How to select and buy PCI card with PS/2 port for older keyboard.

July 21, 2007 10:09 PM

How to select and buy PCI card with PS/2 port for older keyboard.

I need to connect a PC keyboard with PS/2 termination to my PC, but the PC lacks a PS/2 port. I've tried a PS/2 to USB adapter, but some keys then stick or don't work correctly.

I know I can buy a PCI slot card that has a PS/2 port, but I've been unable to find a) which is the right one for my PC (Dell Dimension 9100) and b) where to buy it.

I have Googled this, used Yahoo answers, and asked the tech support gurus at my work, but no good answers. Ideas?

posted by 4midori to computers & internet (7 comments total)

Have you tried using a USB keyboard (not a ps/2 keyboard with adapter)? Buying a USB keyboard would be less of a hassle than getting a PS/2 PCI card.
posted by rancidchickn at 10:17 PM on July 21, 2007

people trying to use ibm model m keyboards (not that you are, but it still may be applicable) have noticed irregularities with ps2/usb converters, especially on certain dells. you may want to try a better quality of usb converter.
posted by dorian at 10:26 PM on July 21, 2007

Have you tried using a USB keyboard (not a ps/2 keyboard with adapter)? Buying a USB keyboard would be less of a hassle than getting a PS/2 PCI card.

Yes, but I use a very specific model of MS Natural Keyboard. Its old and faded, but has the best shape and key feel of any I've tried. I bought one of their newer models, but its layout sucks, and the buttons are not freely assignable, so I dumped it.
posted by 4midori at 11:15 PM on July 21, 2007

To expand on dorian's answer, here is Clickykeyboards' FAQ on PS/2 to USB adaptors.
posted by flabdablet at 4:27 AM on July 22, 2007

Thanks all. The PS/2-to-USB converter from clickykeyboards.com looks like just what I need.
posted by 4midori at 8:13 AM on July 22, 2007

Awesome, I was wondering why free USB/PS2 adapters sucked.
posted by rhizome at 10:46 AM on July 22, 2007

Checking back. I tried the clickykeyboards USB-PS/2 converter, but it had the same problems.

So, does anyone know how to find a PCI-slot PS/2 port? I saw them somewhere, but don't know how to spec one. My PC is a Dell Dimension 9100.

Alternately, if there is an ergo keyboard out there that is a carbon copy of the Microsoft Natural (not elite) keyboard, that would work as well.

I tried a newer Natural MS Ergo model, but doesn't work as well as it looks.

Thx.
posted by 4midori at 7:28 PM on August 6, 2007