PS/2 connection conundrum

[IBMJunkman]

I prefer PS/2 mice and keyboards. Mainly because I have a set I like and, when I tried USB ones years ago, the BIOS of the day had problems and I could not DEL into the setup screen.

What I need to understand is the single, 2 color port. Will it support a mouse and keyboard simultaneously using a Y cable? Or is it a dealers choice of just 1 device at a time.

It is not important to my use but which one is better technology wise, PS/2 or USB?

 

[mrblotto]

I don't believe a Y-splitter will work.

As for PS/2 vs USB - I prefer USB

 

[Magic Carpet]

Let's see, my PS/2 keyboard allows me to power on my main computer after a power loss, that's handy. I can quickly enter BIOS even with the "MSI Fast Boot" option enabled, extremely handy. Can do neither of that with any USB device I have, unfortunately.

I wish this motherboard had another PS/2 port for the mouse, though. Yeah, my favorite mouse is also PS/2 based. Heh. And the Y-splitter thing didn't work for me. Now, my laptop doesn't have a PS/2 port so I use this mouse instead. Can't say you really need all those extra buttons if you know how to use a PC keyboard.

USB mice/keyboards tend to be more technically advanced. What is "best", really depends on your situation and criteria.

P.S. Have about a dozen of different mice/keyboards. The solar-powered one is pretty cool though, and that's USB. When I am on a couch, I use this one, also USB. They all have their uses, hard to pick the best. There's also the engineering part of your question, but I am not qualified enough to speak of that.

 

[ctbaars]

Ref: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2459510

I had a similar question. You seem to imply that the PS/2 keyboard is the safest way to go initially; upon building and setup. USB is perfectly fine after that.

Never heard of a Y-splitter working. Always thought of them as a Tech-Scam.