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The PS/2 port is an electronic socket on computers used to connect keyboards and mice. It has a mini-DIN connector and a serrated metal sleeve for alignment. PS/2 ports were initially used for keyboards, but later incorporated two built-in ports for keyboard and mouse. While still in use, newer technologies like USB have reduced their need.
The PS/2 standard, introduced by IBM in 1987, stands for Personal System/2. A PS/2 port is an electronic plug or socket found on computers. It accepts a PS/2 cable with a mini-DIN connector and is often used to connect a keyboard or mouse.
The port is “female,” which means it has holes into which the cable pins go, while the mini-DIN cable is “male.” The connector is small with a diameter of about 1/3 inch (9.5mm). It features a serrated metal sleeve to ensure proper alignment when inserting it into the port. This protects the circular pins inside the DIN connector from bending.
The PS/2 port was initially a large DIN socket used for a keyboard, while the mouse was commonly connected to a serial port. Since modems also used serial ports, however, configuration conflicts between mouse and modem became a common problem as each attempted to share the same IRQ or memory address. To solve the problem, you could purchase a “bus mouse,” or card that could be installed in your computer and have a rear PS/2 port for the mouse. The PS/2 mouse was a popular solution because it worked independently of the serial port and avoided configuration problems. Eventually, computers incorporated two built-in ports, one for the keyboard and one for the mouse.
People looking to purchase an extension cable for a PS/2 keyboard or mouse should be sure to check the pin configuration to ensure they are purchasing the correct cable. There are seven different configurations for mini-DIN plugs, all of which look like standard PS/2 plugs at first glance. The cable should specify what equipment it is made for. S-Video cable looks similar to mini-DIN cables, for example, but the notch in the metal jacket and the pin layout differ.
While PS/2 ports remain in widespread use, later technologies have reduced the need for them. Many keyboard and mouse manufacturers have introduced models that use Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports instead, and other models are wireless. This gives the consumer the option to completely ignore the PS/2 port.
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