ps2 or USB for a mouse. Which is better?

[JCROCCO]

Need to replace my standard mouse.

Looking for an optical one, but dont know if USB is better or not than the PS2.

I can use either, but if i had a choice, which is better, and why??

Also, just want a good optical wheelmouse. Any Suggestions.

 

[Peter]

USB is better - it's a modern controller on a fast chipset connection, unlike the PS/2 mouse port which is on the ancient keyboard controller, an 8-bit ISA device that needs to be polled very oftenly for smooth operation. On USB, it's smooth without eating too much into system bus bandwidth.

 

[MasterofNone]

PS/2 is better - It was good enough for Pa and good enough for Ma so its good enough for me. PS/2 has its own little bus, save the USB bus for scanners and printers. When was the last time you read a post where someone was having trouble with a PS/2 mouse? Try a Microsoft Optical Wheel Mouse, it is USB but comes with a USB to PS/2 adaptor.

 

[Chucko]

USB mice generally offer much great precision and resolution. The PS2 port doesn't have the bandwith required for the more precise optical mice to operate at their full potential. This statement holds true for about every current logitech and microsoft mouse on the market. Whom would have thought that their could be a bottleneck on your mouse interface. Common computer now a days have 8 USB ports , you have to use them for something.

 

[Peter]

Originally posted by: MasterofNone
PS/2 is better - It was good enough for Pa and good enough for Ma so its good enough for me. PS/2 has its own little bus, save the USB bus for scanners and printers. When was the last time you read a post where someone was having trouble with a PS/2 mouse? Try a Microsoft Optical Wheel Mouse, it is USB but comes with a USB to PS/2 adaptor.

No, PS/2 does not have "its own little bus". The PS/2 mouse port is actually the AUXiliary port of the legacy keyboard controller, the oldest and slowest piece of silicon in the entire PC. Data travelling there travels all busses all the way down to the remains of 8-bit ISA (!) maintained for the KBC alone, blocking all other system activity meanwhile. And the KBC isn't a bus mastering device either, meaning you need the CPU to poll the controller at a high frequency for smooth mouse operation.

USB in turn is on a chipset internal connection faster than PCI (how's that comparing to 8-bit ISA?), plus USB controllers are bus mastering, delivering data to the system as they come, no CPU activity required for fetching the data.

 

[Mem]

Also, just want a good optical wheelmouse. Any Suggestions.

Any of the Logitech MX series,all are excellent.

 

[Zelmo3]

I'm not sure the bus makes all that much difference. My Microsoft PS/2 Intellimouse on my desktop seems to work better for me than the Logitech USB optical mouse I use on my laptop. It's smoother and more precise somehow.
Like MasterofNone said, though, USB mice usually come with a PS/2 adapter, so just find a USB mouse that feels comfortable and comes with the adapter and use it whichever way suits you.

 

[Doh!]

Not all USB optical mice are created equal. I would second Mem's suggestion for a MX series mouse.

 

[Jeff7]

My Logitech Dual Optical was hooked by a USB -> PS/2 adaptor for a long time. When I finally ditched Win98SE, I kept it plugged to the PS/2 adaptor - didn't think of it at the time. When I did move to USB, I was surprised at how much smoother it was. Only my keyboard uses the PS/2 connector now, simply because I don't need a new keyboard. This one has been working fine for a few years now.

 

[TC2181]

Originally posted by: Chucko
USB mice generally offer much great precision and resolution. The PS2 port doesn't have the bandwith required for the more precise optical mice to operate at their full potential. This statement holds true for about every current logitech and microsoft mouse on the market. Whom would have thought that their could be a bottleneck on your mouse interface. Common computer now a days have 8 USB ports , you have to use them for something.

I'd have to disagree there. I have a "Hewlett Packard" system, and everytime I plug in my "Hewlett Packard' Printer and mouse, it locks up. I went ahead and installed a serial mouse and a lexmark printer, now everything works fine.

 

[clicknext]

Originally posted by: Peter

Originally posted by: MasterofNone
PS/2 is better - It was good enough for Pa and good enough for Ma so its good enough for me. PS/2 has its own little bus, save the USB bus for scanners and printers. When was the last time you read a post where someone was having trouble with a PS/2 mouse? Try a Microsoft Optical Wheel Mouse, it is USB but comes with a USB to PS/2 adaptor.

No, PS/2 does not have "its own little bus". The PS/2 mouse port is actually the AUXiliary port of the legacy keyboard controller, the oldest and slowest piece of silicon in the entire PC. Data travelling there travels all busses all the way down to the remains of 8-bit ISA (!) maintained for the KBC alone, blocking all other system activity meanwhile. And the KBC isn't a bus mastering device either, meaning you need the CPU to poll the controller at a high frequency for smooth mouse operation.

USB in turn is on a chipset internal connection faster than PCI (how's that comparing to 8-bit ISA?), plus USB controllers are bus mastering, delivering data to the system as they come, no CPU activity required for fetching the data.

Now why don't they make USB keyboards as well? I know it definately isn't necessary, but why not just ditch the old ports and switch it all to USB?

 

[Zelmo3]

I don't think there's enough BIOS support for USB keyboards. It's pretty important to have the computer recognize the keyboard as it first boots up, and USB for a long time was only supported in the OS.
As motherboards evolve to where most have at least basic USB support built in, we may see more USB keyboards and the phasing out of the PS/2 port on home computers.

 

[Doh!]

Originally posted by: TC2181

I'd have to disagree there. I have a "Hewlett Packard" system, and everytime I plug in my "Hewlett Packard' Printer and mouse, it locks up. I went ahead and installed a serial mouse and a lexmark printer, now everything works fine.

You have an isolated incident of either hardware or drivers issues.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Originally posted by: clicknext

Now why don't they make USB keyboards as well? I know it definately isn't necessary, but why not just ditch the old ports and switch it all to USB?

They do have USB keyboards.... the higher end ones tend to be compatible with USB or PS/2.

 

[BoomAM]

Originally posted by: Chucko
The PS2 port doesn't have the bandwith required for the more precise optical mice to operate at their full potential.

Actually, USB is limited to a "refresh rate" of 125hz. PS/2 as a much higher limit.
To be honest, it makes little difference.
Use whatever you want. The Mouse`ll work with either!!!

 

[Peter]

Missing the point. PS/2 needs to be _polled_ at a certain rate to even notice there is incoming data. This is adjustable because too high a polling rate would eat too much system bus bandwidth, hence, the user has to balance between smooth mouse operation and smooth everything else.

On USB, there is no "sampling rate" because the USB controller delivers packet data into the system whenever there are data incoming from the mouse.

In summary: The adjustable refresh rate on PS/2 mice is just duct tape over controller weaknesses. USB doesn't have that because it doesn't need to, courtesy of its 20 years more recent design. (Not exaggerating!)