Is a USB keyboard more responsive than a PS2 Keyboard?

[daveybrat]

I'm just curious as i know that usb mice are more responsive than their PS2 counterparts. Is the same true of USB keyboards?

Are they more responsive?

 

[XZeroII]

Short answer, Yes with an 'if'. Long answer, No with a 'but'.

 

[Eeezee]

Theoretically, yes

In practice, not really. I don't notice a difference between USB and PS2 mice response times, either. I use USB for my keyboard and mouse because I think PS2 ports are archaic and want them to get phased out. One connector to rule us all

And also because the PS2 ports on an older computer of mine stopped working, so I got a nice USB keyboard. I've been using it ever since

 

[sandorski]

Cordless is when things get a little iffy. I've only ever used one Cordless device(Logitech Trackman Marble) for Gaming before, but the delay made it unusable for FPS games. Other Cordless Input devices might nnot have that problem though.

 

[Schadenfroh]

The muscles in your hand are likely more of a bottleneck than a wired PS/2 keyboard versus a wired USB keyboard.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: sandorski
Cordless is when things get a little iffy. I've only ever used one Cordless device(Logitech Trackman Marble) for Gaming before, but the delay made it unusable for FPS games. Other Cordless Input devices might nnot have that problem though.

Using wireless logitech keyboard (MX DUo 2 I think) and MX700 mouse...FPS games 0 problems.
Been using same kb/mouse for 4+ years.

 

[CP5670]

A bigger advantage of USB keyboards is that they generally support more simultaneous keypresses than PS2 ones, especially with the numpad keys.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN

Originally posted by: sandorski
Cordless is when things get a little iffy. I've only ever used one Cordless device(Logitech Trackman Marble) for Gaming before, but the delay made it unusable for FPS games. Other Cordless Input devices might nnot have that problem though.

Using wireless logitech keyboard (MX DUo 2 I think) and MX700 mouse...FPS games 0 problems.
Been using same kb/mouse for 4+ years.

Probably limited to certain wireless devices then.

 

[fatdragondzc]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
The muscles in your hand are likely more of a bottleneck than a wired PS/2 keyboard versus a wired USB keyboard.

Indeed.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: CP5670
A bigger advantage of USB keyboards is that they generally support more simultaneous keypresses than PS2 ones, especially with the numpad keys.

Thats true, but in no game have I ever found the need to hit more than 3 keys at once.


Have had a USB keyboard before and found no performance advantage over a PS/2. Not in shooters or RTS's or anything.

 

[GundamSonicZeroX]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
One connector to rule us all

I believe that was the point of the Universal Serial Bus.

 

[CP5670]

Originally posted by: shortylickens

Originally posted by: CP5670
A bigger advantage of USB keyboards is that they generally support more simultaneous keypresses than PS2 ones, especially with the numpad keys.

Thats true, but in no game have I ever found the need to hit more than 3 keys at once.


Have had a USB keyboard before and found no performance advantage over a PS/2. Not in shooters or RTS's or anything.

Try the Descent games. If you want to trichord while firing weapons (a common situation, the 3D equivalent of circle strafing), you need a total of six keys.

I don't think there is any keyboard out there that does any six keys, but on my G15 there are many particular combinations that work.

 

[n7]

If you overclock the USB mouse polling rate...

IIRC, default polling rate is around 125 Hz.

PS/2 i can't remember what it is.

Anyway, here's some info on such.
http://www.truecarnage.com/how...uld-consider-it-r1.htm
http://www.esreality.com/?a=post&id=1265679

 

[EarthwormJim]

I believe by default, both PS/2 and USB poll at the same rate (125hz).

I think PS/2 maxes out at 200hz though for mice if you speed up the polling rate, while USB can go up to 1000hz.

You're not going to see a difference in keyboard responsiveness though.

 

[BradAtWork]

I'm using a 20 year old keyboard with a DIN connector and I have no issues with FPS's.

So i'm guessing PS/2 are going to have no problems ;

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: CP5670
I don't think there is any keyboard out there that does any six keys, but on my G15 there are many particular combinations that work.

Correct, because not a single keyboard manufacturer wants to reinvent how the keyboard functions. How annoying.

 

[Raduque]

I don't like using USB for a keyboard. It just strikes me better to use a low-level hardware port rather then a port that requires drivers to function properly.

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: Raduque
It just strikes me better to use a low-level hardware port rather then a port that requires drivers to function properly.

Huh? PS2 and USB both require drivers. Any modern OS has those drivers built-in.

Maybe if you are using windows 95 you will find you have built-in support for PS2 but not for USB, but given anything newer I'm not sure what your complaint is.

 

[Oyeve]

In some cases USB may be less responsive. If you have like 10 usb devices there will be lag but in all honesty you will not notice it. Years ago I would disable my PS2 and serial ports and diskette port as I needed to squeeze as much speed from PCs back then, but these days systems are so fast you really cant tell anymore, unless you have tons of usb hubs and devices. Its a real shame firewire is pretty much dead. No lag ever in FW.

 

[AllGamer]

for keyb and mouse i always preferred PS/2 over USB

i find it more accurate

USB craps out a lot, if some other USB devices conflict with yet another piece of USB

but lately things has gotten better, as now the USB is more mature.