the same content or use hybrid mode to display different outputs on separate screens.
- Advanced EDID Emulation for Compatibility With 4 Block EDID emulation, our KVMs ensure flawless compatibility across a variety of monitors and devices. Whether you're a PC gamer using NVIDIA or AMD GPUs, or a professional juggling multiple devices, our HDMI 2.1 KVM switches deliver smooth, reliable performance.
Customer Stories: Real Voices, Real Solutions
At TESmart, our customers aren't just buyers—they’re our friends, partners, and the inspiration behind our continuous improvements. Here’s a story from one of our loyal customers, Jason Brockie, a gamer who found the perfect solution for his gaming with TESmart’s HDMI 2.1 KVM switch HKS202-M24.
Background
Jason Brockie, an avid gamer, faced significant issues with another well-known brand's KVM switch while trying to connect his high-performance gaming PC (4090+AMD 7800X3D setup) to a 4K@120Hz/240Hz monitor. The problems included screen flickering, random blackouts, and resolution mismatches during device switching, which disrupted his gameplay experience.
Challenges
- Video Glitches Grey static appears in Cyberpunk 2077, as noted in his previous video as below.
- Intermittent Black Screens Occasional black screens lasting approximately one second, which also occur on the desktop.
- Mode Changes During Alt-Tab When alt-tabbing out of Cyberpunk, the display triggers a mode change, causing a Windows disconnect/reconnect sound and the "No source connected" message before reconnecting to the desktop. This issue does not occur when the KVM is bypassed.
Despite attempts to resolve these issues by disabling HDR and changing HDMI cables, Jason's problems persisted.
Solution: TESmart KVM Switch HKS202-M24
Jason switched to the HKS202-M24 8K HDMI KVM Switch from TESmart, which provided several benefits to solve his problem:
-
Video Glitches HKS202-M24 utilizes ADI technology, which regenerates and enhances HDMI signals. This ensures pristine image quality, eliminating video glitches like gray static, particularly in demanding games such as Cyberpunk 2077.
-
Intermittent Black Screens With full HDMI 2.1 support, the switch can handle high bandwidth up to 48 Gbps, effectively managing 4K@144Hz signals. This capability significantly reduces the risk of intermittent black screens, providing a stable and continuous gaming experience.
-
Mode Changes During Alt-Tab Thanks to Always Online technology, HKS202-M24 keeps all connected devices online during transitions. This feature allows for seamless switching in just 1-3 seconds, preventing the "no source connected" message when alt-tabbing, which interrupts his workflow.
-
Faster Switching, Fewer Blackouts HKS202-M24 is designed for rapid transitions—1-3 seconds for 8K@60Hz and 4K@144Hz setups—minimizing the blackouts often associated with traditional KVM switches. This means uninterrupted gameplay and a more enjoyable user experience.
Thanks to TESmart HKS202-M24, Jason finally tackled all his gaming issues and can now enjoy a smooth and stable experience without interruptions.
Conclusion
TESmart HDMI 2.1 KVM switches are designed to enhance your gaming experience by providing seamless switching, eliminating flickering, and ensuring optimal video quality. With advanced features like EDID technology and support for high refresh rates, TESmart stands out as the go-to solution for gamers seeking reliability and performance in their gaming setups.
