Poll: Should PS/2 ports be phased out on desktop boards?

[Disparia]

Yes, which has been my answer since 1999--the start of it's discontinuance. We had a good thing going with the PC System Design Guide back then, to identify goals to meet in the following year such as no more ISA and minimum CPU/RAM. That went well, but suggesting that it was time to leave 3.5" floppy drives and PS/2 ports behind was just too crazy of an idea for some reason. Floppies endured for many years afterwards but we're more or less rid of them now (yes, I know that some govment depts still use them) and we'll eventually be rid of the PS/2 port too.

If we had stuck to the plan those issues with USB would have long since been resolved and we'd have a more beautiful backplate and a better USB standard than we have now.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

I voted no,
i like PS/2, in fact i bought a 2nd user HDD about 2 weeks ago from a pc repair shop in my local town, the fella wanted £ 10.00 which i thought was a bit steep so i said to him if he had a PS/2 keyboard to throw in he had a deal.

You know you will get in to BIOS with PS/2

 

[R-T-B]

It is. What I said is that PS/2 is connected to the PCI bridge (Not PCI-E,) for connectivity. Either that or it's something more insane like an ISA bridge to a PCI bridge, to the PCI-E host. ...but I seriously doubt that there is any PS/2 wired directly up to PCI-E. It almost always starts with the PCI bridge.

No, it's actually it's own bus of sorts that makes direct interrupts to the CPU... or at least it used to be.

When in doubt, there's an adapter about

That adapter won't work with "true" PS/2 devices that lack usb functions inside them, like the model M. It's a passive adapter.

 

[Aquinus]

No, it's actually it's own bus of sorts that makes direct interrupts to the CPU... or at least it used to be.

On Intel machines I was under the impression that modern Intel based machines use a Intel 82801 PCI Bridge for PS/2, granted I could be wrong. Your computer probably has one even if it doesn't have PS/2 to support old style buses along with GPIO and cool things like that for the motherboard vendor to use.

 

[R-T-B]

On Intel machines I was under the impression that modern Intel based machines use a Intel 82801 PCI Bridge for PS/2, granted I could be wrong. Your computer probably has one even if it doesn't have PS/2 to support old style buses along with GPIO and cool things like that for the motherboard vendor to use.

I was referencing my historical knowledge, you are probably correct.

 

[wagana]

NO D:! My kb and ms are PS2

 

[GorbazTheDragon]

i think it should start to move from ps2 to usb, and the space, you can put 4 usb ports on that space

Two

They should keep them, maybe update the spec, because an input specific connector will ALWAYS be superior for its purpose than a universal/multipurpose connector. In many cases inputs are of higher priority than most everyday USB transfers (I'd rather have my external drive transfer rate slowed down slightly than have a delay on my keyboard input), keeping a separate path for inputs gives the necessary priority to the key inputs.

 

[Frick]

Compared to USB 1 and 2.0, PS/2 was and is faster and it does have full n/key rollover. USB used to need to poll the cpu.

Wouldn't that depend on the keyboard? I used a PS/2 keyboard for a bit this year and it just beeped at me when pressing more than 2 keys at the same time. Could be faulty, but I do remember many, many occasions at school when it was a bitch to play multiplayer games with a shared keyboard.

 

[R-T-B]

Wouldn't that depend on the keyboard? I used a PS/2 keyboard for a bit this year and it just beeped at me when pressing more than 2 keys at the same time. Could be faulty, but I do remember many, many occasions at school when it was a bitch to play multiplayer games with a shared keyboard.

Both the bus and keyboard have respective limits.

 

[RejZoR]

I have 1x PS/2 and 1x PCI slot on my mobo and I wish they were both gone 5 years ago. Haven't used them at all and they just waste space that could be used for something else.

I don't understand the purpose of legacy ports on highest end hardware. If you can afford a motherboard that costs 250+ €, surely you can afford a bloody new USB keyboard... It's something else on a 40€ mobo that is already a huge expense by itself to a regular Joe...

 

[rtwjunkie]

I have 1x PS/2 and 1x PCI slot on my mobo and I wish they were both gone 5 years ago.

I personally like having a PCI slot. Some legacy stuff just plain works well, and there is no point in replacing it until it breaks. One PC here has a soundcard in a PCI slot, and another has a 4-port USB card.

In general though, I agree that the highest end MB should probably not continue with them.

 

[redeye]

No, as long as you have to install win7, you might need a ps2 port to login...(first time)

Sometimes the USB drivers are not loaded before the first login screen on a brand install of win 7...

And does not take up much space... On most current MB's it is ps2, and underneath that 2 usb ports... Far left hand side looking at the MB plate.

