First post, by Licentious Howler
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- Newbie
For both USB or PS/2--specifically, how to modify them.
I use a Microsoft Intellimouse 1.1 Optical (USB), and have tried both the straight USB connection, and a passive USB>PS/2 adapter.
Under Windows XP (32-bit) on this same set of hardware, there are two utilities I have found that allow me to modify the USB polling rate, and while I haven't played around with the PS/2 stuff as much, from what I understand, there's a setting in XP that allows you to change it from 100 Hz to 200 Hz.
Too freaking bad none of that stuff seems to work in 98SE...! If the PS/2 option is in there, I certainly can't find it... using a "mouserate" application, the USB movements read at the 125 Hz default, and PS/2 reads at the 100 Hz default, and that certainly feels about right when playing games (the ones I mention below in particular).
I've researched and tried everything I could think of with no luck, and so here I am, asking the experts of old hardware again. : P If anybody knows a way to tweak this stuff under 98SE, I'm all ears...!
{ Oh, and in case anybody wants to say: "why would you do this, this is pointless", okay, as briefly as I can:
I can't personally notice the difference in latency, but I have noticed under Windows XP (and on my modern rig) that a higher sample rate can help to smooth out the axes of mouse movement in first person shooters in particular and give a little more breadth and precision to the aim (it's almost as if I somehow gain a bit more DPI, but I'm pretty sure that's not actually the case). It's particularly noticeable that Unreal games control a bit better, and in Serious Sam, it's the difference between me turning off the "Smooth Axis" option, which is preferable.
Plus, it's nice to have things a bit more consistent across my computers and Operating Systems. }
I have noticed that using the PS/2 adapter maybe helps a little tiny bit over USB, but I'm curious if 200 Hz would make a difference.
If you made it this far, thanks for hearing me out.
-Using Windows 98SE with the Unofficial Service Pack 3
-Pentium III 866 Mhz
-some super generic NEC USB 2.0 PCI add-in card (can't seem to find the exact model name, but it was the most common chip they use IIRC)
