Why Choosing an HDMI 2.1 KVM Switch Matters for Refresh Rates?

October 18, 2024 StellaParom

Have you ever wondered why you can comfortably watch movies at 24 frames per second, yet in gaming, even 30 frames can feel choppy, and many games need to hit 60 frames per second to feel truly smooth?

It’s a fascinating difference that shows just how crucial refresh rates and frame rates are to our visual experience. If you’re using an HDMI 2.1 KVM switch, understanding its maximum refresh rate capabilities becomes even more important.

In this blog, we’ll explain why these numbers matter and how you can make the most of your HDMI 2.1 technology for the best gaming and viewing experience.

The Relationship Between Refresh Rate and FPS

The relationship between refresh rate and FPS is the answer to the above question. Frame rate (FPS) refers to the number of frames your graphics card renders per second, while refresh rate indicates how many times the monitor refreshes the displayed image in the same timeframe.

Low Refresh Rate with High Frame Rate If the monitor’s refresh rate is low while the game’s frame rate is high, tearing may occur, resulting in misalignment between different frames.
High Refresh Rate with Low Frame Rate Conversely, if your monitor has a high refresh rate (e.g., 144Hz) but the game’s frame rate is below that (e.g., 60 FPS), the visuals may appear choppy.

So, the difference in experiences between watching movies and playing games lies in how frames are generated. Movies consistently output 24 frames per second, ensuring smooth visuals. In contrast, games experience variable frame rates; one second might render 60 frames, while the next could reach 70, depending on the graphical load. Moreover, the rendering times for frames can vary significantly within a single second—one frame might take 16 milliseconds, while another could take 24 milliseconds.

To address these issues, variable refresh rate technologies, such as NVIDIA's G-Sync and AMD's FreeSync, have emerged. These technologies allow the monitor's refresh rate to synchronize with the graphics card’s frame rate, eliminating tearing, stuttering, and latency. When frame rates fluctuate, the monitor rapidly adjusts its refresh rate to match the output frame rate. For example, if the frame rate drops suddenly from 144 FPS to 120 FPS, the monitor will automatically adjust to 120Hz, providing a smoother visual experience.

The Importance of Choosing the Right KVM Device

After understanding the relationship between refresh rate and frame rate, it's clear that using the right devices and technologies is vital for an optimal gaming experience.

Therefore, when selecting a KVM device, make sure it supports high refresh rates and variable refresh rate features. This will help you maximize the smoothness and visual quality of your gaming experience.

Additionally, it’s important to consider whether your hardware can fully utilize these advanced features. Only when the monitor, graphics card, and KVM device are well-matched can you achieve the best gaming results.

And remember, as you become accustomed to high refresh rate gaming experiences, returning to lower refresh rate monitors will become exceptionally difficult. Therefore, investing in high-quality HDMI 2.1 KVM devices will allow you to fully enjoy the stunning experience each frame brings while gaming and watching content.

Support for Impressive Refresh Rates

HDMI 2.1 KVM switches support a wide range of impressive refresh rates, including:

4K at 120Hz
4K at 144Hz
4K at 240Hz
8K at 60Hz

The Benefits of High Refresh Rates in HDMI 2.1 KVM

The support for high refresh rates in HDMI 2.1 KVM switches is crucial for several reasons:

Smooth Gaming Experience High refresh rates significantly enhance gameplay fluidity. Users supporting 4K@120Hz or 240Hz can enjoy an extremely responsive experience, reducing input lag and enhancing precision.
Improved Visual Clarity Higher refresh rates enhance overall visual clarity, making fast-moving objects appear sharper and clearer, which is essential for both gaming and video playback.
Reduced Motion Blur High refresh rates greatly reduce motion blur. For example, when you wave your hand in front of your face, it appears blurred. This effect is similar to what you see in movies. In contrast, moving your mouse quickly can result in a choppy cursor, jumping around instead of gliding smoothly. With high refresh rates, you can enjoy a smoother experience and minimize this choppiness.
Adaptive Technologies HDMI 2.1 KVM switches often integrate features like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), allowing dynamic adjustments of the refresh rate to match the frame rate output from connected devices. This synchronization eliminates tearing and stuttering, creating a smoother visual experience.

