I don't think you'd get input with a USB card, but it depends whether the BIOS supports USB or not, maybe if it's got integrated USB that could work for USB keyboard input?

I think there are two possible things with Asus boards like that one - one is the keyboard fuse, which is common to any PS/2 keyboard having motherboard, that's usually labelled "F1" and is next to the connector so check whether that has continuity.

The other option, would be I think I saw on here that capacitors could also affect it? Hopefully someone else remembers the details on that one.

I can say that I had various laptops throughout the years from the period around 92-94 that would show sporadic behavior of sorts as in the keyboard sometimes working, sometimes not, serial devices as well sometimes being detected, and sometimes not.

In the end, it was always the issue of capacitors slowly drying up leading to sporadic behavior of this kind. In the end, when left unattended, the sporadic behavior would cease and the ports would simply be plain dead.

Replacing the capacitors got rid of any sporadic behavior and revived the ports.

Additional things to check would be as already said, the continuity of fuses and resistors in the corresponding (in this case PS/2-)line, as well as the connector itself. As PS/2 connectors are prone to have some loose legs, since ppl usually "wiggle" a lot with these kinds of connectors, which is actually not nice for them.

Thanks for the input guys. I remember seeing a few mushroomed capacitors however i am weary about replacing. Its not an issue of soldering, i hear that older asus mobos have the polarity switched or mismarked. Can anyone confirm? Also there is the large keyboard port on the back but i only have a ne ps2 port and it is labled mouse. That is the port i tried with keyboaed. There is no front i/o. Just those 2 ports. Would a pci/isa to ps2 card work? Do they even make those? I will check fuses when i get home

If it is known to have capacitor markings wrong on the planar, then it's safe to make notes when taking out the capacitors the way they were SOLDERED in. By that you will also find out if there are mistakes in the schematics. Just replace them in the exact polarity you take them out.

So you have a big keyboard connector (AT DIN5 plug) and one PS/2 connector that is labelled mouse? The it could be that this PS/2 port is an early one not yet accepting a keyboard and a mouse and is either / or. In this case mouse, if labelled so. It could then very well be that this planar only supports keyboard by itself via the AT plug.

The TX97-E is a Baby AT board, so you have the larger 5-pin DIN port for keyboard, and the PS/2 port is for a mouse. Gotta plug a 5-pin DIN (often called "AT") keyboard in, or use a PS/2-to-DIN adapter like the one pictured to attach a PS/2 keyboard.

Once you get into the BIOS, there should be a setting to "ignore all errors" so that you won't get a keyboard error when there isn't one attached.

Ahh i was thinking the ps2 would accept either i/o. I will have to get the adapter mentioned and get back to you with updates. Thanks guys for all the help.

Update!!!

Thanks everyone for the advice. The ps2 to din fixed my issue so far. Now just waiting on molex splitter to come in. Also the cpu installed is a pentium mmx 200. Would there be any benefit to upgrading to a mmx 233 or k6-2 350/400? I already have another retro machine thats is p4 based.

If you want to focus on DOS with this machine (or even Win95, say), it's probably best to stick with the Pentium MMX. This will give you the better configuration for speed flexibility when DOS titles are sensitive to the CPU clock. If you have a 233, throw it in, but it's not really worth the expense buying it separately IMO. For even more options, you can look into wiring FSB and muliplier settings via front panel switches (repurposing the turbo switch, for example).

On the other hand, if you want a system that can handle light Win98 gaming, you'll want to look into an AMD CPU.

what would be a good graphics card for it for dos? It came with a s3 virge which i hear is a good card for compatibility. However i face one small issue the S3 is vga only. My monitors only have display port and hdmi and im not looking to add another monitor. This is not a huge issue because i can at least get signal from dvi and convert it. Buuut i would need a card with dvi. In my other rig i have a radeon 9550. Any suggestions?

gdjacobs wrote:

For even more options, you can look into wiring FSB and muliplier settings via front panel switches (repurposing the turbo switch, for example).

If it's similar to other Asus mother boards from the same period, everything should be configurable via jumpers already...

It is junpers. Hes talking about front mounting customization though.

The ViRGE would be a good fit for the 233MMX as its 2D core is basically identical to the predecessor, the TrioV64+. Which is a very well regarded 2D card.

Ive read the vire is a good card and all, problem is I dont think its available in dvi my monitors only have hdmi and displayport. So the card would have to pci and dvi capable.

Going to be hard to find a PCI video card with DVI but that maintains good DOS and old motherboard compatibility, I'm afraid. DVI support started to become commonplace only after this era. It's one reason why most of us keep around old LCDs or even CRTs with VGA-in for our old machines.

what about conversion? As i have read and please correct me if i am wrong, there are some games/programs that reach different hertz ranges than what is accepted by modern monitors. If i used a vga to hdmi converter wouldn't that solve the issue since the signal would be converted to acceptable frequency?

Converters often degrade analog image quality...........

You can probably find a converter for not too much. Not ideal, but it would get you running. Pretty much any graphics card worth using won't come with a DVI output.

In the long term, I suggest keeping on the lookout for a decent CRT monitor. People still throw them out all the time, so you can probably find one for cheap (or free).

Gixxxer wrote:

It is junpers. Hes talking about front mounting customization though.

Yes, I'm talking about physically re-clocking the system with the case buttoned up.

Gixxxer wrote:

Ive read the vire is a good card and all, problem is I dont think its available in dvi my monitors only have hdmi and displayport. So the card would have to pci and dvi capable.

Go to local second-hand store, buy old flatscreen monitor with DVI and VGA for 5 bucks/euros/whatever.

its not as much an issue with finding the monitor as it is with space. I may have to bite the bullet though.