USB1.1 vs. USB 2.0

[D F Bonnett]

I've been looking at MP3 players. A couple of them require USB 2.0.
That would require a PCI expansion card for my machine. Will a player
requiring 2.0 download from the HD very much faster than one which
will run on 1.1? I'm thinking about the IPod (USB 2.0) vs. the Nomad
Jukebox3 (USB 1.1), both of which have a 20 gig drive and where
variances in download speed would make a difference. If there is a
significant difference and the addition of a USB 2.0 card would be in
order, is there a particular PCI card I should look for?
TIA
DFB

 

[Todd H.]

I've been looking at MP3 players. A couple of them require USB 2.0.
That would require a PCI expansion card for my machine. Will a player
requiring 2.0 download from the HD very much faster than one which
will run on 1.1?

Yes. USB2.0 is definitely worth it in these devices. I think the
transfer improvement is something like 10x.

I'm thinking about the IPod (USB 2.0) vs. the Nomad
Jukebox3 (USB 1.1), both of which have a 20 gig drive and where
variances in download speed would make a difference. If there is a
significant difference and the addition of a USB 2.0 card would be in
order, is there a particular PCI card I should look for?

Doublecheck that spec on the NJB3.... I was led to believe one of it's
benefits over my original NJB1 was that it had USB 2.0.

 

[kony]

I've been looking at MP3 players. A couple of them require USB 2.0.
That would require a PCI expansion card for my machine. Will a player
requiring 2.0 download from the HD very much faster than one which
will run on 1.1? I'm thinking about the IPod (USB 2.0) vs. the Nomad
Jukebox3 (USB 1.1), both of which have a 20 gig drive and where
variances in download speed would make a difference. If there is a
significant difference and the addition of a USB 2.0 card would be in
order, is there a particular PCI card I should look for?
TIA
DFB

Yes, a player supporting USB2 should be a lot faster to download, it
would be much more noticable with 20GB capacity than the type with
only a few dozen MB of memory.

All the USB cards are more alike than different, except number of
ports and the chipset. I suggest NEC chipset, more than two ports...
whichever is a better price nearby, as the cost of the card may be
little more than shipping cost so it may be worthwhile to buy locally
the next time you see a good advertised price.

Then again, maybe the slight difference in chipset doesn't bother you,
any would be tons faster than USB1, and since you don't "seem" to need
USB2 otherwise and the next system you own will already have USB2 or
better so you may never need the USB card again, you might just grab
the first cheap card you see.


Dave

 

[D F Bonnett]

Yes. USB2.0 is definitely worth it in these devices. I think the
transfer improvement is something like 10x.


Doublecheck that spec on the NJB3.... I was led to believe one of it's
benefits over my original NJB1 was that it had USB 2.0.

Todd..
Many thanks for the lightning follow-up. That was exactly the info I
was seeking. Also, thanks for the tip on the Nomad. The Creative site
only specified USB, not a version, so I assumed 1.1 would do it. Good
to know ahead of time. I'll have to make sure I can get a PCI USB 2.0
card working before I pop for the player. Would a player that utilizes
2.0 be backwards compatible with 1.1?

 

[Todd H.]

card working before I pop for the player. Would a player that utilizes
2.0 be backwards compatible with 1.1?

Yeah, I think so. If a USB2 device is hooked to a 1.1 interface, it
should just fall back to the 1.1 rate.

I'm not positive of this though, so if someone could chime in an amen
that'd be good.

 

[josh]

Yes, it will just use USB 1.1

Yeah, I think so. If a USB2 device is hooked to a 1.1 interface, it
should just fall back to the 1.1 rate.

I'm not positive of this though, so if someone could chime in an amen
that'd be good.

 

[D F Bonnett]

Yes, it will just use USB 1.1

Any thoghts about a good brand of PCI USB 2.0 card?
Iv'e seen them from $5 to $30. Only need one or two ports.

 

[D F Bonnett]

Yes, a player supporting USB2 should be a lot faster to download, it
would be much more noticable with 20GB capacity than the type with
only a few dozen MB of memory.

All the USB cards are more alike than different, except number of
ports and the chipset. I suggest NEC chipset, more than two ports...
whichever is a better price nearby, as the cost of the card may be
little more than shipping cost so it may be worthwhile to buy locally
the next time you see a good advertised price.

Then again, maybe the slight difference in chipset doesn't bother you,
any would be tons faster than USB1, and since you don't "seem" to need
USB2 otherwise and the next system you own will already have USB2 or
better so you may never need the USB card again, you might just grab
the first cheap card you see.


Dave

Many thanks, Dave. The only other USB device is my scanner. I use it
little and it runs OK on the 1.1 ports now extant on the back of the
case. I have a camera but I don't use it at all and could uninstall
and never miss it. I will look for the NEC chipset, however.
Regards
DFB

 

[DaveW]

USB 1.1 peak transfer rate: 11 Mbps.

USB 2.0 peak transfer rate: 480 Mbps.

 

[D F Bonnett]

USB 1.1 peak transfer rate: 11 Mbps.

USB 2.0 peak transfer rate: 480 Mbps.

That settles the issue about whether I need USB 2.0. I do.
I can't add a USB 2.0 card. Out of slots on the micro-ATX board.
Looked at a bare bones system on Ebay for $199. Intel mobo, 2.4 gig
Celeron, 512 DDR RAM, USB 2.0, 5 PCI, 1 AGP slot. I'll use my own ME,
FD, HDs, CDROM, burner, modem, NIC, vid card etc.
This will relace a 300 Celeron with 256 RAM.
Is that where I want to go? I could get a combo USB/NIC, but that
would be another $70 into an obsolete, slow machine.