Choose KVM Switches with HDMI 2.1 for High Refresh Rates

People nowadays are pursuing higher resolution and refresh rates such as 4K@120Hz or 8K@60Hz. To achieve those, HDMI 2.1 provides the necessary bandwidth for transmission. It allows up to 48Gbps of data transfer, ensuring smooth, high-quality video output without compression. This makes HDMI 2.1 the ideal choice for those looking to push the limits of their displays.

When integrated into a KVM switch, HDMI 2.1 ensures that you can switch between multiple devices—like gaming consoles, PCs, and professional workstations—while preserving the highest display performance. TESmart’s new HDMI 2.1 KVM switches are designed to leverage these benefits, offering a high-performance solution for both demanding computing tasks and immersive gaming experience.

HKS202-M24 for 2PCs and 2 Monitors

This HDMI 2.1 KVM switch delivers true dual 8K@60Hz performance, thanks to its advanced ADI chip, ensuring stable signal processing and compatibility with most monitors. It features a built-in EDID emulator to prevent issues like flicker and black screens.

With HDMI 2.1 compliance, it offers 48Gbps bandwidth and supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision. It handles resolutions up to 8K@60Hz and is backward compatible with 4K at various refresh rates. The switch supports extend or split desktop modes, four input switching methods, and various keyboard types.

For editing, it supports 12-bit color, ideal for precise image processing. For gaming, its HDMI2.1 standard incorporates Dynamic HDR, VRR, FVA, and ALLM technologies, ensuring smooth, tear-free visuals and dual 4K@144Hz/160Hz via DSC 1.2a.

Additional features include USB 3.2 Gen 1 support, mobile device charging, hot-plugging, and customizable RGB lighting effects. It also supports Gigabit Ethernet, so both PCs can use one network cable. It's compatible with multiple operating systems and suitable for PCs and gaming consoles.

HKS401-M23 for 4PCs and 1 Monitor

Compliant with HDMI 2.1 standards, this KVM switch supports a high bandwidth of 48Gbps FRL, allowing it to handle resolutions up to 8K (4320p) at 60Hz. It is also backward compatible with 4K (2160p) at 60Hz, 120Hz, and 144Hz. With DSC technology, it can transmit resolutions of 7680x4320 at 60Hz 4:4:4 and 3840x2160 at 144Hz, delivering exceptional video quality.

Unlike many market solutions that rely solely on traditional physical hard-switching, this setup includes HDCP and EDID emulation, which ensures fast and stable signal switching. The solution also offers signal regeneration and enhancement, supporting long cable connections and maintaining signal quality and stability.

It is also ideal for gaming enthusiasts, this HDMI 2.1 KVM switch supports Dynamic HDR, including HDMI Dynamic HDR metadata, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision, offering enhanced dynamic range and color accuracy for more realistic display effects. It also supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Fast Vactive (FVA), and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which reduce screen tearing, stuttering, and input lag, ensuring a smoother gaming experience.

Additionally, it comes with a built-in shared USB 3.0 hub, allowing you to connect two PCs or game consoles and share 2x USB 3.0 peripherals, such as a 4K webcam, speakerphone, keyboard, mouse, or game controller. The front panel's USB 3.0 also supports 7.5W (5V1.5A) charging power, keeping connected mobile devices and tablets powered.

Conlusion

With excellent support for 4K@120Hz, 144Hz, 240Hz, and 8K@60Hz, users can enjoy smoother gameplay, improved visual clarity, and reduced motion blur when using TESmart’s HDMI 2.1 KVM switches. It’s a step toward elevating your entire gaming and multimedia experience.