USB Keyboard Performance drop \ VOGONS

USB Keyboard Performance drop

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First post, by CaelThunderwing

Posted on 2025-10-29, 02:36

CaelThunderwing Offline

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i Remember hearing at some point past a certain threshold you can start to see a performance drop off when using USB Devices with older hardware.

i Just recently picked up a nice but cheap Mechanical keyboard over at my usual Salvage "Stomping grounds" of late and wanted to use it w/ a Pentium II PC i started working with. (400Mhz), but i dont know if this is below that threshold and i know of only HIDMan to convert USB to PS/2 (though the board only has 2 USB 1.1 ports anyway not like its usefull for anything other than Keyboards or Simple Controllers,) are there opther options for converting a Simple USB Keyboard to a PS/2 Keyboard?

Reply 1 of 5, by Repo Man11

Posted on 2025-10-29, 02:49

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USB to PS/2 adapters are cheap and readily available, USB keyboards used to ship with them (though that may not be the case these days). I'd imagine that most Vogons members have a number of these in our stash.

After watching many YouTube videos about older computer hardware, YouTube began recommending videos about trains - are they trying to tell me something?

Reply 2 of 5, by jmarsh

Posted on 2025-10-29, 04:27

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Those only work with keyboards that are PS/2 compatible, not every USB keyboard. They're passive adapters with no components.

Reply 3 of 5, by Repo Man11

Posted on 2025-10-29, 05:27

Repo Man11 Offline

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jmarsh wrote on 2025-10-29, 04:27:

Those only work with keyboards that are PS/2 compatible, not every USB keyboard. They're passive adapters with no components.

I knew they were passive adapters but I didn't know that they don't work with all USB keyboards. I have mostly used older USB keyboards and they have all worked with such a PS/2 adapter but I could see how they might drop support if it means saving money. Obviously they will work with keyboards that shipped with one, but if a keyboard doesn't include one maybe not?

After watching many YouTube videos about older computer hardware, YouTube began recommending videos about trains - are they trying to tell me something?

Reply 4 of 5, by mmx_91

Posted on 2025-10-29, 15:17

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All usb keyboards I've been lying around 'lately', I mean, last 10 years or so, are not compatible to this adapters.

Mid 2000s usb keyboards, however, usually work with these. Logitech Ultra Flat X keyboard comes to my mind as an example.

Reply 5 of 5, by Repo Man11

Posted on 2025-10-29, 15:59

Repo Man11 Offline

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Research on the keyboard in question ought to reveal if it will work with an passive adapter. If yes, it is an inexpensive solution, if not, I found this project, but it seems like an awful lot of work relative to finding a different keyboard.

https://github.com/10110111/usb2ps2conv

After watching many YouTube videos about older computer hardware, YouTube began recommending videos about trains - are they trying to tell me something?

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