USB OR PS/2 MOuse, WHich is faster?

[mike511]

I think this question was answered before but i can't seem to remmeber were i saw it so, i'll ask again. I just bought a Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer. Should i use the USB connection or the PS/2? Is one faster then the other or is it just the versitility of usb to unplug the mouse while the computer is on? Thanks,
Mike

[Techie Dude]

Personally,, I`d leave the USB free. If you already have a PS2 port on your computer, use that. If you didn`t have a PS2 (which I think is unheard of!) Then you have no option....

I don`t think I could waste a USB port on a mouse, and to be honest, I don`t think there would be much of a difference between them! Afterall, we`ve been using PS for years with out any problems. DO you really need a mouse that is that smooth to operate?

[qball]

For most applications either connection is sufficient for mouse operations.

I'm with techie_dude, save the USB (as USB bandwidth is shared between all USB devices) and keep/get a PS/2 mouse.

[Warthog]

There really isn't much of a difference between the two, speed wise. I have asked this question before http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif. If you don't have any USB devices at the moment, it wouldn't really matter if you used a port. The one single, advantage of using the USB port for your mouse, is that you can unplug it while the comp is running. You may ask, "Why on earth would I want to do that?". To untangle the cord of course! lol, I have done that once http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif. The very best situation to use a USB mouse, is with a laptop. Put it in "sleep" mode, unplug it, pack it away and close the laptop and you are all set and ready to come back later without shutting down.

Warthog

[Target]

Doesn't the USB mouse use less CPU cycles though than a PS/2 mouse? While that wouldn't make the mouse any faster, it may make the system seem a bit snappier.

[Mr.Goodbytes]

Good lord, it's just a mouse. I can see this debate for a joystick but not a mouse.

[Warthog]

Well....he was simply asking a question. What if there was some sort of major advantage with USB? Would you still be saying the same thing?

Warthog

[Mr.Goodbytes]

Sorry, didn't mean to come off snotty. Just thought the discussion might have been getting a little overboard. No harm intended.

[Toadman]

Try getting the free program "PS2rate". You can adjust your mouse frequency up to 200 mhz(as fast as USB)for smooth operation. I recommend it for photoshop or serious gaming.
Get it here (http://www.tweakfiles.com/input/ps2rate.html).

[Warthog]

np, Goodbytes. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Toad, what does a higher mouse frequency mean? What advantages?

Warthog

[sherlock]

Please visit the following link which gives you the comparisons between the the USB and PS/2 mice:


http://www.fps3d.com/articles/mousetweak/index2.shtml

[Warthog]

Thanks for the link, sherlock. Very helpful. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Warthog

[Pepto]

Right now I have both a USB mouse (Intellimouse Optical) and a PS/2 (Intellimouse) hooked up and I can hardly notice the difference between the two. One thing that I did notice is anytime my computer hangs a bit or when its really chuggin' along, the USB mouse will actually not respond at all or get really choppy. When I grab the PS/2 mouse at these points it moves as smooth as ever.
I like my USB mouse very much (no **** to clean out of the bottom, yay) but when I'm going to do some serious gaming I'll grab the ol' PS/2 (not really the fault of USB, more the fault of the Optical mouse going nuts at faster speeds.)

Pepto

[Pepto]

EDIT
Oops, double post.

[This message has been edited by Pepto (edited 08-09-2000).]

[Snuffy!]

USB mouses have a higher refresh rate, and are smoother, and yes, i notice the difference, and u think i'm full of ****, just run a program called a ps2 rate changer, then you'll really see the diff.

[U-96]

one consideration with USB devices (and keyboards in particular) is if you fritz your Windows install, no USB in DOS http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif

keep your old keyboard and mouse handy!

[Mungla]

Exactly U-96. If you have to anything in dos that requires a mouse, forget that USB. And, if you screw your Windows up and you have to revert to Safe Mode to fix it, forget the USB there as well. I would recommend that you get a Microsoft PS/2 mouse ( about $3.00 ) just incase something like this happens. I haven't tried a USB mouse, but I've heard great things about them. Best advice, get one from a local store and try it! If you don't like it, they may let you take it back.

[mike511]

So basicly the my best bet would be hook up the intellimouse explorer to the ps/2 port and run the ps/2 rate and raise the frequency to somwhere over 120. sounds good, thats what i figured about usb ports not working in dos and safe mode. Thanks guys!

[Warthog]

Pepto,

Check this thread out: http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/Forum8/HTML/001001.html

You are one of the only people that I know that has the "Intellieye-is-too-slow" problem.

Warthog

[Pepto]

I wouldn't worry about having a spare PS/2 mouse around if you get an Optical, since it comes with a USB to PS/2 converter anyways. Very thoughtful of them.

[Warthog]

Pepto is correct.

I could switch back to PS/2 in a few minutes. Just shutdown comp, put on USB to PS/2 converter and restart comp. No big deal.

Could you do that if you had to start in safe mode?

Oh yeah...Axel, I didn't get the Explorer because of USB (I could really care less about USB). Actually, for about 6 months, I used PS/2. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Warthog

[mike511]

Actually, i bought the intellimouse explorer and it has the usb to ps/2 converter with it, its not strictly USB. And i'm, going to go ps/2 anyways and up the frequency on it. I took it over the optical becasue it fit my hand better, and i'm sick of ball mouses breaking and getting clog with junk and stuff.

[Snuffy!]

What is wrong with you guys? It is SUPER simple to navigate through Windows with the keyboard, sometimes even faster than a mouse, if u know what to press, it doesn't bother me in the least if i go into safe mode without a mouse, and yes, i do have the ps2 converter.

[Axel]

Lets make this EXTREMELY simple....

1) nothing USB works in safe mode - your system goes down, you need to re-educate yourself on all the keyboard short-cuts to navigate through the OS while you're fixing it....

2) as mentioned above - it don't work in a DOS window - any old games won't work and any games with special mouse drivers may not work either.

In summary - you bought yourself a lot of grief for a tiny burst of speed.... a $20 MS PS/2 wheel-mouse is a great investment.