USB hub dilema. Help!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kevo
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Kevo

Soft question really, but how do I determine whether the
two USB ports on my PC are old style or 2.0? This turns
into another question, which is this - I would like to add
a USB 2.0 7-port hub so that I can have printer, scanner,
photo-card reader, external modem, and several other
things plugged in all the time. If my PC has old style USB
ports, can I attach a 7-port USB 2.0 hub, or do I need to
fit a new board to my PC (at which point I dn't suppose
I'd need a hub anyway, I just fit a board with several
ports). Does any of this make sense or am I just talking
out of my USB?
 
Kevo said:
Soft question really, but how do I determine whether the
two USB ports on my PC are old style or 2.0? This turns
into another question, which is this - I would like to add
a USB 2.0 7-port hub so that I can have printer, scanner,
photo-card reader, external modem, and several other
things plugged in all the time. If my PC has old style USB
ports, can I attach a 7-port USB 2.0 hub, or do I need to
fit a new board to my PC (at which point I dn't suppose
I'd need a hub anyway, I just fit a board with several
ports). Does any of this make sense or am I just talking
out of my USB?
Click to expand...

Recommend just adding a USB version 2.0 board to your computer.

Depending on you O/S you may have to add drivers that come with the
board and if running XP you should run the SP1 patch.

Bquinn
 
I have the old style USB, i.e. 1.0. I installed a USB hub which is 2.0.
It, and probably any you could possibly buy, is downward compatible, i.e. it
will function with USB 1.0 devices. The throughput will not be as fast as
USB 2 because the devices, printers, scanners, etc., are only sending it at
a rate consistent with 1.0 and the computer can only process it at a rate of
USB 1.0. However, you will be able to use all your devices without problem.
There is no point in upgrading to a 2.0 card on your computer if all your
devices are USB 1.0.

If your input devices are USB 2 and your hub is USB 2 and you want the
computer to receive info at the rate of USB 2, you will need to upgrade the
USB card in the computer. I, personally, wouldn't bother.

Chet
 
Thanks for the advice - but how do I work out if I have
1.1 or 2.0 in my PC? I assume they are 1.1 because the PC
is about 3/4 years old.
 
My own reply to this question is extra info: the USB is
defined as VIA Tech 3038 PCI on my PC - does that help
indicate whether its 1.1 or 2.0? PC bought in 1999.
 
It is 1.1 in 1999, maybe even 1.0


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message | My own reply to this question is extra info: the USB is
| defined as VIA Tech 3038 PCI on my PC - does that help
| indicate whether its 1.1 or 2.0? PC bought in 1999.
|
| >-----Original Message-----
| >Thanks for the advice - but how do I work out if I have
| >1.1 or 2.0 in my PC? I assume they are 1.1 because the PC
| >is about 3/4 years old.
| >
| >>-----Original Message-----
| >>
| >message
| >>| >>> Soft question really, but how do I determine whether
| the
| >>> two USB ports on my PC are old style or 2.0? This
turns
| >>> into another question, which is this - I would like to
| >add
| >>> a USB 2.0 7-port hub so that I can have printer,
| >scanner,
| >>> photo-card reader, external modem, and several other
| >>> things plugged in all the time. If my PC has old style
| >USB
| >>> ports, can I attach a 7-port USB 2.0 hub, or do I need
| >to
| >>> fit a new board to my PC (at which point I dn't
suppose
| >>> I'd need a hub anyway, I just fit a board with several
| >>> ports). Does any of this make sense or am I just
| talking
| >>> out of my USB?
| >>>
| >>
| >>Recommend just adding a USB version 2.0 board to your
| >computer.
| >>
| >>Depending on you O/S you may have to add drivers that
| >come with the
| >>board and if running XP you should run the SP1 patch.
| >>
| >>Bquinn
| >>
| >>
| >>.
| >>
| >.
| >
 
Well, USB 1.1 came out in 1998, so maybe. I would highly recommend
buying a USB 2.0 PCI Card for your computer as most new USB devices are
going to be able to take advantage of the higher speeds. USB 2.0 offers
a thoughput of 480 Mbps or 60 MB/s. USB 1.1 can only do 12 Mbps or 1.5
MB/s. That is a huge difference that you will really notice for
scanners, USB External drives, or other high bandwidth products.
 
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