USB 1.1 Vs USB 2
 

Apologies if this has been covered before. My PC has several USB ports at the back. They are all, I believe, USB 1.1. If I were to purchase an item labeled as having a USB 2 connection, would it work?

Also, is it a major deal 'converting' my old USB 1.1 ports to new USB 2s to benefit from the higher data transfer speeds?

Thanks in advance...

Yes they would as USB 2 is backwards compatible with USB 1.1. You will however be stuck with 1.1 speeds unless you upgrade, so paying a premium for a USB 2 peripheral is not worth it if you can get the same item cheaper using 1.1.

Easy to upgrade your PC by buying a USB 2 PCI card.

hth

The USB 2.0 device should work with USB 1.1 (at slower speeds) if it is marked as being backwards compatible, as far as I know. Some devices can be picky and usually state specifically on the back that they will not work with USB1.1 (usually high bandwidth devices like video capture units and the like).

Normally you can't convert USB1.1 ports to USB 2.0, but you can buy a PCI card with USB2.0 compatibility relatively cheaply. Such cards may come with a firewire socket as well.

Thanks guys

The item I'm considering buying is a multi-memory card reader. Most of these are advertised as 2.0 products and whilst I've seen older 1.1 versions, the price difference is negligable.

Just back from a trip to the USA where I purchased a PCI 4 port USB 2.0 card for $30 to replace my old 2 port 1.1 card.
Willby

Expensive, I paid $24 for a 6 port PCI USB 2 card, but it does show the rough price they are available for.

How can you tell if you have the 2.0 version of USB?

Control Panel, System, Hardware, Device Manager, Universal Serial Bus Controller - Mine indicates USB2,0 Root Hub for my USB2 card and no numbers for the 1.1

If it's integrated in your motherboard then in device Manager for 1.1 all entries will be 'Universal Host Controller.' If it's USB 2 at least one of the entries will be 'Enhanced Host Controller.'

Sorry to hijack...

One of my colleagues has just brought a USB 2 PCI card for his PC. He says that the card has two new usb ports at the back + one inside the case. As his computer currently has two USB ports on the front of the case he wants to connect these ports to the new PCI card. He reckons that the internal USB port is for this purpose.

The problem is that he has not got a cable that can link between the old USB ports which link straight to the motherboard and the internal USB socket. Any idea where in the UK he can source one of these cables?

He maybe barking up the wrong tree so please point that out if obvious and I'll set him straight.

Cheers

DeepC

DeepC,

That is exactly what the internal port is for. Is the internal port identical to the external USB ports, or is just a bunch of pins?

goates

Goates,

It's identical to the USB sockets on the outside of the card. I've just had a chat with him and he thinks that the old ports at the front of the case have a 'male' USB connector on the back. So essentially he is looking for a 40cm long USB extension cable.

Again, Does this sound feasible?

For info the PC is a HP Pavillion 7946 about 2 yrs old.

Thanks

DeepC

DeepC,

Look for something like this:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...3ed0c81c7b01a7

After that, your friend would have to check the computer manual to see if they tell you the pin configuration for the front panel connections.

goates

The iPod blurb says it only works with USB 2. Is there a difference between 1.1 and 2 in the power available for a connected device?

I had a look at the device manager but it just lists the devices and not what type they are just that they are USB root Hubs.

Where would it say more info - had a look in properties but no joy.

USB 1.1 is much slower than USB 2. 480Mbps compared to 12Mbps. USB 2 may provide more power too, but usually USB 2 device will work in the older ports at the slower speed.

Devices like the iPod want the higher speed, otherwise it could take you a couple of days to load up your iPod. If you only have USB 1.1, you might want to look at getting a USB 2 PCI card.

loki

@ah64

Should look like this.

Thanks for the link but mine say:
SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller (Three of them)
SiS PCI to USB Enhanced Host Controller (one of them)
USB Root Hub (four of them)
What does this mean - I only have two USB ports.

:confused: :confused:

Quod Erat Demonstrandum :8


All 4 will be USB 2 because it only needs one Enhanced controller.

IPOD
 

Tone,

I recently got a 4th gen IPOD and it works fine with USB 1.1 on my laptop. Granted it 'aint fast, but then neither is ITUNES for ripping CD's.... It also charged through the USB OK.