Started exploring PS/2 ports during a look at motherboard offers.
Started exploring PS/2 ports during a look at motherboard offers.
I began playing games because it was the best option available. Why keep old PS/2 ports on modern and even gaming motherboards? Are there any advanced keyboards or mice that still use PS/2 ports you’re unaware of? Do they still serve a useful purpose today?
I haven't encountered any good PS/2 boards recently. It's basically an outdated standard now.
I think these motherboards work well with IBM systems. The PS2 is now considered an outdated standard; it remains supported on certain boards for safety and size constraints. For projects like custom networking or servers, I also understand that the PS2 interface allows full key rollover, and USB keyboards function normally unless they're in BOOT mode. The PS/2 port simply means personal system/2.
This reminds me a lot. It gives a straightforward reply to your query, OP. The PS/2 style connectors represented a fresh approach, replacing the heavy 9-pin DIN ports found on PC/XT keyboards. The illustration isn't accurate to size; the AT connector is actually slightly bigger than depicted. Yes, it's long since become obsolete—a final remnant of a product line that didn’t quite succeed. IBM’s PS/2 line was meant to establish new benchmarks with its own proprietary keyboard/mouse connectors and Micro Channel slots, even featuring an optional OS called OS/2. Some claim a copy is being sold on FB MarketPlace. However, the timing was poor; many off-brand makers quickly undercut IBM’s offerings. At that time, $10,000 Compaq 80386s were common, just a year before cheaper 80486SX models appeared at $3,000. That was quite a shock. AMD wasn’t impressed either—even Cyrix didn’t look promising back then. I recall the PS/2 well, mainly because upgrading my father’s business with a PS/2 Model 50Z brought back the old Tandy 1000 SX, complete with a 20MB HDD, 80286 board, 5.25/3.5 floppies (the latter read 720k despite being 360k), and 512KB RAM. But I’ll leave it there. A few years later, my high school was full of Model 25s—likely IBM’s Macintosh alternative—as part of a new LAN. I quickly grew to dislike them. At the time, I was quite skilled, but the setup was rough; teachers often blamed me for problems while expecting fixes. It was a bit of a distraction. For a short while, PS/2 ports were standard, but the format faded quickly. I think late-model systems kept these ports mainly to reuse thousands of durable 101 AT keyboards when their original hardware became outdated. USB has since replaced them completely. I’ve built two LGA1155 boards on Intel boards without PS/2 connectors, though the holes are still available for them. Edited November 25, 2022 by An0maly_76
That’s quite a jump from 16 kilobytes to 512 gigabytes! Your old model was definitely a far cry from today’s standards.
Not so quickly. Yes, from today’s perspective it’s an outdated norm, but it wasn’t a product that was scrapped because it failed or didn’t perform well. It’s simply an older standard being phased out in favor of USB technology. It’s been around for at least two decades now—definitely not a fleeting trend. In our fast-paced industrial world, we don’t dictate what others use. Many developing regions still rely on these devices because they’re affordable and widely accessible. Not everyone has the funds or access to newer solutions. These older models remain functional in certain contexts; for example, if the USB controller on your device fails, you can still operate it. This built-in backup is handy. Personally, I’m currently using one (a PS2 mouse) without issues, and it’s served its purpose well. Plus, it’s wired, so I don’t worry about battery life or recharging. While corded mice avoid battery concerns, they’re still vulnerable to controller malfunctions—something I’ve experienced firsthand with multiple units over the years.
Ah, there goes the old brainfart. Actually, it was 512 kilobytes of RAM, maxed out from its original 384kb. Not sure any Tandys were actually marketed with even 1MB of RAM, let alone 1GB. They were pretty much a memory long before RAM offerings got that vast. Guess I've been dealing with GB for so long it was muscle memory. *shrugs* All I can say about the PS/2 is that the only thing I ever saw of them was those wretched 25s in my high school LAN, and the 50Z used in my old man's business. Commercials out the yin-yang on TV for a couple years, never really saw them anywhere else. But are you saying PS/2s were not only produced into this century, but still being produced? Because AFAIK, the last PS/2 model was the EduQuest in 1995, and my understanding is that IBM killed off the PS/2 and either merged with / sold out to Lenovo, or Lenovo was a rebranding or something. That, and a seeming unanimous hatred of all things Micro Channel back then fuel my argument there. It was faster, but another punch in IBM's repeated battles to corner and monopolize the market, and in that, they obviously failed. The smaller, uniform keyboard and mouse ports were about the only thing I ever saw from this product line that seemed worth keeping around. Edited November 25, 2022 by An0maly_76 Revised, more info
The back of my B550 mortar has one on it, and I understand it isn't the sole modern model with a ps/2 port.