VisionTek Unveils VT4950 KVM Docking Station with Triple-Display, Dual-System Support

[TheLostSwede]

VisionTek Products LLC (VisionTek), a recognized leader in the field of high-performance upgrades and accessories for PCs and Macs, today announced the introduction of the VisionTek VT4950 KVM docking station. This innovative product is the upgraded successor to the previously celebrated VT4900 KVM docking station and is designed to enhance the workflow of users in today's professional and remote work environments. The VT4950 enables users to seamlessly swap between two connected Windows, Mac, or Chromebook host systems with up to three 4K displays, accessories, and peripherals through a single USB-C connection to each.

"The VT4950 simplifies the process of switching between systems, saving users valuable time and making their workflow more efficient," said Nick Bill, director of product development and product marketing. "This frees these users from the tedium of unplugging and reconnecting everything as they switch between systems, resulting in significant time savings."





The VT4950 allows users to customize their display setup, choosing to operate all displays on one system or distribute them between two systems. This flexibility is ideal for professionals who need to run multiple systems simultaneously, such as having a Bloomberg Terminal operating in the background while working on another machine. The VT4950 also caters to users who work across different operating systems, such as editing in Windows while referring to a Mac screen. With the VT4950, users can operate in both systems simultaneously, eliminating the need to disconnect and reconnect peripherals.



The VT4950 utilizes dual USB-C connections to host systems, providing KVM switching between two systems and three displays via DisplayLink and DisplayPort over USB-C, along with up to 100 W power delivery to each system. Other key VT4950 features include:

• Dual-System Connectivity: The VT4950 facilitates seamless integration of two Windows, Mac, or Chromebook host systems with up to three 4K displays, accessories, and peripherals via a single USB-C connection to each system.
• Power Delivery: The docking station provides robust power delivery to each connected system, ensuring optimal performance and eliminating the need for additional power sources.
• Flexible Display Options: The VT4950 offers users the flexibility to customize their display setup, allowing all displays to operate on one system or to be distributed between two systems. This feature is particularly beneficial for professionals who need to run multiple systems simultaneously.
• Universal Compatibility: The VT4950 is designed with universal compatibility, supporting USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 systems, including the M1 Mac. This ensures broad usability across a variety of devices.
• High-Speed Ports: The docking station is equipped with multiple USB 3.1 Gen 2 Ports and a USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 Port, all offering high-speed data transfer. Additionally, it includes multiple DisplayPort 1.4, an HDMI 2.0, and an RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet Port.
• Swapping Software: Included KVM Link software expands, switches and shares displays and accessories between systems. The software allows for file transfer on the fly between the two connected systems as well.

"VisionTek recognizes the increasing complexity of modern workspaces, particularly with the rise of remote work and the need for multi-system usage," said Michael Innes, president of VisionTek. "The VT4950 is our response to these challenges, offering a solution that makes multi-system management incredibly convenient."

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[enb141]

Does this supports USB passthrough?

Where are the video inputs, or just supports USB C video inputs?

 

[TheLostSwede]

Does this supports USB passthrough?

In what sense? There's a dedicated USB port for keyboard and mouse that are used with both system and all the other ports are shared if that's what you mean.

Where are the video inputs, or just supports USB C video inputs?

Neither, it's a DisplayLink based device, so the USB-C inputs do compressed data rather than a pure video signal like a DP Alt mode device.

Maybe this helps https://mms.businesswire.com/media/...VT4950_KVM_Sheet_-_Interactive.pdf?download=1

 

[enb141]

In what sense? There's a dedicated USB port for keyboard and mouse that are used with both system if that's what you mean.

Passthouth means you can use specialized drivers, instead of relying on basic mouse/keyboard, also has lower latency (useful for gaming)

Neither, it's a DisplayLink based device, so the USB-C inputs do compressed data rather than a pure video signal like a DP Alt mode device.

Maybe this helps https://mms.businesswire.com/media/...VT4950_KVM_Sheet_-_Interactive.pdf?download=1

So is useless for people that want to use their discrete GPU that has displayport/HDMI

 

[TheLostSwede]

Passthouth means you can use specialized drivers, instead of relying on basic mouse/keyboard, also has lower latency (useful for gaming)

No idea if it has that.

So is useless for people that want to use their discrete GPU that has displayport/HDMI

Yes. This is more for office use than anything else.

