faster interface for a mouse. UBS or PS/2?

blahsome

Senior member
Dec 4, 2000
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What is the preferred (i.e. faster) connection method for a mouse? I swear I saw somewhere the old PS/2 port was better than a USB port, but then I saw today articles to the contrary.

I have a high-performance MX510 game mouse and would like to maximize its potential.

Thanks.
 

Appledrop

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2004
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USB has the potential to be better... At stock, PS2 is faster, but you can "overclock" your USB port (default 125hz) pretty safely i guess ( i have done so, no probs, but then again, i only use the mouse in my usb ports.. sooo ) to 500hz. http://home.no/buddis/usb500hz.html <-- read this :p
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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PS2 isn't "faster". We've had that "discussion" a zillion times over. In a nutshell, the PS/2 port is on the legacy keyboard controller, which is an 8 MHz, 8-bit, entirely PIO-driven ISA device. Yes ISA. Even in today's systems.

How that should be in any way faster than the bus-mastering, beyond-PCI bandwidth device that is the USB root hub completely escapes me.

The reason why sample rates on PS/2 are adjustable is exactly because the controller is that slow. On USB, devices can feed data to the best of their ability without making the controller trip, hence, no adjustment required.

Besides, making the mouse send motion data more often than the screen is being refreshed (which would be somewhere between 60 and 100 times a second) is utterly pointless anyway.
 

Appledrop

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2004
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lol, i notice the difference hugely between 125hz and 500hz on my razer diamondback. ( i use it on both pcs, one is oc usb, one not ) after using my oced usb port going to my 125hz port pc, the fluid motion of the mouse is very noticiable i find.
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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Given that your screen (and hence, your mouse cursor position) updates no more often than the screen refresh rate of 60 to 100 Hz, you explain that impression how?

It's all hype with some autosuggestion sprinkled on top.

Of course, setting the _internal_ sample rate of an optical mouse higher or lower does do something for its _internal_ precision. This however isn't anything to do with the rate it sends data over the interface. Even if the mouse device samples motion more precisely, the mouse cursor on the screen isn't going to move any more often than those 60-100 times per second.
 

Appledrop

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2004
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well i cant explain it really, you'd have to try it yourself to know what i mean i suppose
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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Your claim that the mouse cursor moves smoother when updated more often than the display is physically impossible. You'd have to think about it yourself to know what I mean I suppose.