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How long can KVM cables be?
Video cables are critical, since they need to cleanly transmit a high bandwidth. Their possible length varies greatly depending on the video card used, the resolution and the cable quality and can range from 5 to 30 metres.

Keyboards and mice are not critical in terms of their transfer bandwidth. But because their – usually thin - cable also provides the power supply, supply voltage attenuation limits cable length. The maximum length depends on the power consumption of the keyboard or mouse and the minimum voltage at which they still work reliably. With normal cables, 8 to 10 metres are usually possible; With special cables, as well as between two devices with separate power supplies (such as a KVM switch and a server), the maximum length is about 20 metres.

What happens if a cable is too long?
With video cables, the monitor image becomes increasingly blurred at longer cable lengths. What is regarded as an unacceptable video quality is, of course, subjective. Another, albeit rare, phenomenon witnessed occasionally is a burnout of the video driver chip when a high quality card is used in combination with a longer (> 4 metres), low-grade (high-attenuation) cable.

If the mouse and keyboard cables are too long, their function becomes increasingly unreliable, with keyboard and mouse input becoming corrupted or suppressed and affected by external interference.

What should I watch when buying KVM cables?
The differences in quality of the common PS/2 keyboard and mouse cables is usually quite small. They are usually inexpensive, being made in large volumes in the Far East. At lengths of more than 8 to 10 metres, special-purpose cables are advisable.

Monitor and video cables are available in a wide range of price levels. The differences in quality can also be considerable, starting with the cable construction: Here, you should insist on "triple coax"material, even for shorter lengths of less than one metre. But even "triple coax" cables are available in a range of material and build quality levels, which are not always apparent from the outside. The longer the cable, the higher its quality must be. Longer passive video cables are therefore more expensive than an active solution using, for example, CAT5 extenders.

What purpose do the cylindrical housings on some monitor cables have?
These contain ferrite rings that reduce electromagnetic radiation to within the specified CE limit values. If anything, they tend to have a negative effect on image quality.

All-in-one cables

The main benefit of all-in-one cables is that they reduce the number of cables that need to be laid between PC and peripherals. Most all-in-one cables are made by fusing together the three cables, resulting in a relatively thick, inflexible cable. In 19" racks, in which there is often a shortage of space, this can be a disadvantage. Much better are the newer, round all-in-one cables. Much thinner and more flexible, they are designed for professional applications and are a little more expensive. Some also have larger-diameter cores for supplying power to mouse and keyboard. They are available in lengths up to 20 metres.