Will USB1 computer work with USB 2.0 peripherals 2

[electricpete]

I have an old computer bought around 2001. I'm not sure what the version of USB is but when I look in device manager it doesn't say 2.0.

I see a lot of cheap perhipherals say USB 2.0. My question is if I buy one, will I be able to use it?

The peripherals I am interested in are a flash drive (1GB for $59.00!) and an external hard-drive. These would be mostly for data backup and transport so I don't care about the speed.

 

[cdogg]

To check if you have USB 2.0, look here:

http://www.usbman.com/Guides/checking_for_usb_2.htm

Even if you don't, USB 2.0 devices will work on USB 1.1 ports, only at the slower rate. THe flash drive would be fine in this case. They don't see a huge benefit on USB 2.0.

However the hard drive is a different story. I would make sure you have USB 2.0 before buying one. If your PC doesn't have it, you can throw a USB 2.0 PCI card into your PC.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[electricpete]

Thanks, that is awesome and timely info. I confirmed at the link I have USB 1

There is a one-day only sale on flash drive so I will proceed with the purchase.

From your comments I take it you have suspicions that the HD will not only work slow but might not work at all?

I might buy it (only $30 for 160GB external HD) and try it out. If it doesn't work, roughly how much $ to go back and put in a USB2.0 card later on?

 

[Wishdiak]

electricpete,

That $30 for a 160GB hard drive sounds like a pretty amazing deal. For that price, I'd consider picking one up myself.

To answer your question about adding a USB card, a quick search on Pricewatch found them starting as low as $10.99 including shipping.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[electricpete]

Thanks for the info wishdiak.

I went to Officemax to get their advertised hard-drive and it was all sold out and no rain-checks since it was a closeout item ;-(

I ended up buying an 80GB external USB2.0 harddrive for $40 (after rebate).

http://shop1.outpost.com/product/3821237?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

The info at the bottom of the page for this particular harddrive indicates it works with USB 2.0 or 1.1. But if it runs really slow when I plug it in, I might go ahead and get the usb 2.0 card for $11. Thx.

 

[Wishdiak]

electricpete,

I'm sorry that the better deal didn't work out. That's not to say that the $10.99 rock bottom price for a USB 2.0 card will necessarily work out either.

You were looking for an idea of what a USB 2.0 card would cost, and I quoted you the lowest possible price just to give you an idea. By tomorrow, that might be a bait-and-switch as well, so don't get too emotionally invested

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[cdogg]

electricpete,

Before I was just cautioning you about the speed, not that it wouldn't work. USB 1.1 maxes out at 12Mbps (or about 1.5MB per second). With some overhead during transfers, it ends up being closer to 1.2MB per second.

In comparison, a regular ATA/100 hard drive will average around 40MB/s, with peaks hitting as high as 70-75MB/s (even faster in decent drives). You can see why USB 1.1 is not ideal.

USB 2.0 raises that ceiling to 60MB/s, which still isn't quite up to par with ATA/100, but it's a heck of a lot better than 1.1

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[electricpete]

Got my harddrive in the mail today. Takes about 30 minutes to copy 5 GB. Good enough for the time being. Thx.

 

[micker377]

You should look into a USB 2.0 PCI card. 14 gig took 45 minutes on USB 1.1. Takes 10 minutes on USB 2.0!

 

[cdogg]

Are you guys sure you're getting that fast of a transfer rate?

At 1.5MB/s, that's only 90MB per minute max on USB 1.1 which is 5400MB per hour. I don't see how you can transfer more than 2.5-3GB every half hour unless you already have USB 2.0.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[micker377]

Yes, those are the speeds. I was having problems with an old 1.1 system. Got a new external box (USB 2.0/Firewire) - same problems (also same slow speed). Put in a USB/Firewire PCI card. Firewire was quicker, but had corruption problems (Prolific chip). Switched to the USB 2.0 port, and everything is fine. Those are the speeds that I listed.

 

[electricpete]

It might have been an hour to transfer my 5GB. I guesstimated the time. Sorry.

 

[cdogg]

electricpete,
I realize you had your question answered, I was just curious about micker's statement below and not trying to hijack your thread:

14 gig took 45 minutes on USB 1.1

As far as I know, this kind of transfer is impossible over USB 1.1 - perhaps you meant 1.4GB in 45 minutes....

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[micker377]

cdogg:

Sorry, that is what I got. Actually was four 3.99 gig files on on backup to another internal hard drive (fat32), different speed, and one 14 gig file on the external drive (NTFS). I do this every week (external) image. 10 - 15 minutes, depending on full, or incremental backup.

 

[jurgen36]

I dont know it takes me 29 minutes to transfer 45 gigabytes to my USB2 external backup drive. Thats about the same speeds as Micker377 quotes, so he is correct.
Regards

Jurgen

 

[cdogg]

Hey guys, again you are still talking about USB 2.0 speeds. I never doubted those - I agree with you there!

Again, I'm referring to the comment regarding the slower [red]USB 1.1[/red]. It's not a big deal nor is it really part of the original question, so I'm not worried about it!


~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[felixc]

To answer the original question. Every new USB device that is released on the market and bears the official USB logo must support USB2.0 There are no "new" USB 1.1 devices. But there's a catch! Being USB 2.0 and bearing the logo does not mean that it will run at the highest speed. It means that it can interconnect with every other USB controller and hub, includng USB 1.1 devices.
For the device to support the highest speeds, the USB2.0 Logo includes a little red "hi-speed" line over the USB letters.

 

[cdogg]

Every new USB device that is released on the market and bears the official USB logo must support USB2.0 There are no "new" USB 1.1 devices

You know I was going to say something, didn't you?


This is actually only part right. USB 2.0 has always been backwards compatible, meaning that USB 1.1 will work on USB 2.0 ports. Nothing has changed recently, except for the logo. USB 1.1 devices are still being released. A common example are some USB flash memory devices.

The real catch is that they did away with the USB 1.1 name, not 1.1 devices. So yes, for every USB 1.1 device you buy today, you'll just see the logo that says Certified USB. It will only say "Hi Speed" if it runs at USB 2.0 speeds. You can see the logos here:

http://www.everythingusb.com/

http://www.usb.org/

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884