Why do Modern Motherboards Still Have PS/2 COnnectors?

I have noticed that many modern motherboards still have PS/2 connectors, despite that connector being outdated. Why is this? USB offers faster data transmission than does PS/2 and is has plug-and-play functionality, which PS/2 does not. I know that PS/2 connectors are used for mice or keyboards, but most mice and keyboards use USB as their primary connector today, and since most motherboards have as many as eight or ten USB ports (with the ability to add more via the use of add-on cards or front panels of the case), I cannot imagine that using two USB ports for the mouse and keyboard would lead to a shortage of USB ports.

What does everyone else have to say on this subject? Why do modern motherboards still have PS/2 ports?

i agree.

however, i have found on my msi motherboard for my htpc, if you are connected witha usb keyboard and try and get into the bios, it will stop working. or in otherwords, you can get into the bios, but then the keyboard stops. a ps/2 keyboard works perfectly though. so, my guess would be for lazily programmed bios's that don't work with usb keyboards.

i would also like to point out that my asus, biostar, foxconn, and jetway boards all work just fine in the bios with a usb keyboard.

No clue, maybe because there are still advantages using ps/2 connectors for something? I don't know anyone who does, but I know that there are advantages to ps/2 such as it has infinite key rollover, which USB is strictly limited in, but who knows.

usb does not support N key rollover, while PS2 does.

There are also a lot of ps2 based KVM systems out there still in use. From the servers I build, I see both. About 80% of the servers that pass through my hands have PS2, the rest don't. That was a shock to one of my customers and they had to buy some special adapters to be able to use their KVM.

My keyboard is PS/2 (it's an IBM Model M)

Also, although it's not enough to even notice or make a difference when it happens, since USB is a shared bus, everything plugged in is using it and sharing bandwidth. The keyboard isn't given priority over everything else, so there can be lag (not enough to even notice, but there it's still lag).

Two words: Backwards Compatibility.

Similar to how USB 3.0 ports can take 2.0 devices.

I am currently using a ps/2 mouse and keyboard on my i7 rig... and a wireless keyboard mouse combo as well. lol I use the wired controls for my desk and I leave the mouse and keyboard on my bed for media purposes. It works well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by diluzio91

usb does not support N key rollover, while PS2 does.

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Why would a newer technology not have a feature that an older technology possesses? That makes no sense to me.

It has to do with how USB keyboards and ps/2 keyboards send their data, see http://goo.gl/3euRf , hope I'm not breaking any rules by linking to other forums :P