Sipeed’s NanoKVM-USB 4K Is a More Versatile KVM
The $69 NanoKVM-USB 4K brings high-res 60 FPS streaming to hobbyists, turning a pro sysadmin tool into a versatile gadget for the homelab.
KVMs are important tools for sysadmins, but in the past, not a lot of other people have used them. These tools make it easy to do everything from applying a security patch to installing a fresh operating system on a headless computer. When the typical technophile with a homelab needed to do something like that, they’d just drag out an extra monitor and keyboard to get the job done. It’s not as convenient as using a KVM, but it’s also not a problem worth spending a couple hundred dollars to solve.
But with the emergence of cheap KVMs like the Sipeed NanoKVM-USB in recent years, they are expanding their reach. With a plethora of useful features and a price tag of about $50, why not pick one up and stop moving your monitor around? Lots of hobbyists clearly agree, because these devices are very popular.
In this context, a recently upgraded KVM — the NanoKVM-USB 4K — makes a lot of sense. As the name implies, this new gadget can pass along 4K video streams at up to 60 FPS from the target machine. A sysadmin would rarely care about such a feature. For them, a text-based interface is usually enough. And even where a GUI is needed, 1080p would generally be perfectly adequate.
But for the home user, this new capability turns the NanoKVM-USB 4K into more than just a tool for quickly applying patches or other upgrades. It can be used to connect to another machine to play videos, for instance. With the impressive video streaming capabilities, the NanoKVM-USB 4K could even be used for gaming.
Not everyone needs a KVM that can do 4K video, so most people would be better off buying a cheaper 2K (or less) device. But for those with special purposes, the NanoKVM-USB 4K could fill a need most of us never even knew we had.
The new version is available on AliExpress for $69.