USB vs Firewire vs Parallel port.

[KSB]

I have run out of USB 2.0 ports and I have several possible solutions. Any
suggestions would be appreciated.

My printer is USB and parallel capable. Which option is better.

My scanner and new external hard drive (the reason for the problem) are both
firewire and USB 2.0 capable. CompUSA is having a sale on either a Firewire
card or a USB 2.0 card. I have no problems installing the cards.

A USB 2.0 hub is also a possibility, but unless someone can give my a reason
that it is the best option, it is currently my last choice.

Thanks in advance.

KSB

 

[David Vair]

A hub is easier to attach things to if you need to switch things around. Parallel is much slower
than the other 2. You can also get a card that does both firewire and USB, I have seen them in the
stores too.

Dave V.

 

[CWatters]

I have run out of USB 2.0 ports and I have several possible solutions. Any
suggestions would be appreciated.

My printer is USB and parallel capable. Which option is better.

My scanner and new external hard drive (the reason for the problem) are both
firewire and USB 2.0 capable. CompUSA is having a sale on either a Firewire
card or a USB 2.0 card. I have no problems installing the cards.

A USB 2.0 hub is also a possibility, but unless someone can give my a reason
that it is the best option, it is currently my last choice.

My vote would be to install a 4 port internal card. Some actually have 5 or
more ports (eg 4 on the back and 1 or 2 internal). I did this because my
mobo only had USB 1.1 ports.

I've heard that firewire is more reliable for external HD use but I'm using
USB 2.0 myself and it works fine.

 

[Mistoffolees]

I have run out of USB 2.0 ports and I have several possible solutions. Any
suggestions would be appreciated.

My printer is USB and parallel capable. Which option is better.

My scanner and new external hard drive (the reason for the problem) are both
firewire and USB 2.0 capable. CompUSA is having a sale on either a Firewire
card or a USB 2.0 card. I have no problems installing the cards.

A USB 2.0 hub is also a possibility, but unless someone can give my a reason
that it is the best option, it is currently my last choice.

Thanks in advance.

KSB

Not too difficult to think through. Put the printer on
the LPT1 parallel port and configure it accordingly, e.g.,
EPP or ECP. Connect the external HD to a Firewire port and
the scanner to a USB 2.0 hub. One rationale for putting it
there is that the scanner is probably not going to be in
constant use. And using a hub makes it all that much easier
to hot-swap USB devices.

 

[XS11E]

Not too difficult to think through. Put the printer on
the LPT1 parallel port and configure it accordingly, e.g.,
EPP or ECP. Connect the external HD to a Firewire port and
the scanner to a USB 2.0 hub. One rationale for putting it
there is that the scanner is probably not going to be in
constant use. And using a hub makes it all that much easier
to hot-swap USB devices.

Question, isn't the USB 2.0 faster than Firewire? In which case maybe
putting the scanner on the Firewire port and the external HD on the USB
2.0 port could give a small increase in speed?

 

[Mistoffolees]

Question, isn't the USB 2.0 faster than Firewire? In which case maybe
putting the scanner on the Firewire port and the external HD on the USB
2.0 port could give a small increase in speed?

Have not noticed any difference in speed between the
USB 2.0 or Firewire ports for the same external HD's.
Our Mac users swear by Firewire for high-speed use,
incl. multi-media production, and use USB only for
routine functions, e.g., scanning, CD recording, etc.
Their reasoning is that the Firewire connector has
more conductors running through the wire and is better
shielded than that for USB. YMMV.

 

[Jim Macklin]

Assuming you want the most convenience, get a combo USB
2.0/Firewire card that has internal and external ports.
Then get a front panel hub that will allow connections
without having to reach around to the back. Connect things
that you will not be switching often to the rear ports and
keep the front for devices you'll switch in and out, such as
flash drives or game controllers.
If you buy a hub, be sure it is a powered hub.

Firewire 400 is faster than USB 2.0 (480) because it has
lower over-head. But they are about the same. Firewire is
common with camcorders and if you have an iPod or similar
device. The latest Firewire is 800 mbps or twice as fast.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


|
| XS11E wrote:
|
| > | >
| >
| > Question, isn't the USB 2.0 faster than Firewire? In
which case maybe
| > putting the scanner on the Firewire port and the
external HD on the USB
| > 2.0 port could give a small increase in speed?
| >
|
| Have not noticed any difference in speed between the
| USB 2.0 or Firewire ports for the same external HD's.
| Our Mac users swear by Firewire for high-speed use,
| incl. multi-media production, and use USB only for
| routine functions, e.g., scanning, CD recording, etc.
| Their reasoning is that the Firewire connector has
| more conductors running through the wire and is better
| shielded than that for USB. YMMV.
|

 

[XS11E]

Have not noticed any difference in speed between the
USB 2.0 or Firewire ports for the same external HD's.