Thus i do not believe that it will ever be removed, because what else are the MB makers going to put there?... not only that it probably is a standard...

only get rid of the ps2 mouse port LOL

 

[dorsetknob]

i think it should start to move from ps2 to usb, and the space, you can put 4 usb ports on that space

You conveniently forget all those motherboard traces for your 4 usb ports to replace the ps2 port
its not that easy just to do what you suggest
a total redesign of the motherboard would be needed and would it be cost efficient ?

 

[RejZoR]

The last PCI soundcard that I had was Sound Blaster Xtreme Music back in I don't even know how long ago. I had ASUS Xonar Essence STX, Auzentech X-Fi Forte and Sound Blaster Z after that... All PCIe.

 

[Ferrum Master]

The thing works via LPC controller that's connected to the south bridge directly, AFAIK via ISA bridge even on X99...

The same sucker that ensure your power buttons fire up the board, it is present on ALL boards, it's just disabled via BIOS and no traces routed to the according pins of the Super I/O chip.

 

[rtwjunkie]

The last PCI soundcard that I had was Sound Blaster Xtreme Music back in I don't even know how long ago. I had ASUS Xonar Essence STX, Auzentech X-Fi Forte and Sound Blaster Z after that... All PCIe.

Well, the one I spoke of with a soundcard is using an ASUS Xonar D1. Good soundcard and drivers work great. Kind of an expensive proposition to replace it jut to get a PCIe version, just because.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Kind of an expensive proposition to replace it jut to get a PCIe version, just because.

Especially when the DAC is the same... I still also use PCI X-Fi Titanium Elite Pro at work... no problems... especially knowing that creative will release drivers for windows 10 for the 9 years old veteran.

 

[dorsetknob]

Shit what do i do with my 5pin din AT keyboard ? now

 

[RejZoR]

I've wanted a COM port on my Rampage II Gene so I could revive a bricked router. Stupid ASUS, haven't thought of that...

 

[Ferrum Master]

I've wanted a COM port on my Rampage II Gene so I could revive a bricked router. Stupid ASUS, haven't thought of that...

Hardware COM ports are not reliable anymore and they are slow... use a normal FTDI USB to COM converter and do your task properly.

 

[Mussels]

PS/2 is not needed on modern motherboards.
Back in the good 'ol days you'd run into OS's without native USB support, BIOS'es that failed to register the button press to load them and so on, making PS/2 essential.

Those days are long gone. Hell i've got a bluetooth wireless keyboard/trackpad combination (dinovo edge) i use on all my setup/repair builds and i've not ran into a system it wont go into the BIOS or install an OS yet.

 

[neatfeatguy]

My favorite keyboard ( Microsoft natural keyboard elite) I have has a PS/2 connector, but it does come with a PS/2 to USB adapter if needed. I've kind of retired the keyboard since I can't find anymore new (aside from a few here and there where people are asking $70+ for it) since it's showing its age. I'm working on finding another good ergonomic keyboard....but I haven't had much luck yet.

 

[R-T-B]

I have 1x PS/2 and 1x PCI slot on my mobo and I wish they were both gone 5 years ago. Haven't used them at all and they just waste space that could be used for something else.

I don't understand the purpose of legacy ports on highest end hardware. If you can afford a motherboard that costs 250+ €, surely you can afford a bloody new USB keyboard... It's something else on a 40€ mobo that is already a huge expense by itself to a regular Joe...

Even I'll admit in my obscure use case, this is a valid point. I COULD afford an adapter, I just don't want to.

The thing works via LPC controller that's connected to the south bridge directly, AFAIK via ISA bridge even on X99...

The same sucker that ensure your power buttons fire up the board, it is present on ALL boards, it's just disabled via BIOS and no traces routed to the according pins of the Super I/O chip.

View attachment 66157

Thanks for the knowledgeable reply. I thought saying it's hooked up to PCI was wrong... looks like we certainly aren't driving the cost up too much by including it, either.

 

[RejZoR]

PS/2 is not needed on modern motherboards.
Back in the good 'ol days you'd run into OS's without native USB support, BIOS'es that failed to register the button press to load them and so on, making PS/2 essential.

Those days are long gone. Hell i've got a bluetooth wireless keyboard/trackpad combination (dinovo edge) i use on all my setup/repair builds and i've not ran into a system it wont go into the BIOS or install an OS yet.

I feel outdated by having a regular BIOS and not UEFI...

 

[R-T-B]

I feel outdated by having a regular BIOS and not UEFI...

Don't feel bad, I had one until recently... and UEFI isn't really anything special unless you have a drive over 4TB.