USB 1.1 vs. 2.0 1

[chr1s]

I know about the increased bandwith etc... of USB 2.0, but if you have a USB 2.0 device, can you run it through a USB 1.1 port. I can't upgrade to USB 2.0.

Failing that, is there a serial-USB 2.0 connector? I know its a long shot! But hey...

chEErs

chris

 

[RiverGuy]

Most devices say if they are USB 1.1 backwards compatible on the box, and most are that I know of. I don't think you would find a serial to usb, but you coudl find a usb to serial (usb on the pc, serial on the device). Because usb devices often require eletricity from the usb port itself.

 

[Snickle]

You can always use a PCI USB 2.0 add-in card and get 2 more ports. $40 or less. Most USB 1.1 devices will work just fine on the USB 2.0 ports. Some USB 2.0 devices may work on USB 1.1 ports but really slow.

USB 2.0 is 480Mbps [Mega bits per second] transfer rate.

For those interested in the numbers, this is from

http://www.usb.org/faq/ans2.html#q7:

"Here's a quick list of the maximum transfer rates for various connections in megabits (Mb) and megabytes (MB) per second:

serial port: 115kbits/s (.115Mbits/s)
standard parallel port: 115kBYTES/s (.115MBYTES/s)
Original USB: 12Mbits/s (1.5MBYTES/s)
ECP/EPP parallel port: 3MBYTES/s
IDE: 3.3-16.7MBYTES/s
SCSI-1: 5MBYTES/s
SCSI-2 (Fast SCSI, Fast Narrow SCSI): 10MBYTES/s
Fast Wide SCSI (Wide SCSI): 20MBYTES/s
Ultra SCSI (SCSI-3, Fast-20, Ultra Narrow): 20MBYTES/s
UltraIDE: 33MBYTES/s
Wide Ultra SCSI (Fast Wide 20): 40MBYTES/s
Ultra2 SCSI: 40MBYTES/s
IEEE-1394: 100-400Mbits/s (12.5--50MBYTES/s)
Hi-Speed USB 2.0: 480Mbits/s
Wide Ultra2 SCSI: 80MBYTES/s
Ultra3 SCSI: 80MBYTES/s
Wide Ultra3 SCSI: 160MBYTES/s
FC-AL Fiber Channel: 100-400MBYTES/s"

 

[cdogg]

You should be able to upgrade using an "add-in" card like Berton mentioned. All USB 2.0 devices I've seen (including hard drives and CD-RW drives) are all able to run on a USB 1.1 port - of course hella slow!

I'm not aware of a Serial to USB 2.0 connector, but since it's a serial device to begin with, a Serial to USB 1.1 connector should work just fine...



ck_blk@yahoo.com

 

[chr1s]

cheers guys - as i mentioned, i am not able to upgrade using pci or pcmcia cards - i guess ill just have to risk it on the USB 1.1 port.