 

[Assimilator]

FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS MSRP? With no USB4 or Thunderbolt?

This product is DOA.

 

[bonehead123]

FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS MSRP? With no USB4 or Thunderbolt?

This product is DOA.

Plus no 2.5/5/10G ethernet......

A major fail

....pass....

 

[Tek-Check]

What about users who have two HDMI 2.1 displays at 4K/120? When will vendors release KVM switch with new HDMI 2.1 and DP 2.1 protocols for future-prooved connectivity?

 

[trsttte]

Oh wow, this is terrible. The HDMI is in usb alt mode but the 2 display ports use display link. Does the ethernet at least stay connected to both devices?

 

[Zareek]

Neither, it's a DisplayLink based device, so the USB-C inputs do compressed data rather than a pure video signal like a DP Alt mode device.

So, these are basically what we used to call USB VGA Trigger devices. I think one of the manufacturers was Trigger or something like that. They use the CPU to create a video stream and then send it over USB where it gets decompressed and output. They tend to be insanely laggy, and the original ones were worthless if there was anything in motion on the screen like video. Not only that, but they were an IT nightmare. Terrible drivers and users just don't understand the limitations. I'm sure they've gotten better over the years.

15 to 20 years ago, I started working for an organization that had tons of them. The worst part was most of their PCs had graphics cards that supported dual displays already. I started taking them out of service and using the graphics card's second output, and people thought I was some kind of genius. The guy who originally deployed them did it because they were a quick way to add a second screen and a lot of users wanted a second screen.

 

[TheLostSwede]

So, these are basically what we used to call USB VGA Trigger devices. I think one of the manufacturers was Trigger or something like that. They use the CPU to create a video stream and then send it over USB where it gets decompressed and output. They tend to be insanely laggy, and the original ones were worthless if there was anything in motion on the screen like video. Not only that, but they were an IT nightmare. Terrible drivers and users just don't understand the limitations. I'm sure they've gotten better over the years.

15 to 20 years ago, I started working for an organization that had tons of them. The worst part was most of their PCs had graphics cards that supported dual displays already. I started taking them out of service and using the graphics card's second output, and people thought I was some kind of genius. The guy who originally deployed them did it because they were a quick way to add a second screen and a lot of users wanted a second screen.

No, DisplayLink is a USB based graphics chip, as in it uses USB instead of PCIe to communicate with the system. This product is most likely using the DL-6000 series.

DisplayLink GPU Agnostic Display Solutions

Synaptics’ DisplayLink uses software and a device decoder to act as a virtual graphics card, enhancing display capabilities, productivity, and sustainability with adaptive compression technology.

www.synaptics.com

DisplayLink hasn't been laggy since they moved to USB 3.0. Silicon Motion makes something similar as well.

 

[Zareek]

No, DisplayLink is a USB based graphics chip, as in it uses USB instead of PCIe to communicate with the system. This product is most likely using the DL-6000 series.

DisplayLink GPU Agnostic Display Solutions

Synaptics’ DisplayLink uses software and a device decoder to act as a virtual graphics card, enhancing display capabilities, productivity, and sustainability with adaptive compression technology.

www.synaptics.com

DisplayLink hasn't been laggy since they moved to USB 3.0. Silicon Motion makes something similar as well.

Very interesting, that sounds like a much better way to do it.

 

[Assimilator]

Very interesting, that sounds like a much better way to do it.

DisplayLink still isn't great because it uses the host CPU to decompress and decode video data, which is never going to be as fast or efficient as hardware designed for the task. Especially with higher-resolution displays, the load it places on the CPU is noticeable.

 

[TheLostSwede]

DisplayLink still isn't great because it uses the host CPU to decompress and decode video data, which is never going to be as fast or efficient as hardware designed for the task. Especially with higher-resolution displays, the load it places on the CPU is noticeable.

Sure, but it's still "only" around 10-15% and those figures are from older quad core systems. It's a compromise solution, mainly for notebooks.
Apparently DisplayLink also added CPU offloading way back in 2018, so they can use the integrated GPU to do stuff now, which should've reduced the CPU load further.

 

[trsttte]

It's a compromise solution, mainly for notebooks.

Absolutely, and for the right price it's fine. But for 400$ I want thunderbolt 4 or USB4, no ifs or buts about it. Maybe USB-C alt mode with MST on the video ports could be passable as this is also combines a KVM switch but DisplayLink is simply unacceptable