Technically, Firewire is capable of data transfers of 400megabits/sec,
USB 2.0 is capable of 480megabits/sec. That's about 20% faster. I say
"about" because I've heard some say that neither will actually achieve
those speeds?

One reason to use USB 2.0 over Firewire is that it appears that
Firewire is on it's way out, USB 2.0 seems to be winning the war as per
various magazine articles.

I've got multiple firewire ports on my PC, never have figured out any
use for them....

Our Mac users

I'm going to duck any religious argument! <G>

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

How about a USB2.0 and Firewire Combo card? I would definitely use USB as
opposed to LPT anytime! The combo card will also give you an option to try
firewire for the external hard drive and see if you like it, if not and
prefer to use the USB2.0 port, then you have also got a firewire port should
the need for digital camcorder capture ever arise!

If you go for a hub, choose a powered one.

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

snip

I've got multiple firewire ports on my PC, never have figured out any
use for them....

Firewire is THE standard for digital video capture.

 

[Steve Shattuck]

A USB 2.0 hub is also a possibility, but unless someone can give my a
reason

that it is the best option, it is currently my last choice.

Hard to understand why this would be your last choice. USB hubs are not
only easy to use, they also provide you the ability to place the hub in a
location where you can plug/unplug devices more conveniently if you system
lacks front ports. Of course, it MUST be a powered hub, and I have had
excellent results with Bekin Hubs.

 

[John R Weiss]

My printer is USB and parallel capable. Which option is better.

My scanner and new external hard drive (the reason for the problem) are both
firewire and USB 2.0 capable. CompUSA is having a sale on either a Firewire
card or a USB 2.0 card. I have no problems installing the cards.

A USB 2.0 hub is also a possibility, but unless someone can give my a reason
that it is the best option, it is currently my last choice.

USB is faster than parallel, but it doesn't matter with the printer, unless
the printer can process the data faster than the parallel port can pass it
through.

Firewire and USB 2.0 are essentially equal for actual throughput. I use
Firewire for my external HD, mainly because I just got a USB 2.0 capable
computer.

A powered USB hub will give you versatility and further expansion
capability, with an easier-to-reach set of ports than the back of your
computer. The cost will also be comparable to a PCI USB or Firewire card.
It should be among your top priorities, unless there's a specific NOT to
consider it...

 

[XS11E]

snip

Firewire is THE standard for digital video capture.

Not something I'd use on my system.

 

[Gene K]

Can I add a better solution than any you have proposed. Buy and add a dual
enabled USB 2.0/Firewire[IEEE1394,i-link]. A few months ago I added a
Sandisk PCI Card which gave me three exterior USB 2.0 Ports AND two exterior
Firewire Ports. It also included one of each on the interior. A tad more
expensive but well worth the money. If you do this, hook the External Hard
Drive up via Firewire so you do not have share USB thruput with other
devices.
Take my word for it, you will eventually buy a USB Hub.

 

[Si Ballenger]

I have run out of USB 2.0 ports and I have several possible solutions. Any
suggestions would be appreciated.

My printer is USB and parallel capable. Which option is better.

My scanner and new external hard drive (the reason for the problem) are both
firewire and USB 2.0 capable. CompUSA is having a sale on either a Firewire
card or a USB 2.0 card. I have no problems installing the cards.

A USB 2.0 hub is also a possibility, but unless someone can give my a reason
that it is the best option, it is currently my last choice.

Thanks in advance.

KSB

Use powered USB hubs. They are now cheap and you should be able
to daisy chain as many as you need (max of 128 devices) off of
one USB port on your machine.

 

[KSB]

Thanks for the input. My final decision was to get the two cards from
CompUSA-total cost $40 on sale, giving me 3 firewire and 5 additional USB
ports. (I have plenty of room on my MB.) This is cheaper and gave me more
then getting a combination card. Without going into the boring details, I
had a valid reason for not going with the external powered hub. I have
already installed with no problems at all (beyond the normal rtfm issue).

I have another question, but I will start a new thread.

Again, thanks.

 

[Gene K]

Thanks for the input. My final decision was to get the two cards from
CompUSA-total cost $40 on sale, giving me 3 firewire and 5 additional
USB ports. (I have plenty of room on my MB.) This is cheaper and gave
me more then getting a combination card. Without going into the
boring details, I had a valid reason for not going with the external
powered hub. I have already installed with no problems at all (beyond
the normal rtfm issue).

I have another question, but I will start a new thread.

Again, thanks.

Congratulations on an excellent decision. I agree that you got more with two
PCI cards than a dual enabled card probably, but you have to have that extra
slot available for use.