Any advantage/disadvantage of USB key/mouse over PS2?

[GonzoDaGr8]

Just curious if there is an advantage to using USB for keyboard and mouse over the PS2 ports. I have allways used PS2, But just today swithched them over to USB as it makes it easier to share my one keyboard and mouse with my Mac.

 

[Motero]

usb is hot swappable...meaning you can put anything in to it while it's on and not blow it up.

 

[aggie113]

you know, as a hardware tech i know you can short out your mobo by hot swapping ps2 ports but i have never ever seen or heard of it happening
i like the apple pro keyboard and i use it on my pc setup. though, for my other system which is a HTPC (home theater pc) i have a wireless logitec setup that could use usb but also has adapters for ps2 and since I use the usb on that for other things i put my ps2 ports to good use instead of taking up a valuable usb port.

 

[sciencewhiz]

Originally posted by: aggie113
you know, as a hardware tech i know you can short out your mobo by hot swapping ps2 ports but i have never ever seen or heard of it happening

it happened to my uncle

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Yeah, if you want just use an adaptor to PS2 ports but really there is no difference...

 

[JetBlack69]

You save an IRQ, but that isn't a big issue now a days.

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

i like the apple pro keyboard and i use it on my pc setup.

Funny you should mention that as I am using my Mac keyboard(ergo one, Kensington I think) right now on my PC with my Logitech mouse plugged into it.

Yeah, if you want just use an adaptor to PS2 ports but really there is no difference..

That is what I have been using for like ever and a day..Just finally got around to doing the USB-only thing after getting my Mac.

usb is hot swappable...meaning you can put anything in to it while it's on and not blow it up.

Woah..Hope I didn't give anyone the impression that I was ever going to hot-swap PS2. I've allways know that to be a big no-no.

i put my ps2 ports to good use instead of taking up a valuable usb port.

Fortunately, I have 6(7 using the mac keyboard), So I won't be running out too soon.
I guess I should have re-phrased my question to add how is(or is there) any performance difference between the two? Seems the same or a little smoother in FPS games, same everywhere else.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: aggie113
you know, as a hardware tech i know you can short out your mobo by hot swapping ps2 ports but i have never ever seen or heard of it happening
i like the apple pro keyboard and i use it on my pc setup. though, for my other system which is a HTPC (home theater pc) i have a wireless logitec setup that could use usb but also has adapters for ps2 and since I use the usb on that for other things i put my ps2 ports to good use instead of taking up a valuable usb port.

I killed a PS/2 mouse port on the motherboard by hot-plugging. Never again.
I also noticed that my mouse became a lot more responsive and accurate when I ditched the USB -> PS/2 adaptor, and just plugged it right into the USB port. Sometimes when I boot, the mouse is not detected or does not power on, but that only happens maybe once or twice a month; a simple reboot fixes it. No idea what causes that. I'm using a Logitech Dual Optical - I love this thing.

 

[aggie113]

you probably won't notice a performance dif unless you are using a really nice mouse like a mx500 or mx700. the response time on those should be better using usb.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Or you're not using XP's "Smooth Input" option. PS/2 mice are defaulted to 40Hz refresh, USB is ~120.

Much nicer.

- M4H

 

[vetteguy]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Or you're not using XP's "Smooth Input" option. PS/2 mice are defaulted to 40Hz refresh, USB is ~120.

Much nicer.

- M4H

But I believe you can set the PS/2 refresh rate pretty high, can't you? There was a thread about the MX700 awhile back and I thought some people were saying that the PS/2 was actually better because of that. But I use USB so I really can't speak from experience.

 

[Mem]

With PS/2 software you can set PS/2 mice up to 200Hz ,however it will increase CPU usage.Also with USB the default speed of 125Hz for USB mice is more then enough so kind of pointless really setting your PS/2 mouse to a higher rating like 200Hz.

 

[Mday]

with a modern motherboard, any that has come out in the past 2 or 3 years, it doesnt matter. they can do ps2 emulation of usb keyboard and mice at the bios level. it's practically invisible to the OS.

 

[stevewm]

Originally posted by: Mem
With PS/2 software you can set PS/2 mice up to 200Hz ,however it will increase CPU usage.Also with USB the default speed of 125Hz for USB mice is more then enough so kind of pointless really setting your PS/2 mouse to a higher rating like 200Hz.

CPU usage caused by USB or PS/2 input devices is so little it is not even measurable on modern systems


MercenaryForHire: PS/2 mice in XP default to 100hz. Win2k to 60hz. Win95/98/Me default to 40hz.