help needed overclocking a KVM

[tevildo]

I have just bought an Edimax EK-4PAK 4-port KVM switch, and while acceptable in operation, it's a tad slow responding - it takes around half a second to switch the video, and then another second or so until the keyboard and mouse work. Is it likely that overclocking it could, as well as being fun, fix this, and if so does anyone have any idea how I would go about doing this?

Thanks for any help,

- Tevildo

[Áedán]

How fast do you want it to switch?

Is the slow switching of the video a factor of your monitor? Remember that the monitor has to resynchronise with the new video signal.

If the KVM is a PS2 varient, it can take a little time for the PS2 signals to resynchronise, depending on the design of the KVM.

[tevildo]

It is indeed a PS2 variant, so yeah, those could be the causes. Seems the only thing overclocking could do would be decrease the required wait between hitting scroll lock first and second times. It's currently a minimum of around 1/4 of a second. Hardly seems worth O/Cing just to reduce that... no, wait, yes it does

And I'd have thought the PS2 connections should have synchronised by the time the video has... but meh, it's more time I don't have to actually reply to emails, so I shouldn't complain too much.

Thanks for your help,

- Tevildo

[Samuknow]

The other thing you can do is move the mouse before you switch. I have to do this from time to time. It makes sure that all the inputs are paying attention. Try it and see if it helps.

[Áedán]

There's nothing stopping you from overclocking it, but it will probably require soldering skills. PCs often use a clock synthesiser to generate various clock signals from a master crystal, but a simple device like a KVM can use the signal from a crystal directly. You'd need to replace that crystal with another (or better still, a programmable synthesiser).

The 1/4 second wait is probably deliberate to ensure that the KVM isn't accidently activated.

[tevildo]

Soldering skills are not a problem, I get paid a small amount of money to be able to solder I may not try this on my work KVM though, as it's somewhat important and doesn't technically belong to me. Bring on payday so I can buy one for myself

- Tevildo

[Gizmo]

If the KVM has any kind of OSD capability (to tell you what channel you are on, or whatever) then overclocking it will almost certainly mess that up. It MIGHT mess up mouse and keyboard comms as well, depending on how the PS/2 communication logic is implemented.

[cloasters]

Sometimes answers that indicate that it's probably best to leave well alone are good. Think of the lead fumes not inhaled!