BIOS setting for printer?

[Password]

I just got one of those free HP 930C
printers. I am wondering which is the best
parallel port mode to use in the BIOS settings: SPP, EPP1.7, EPP1.9, or ECP?
Thanks,
Chuck

 

[dirtboy]

I don't know if it's the best, but I have mine set for EPP1.9 for my 722C.

 

[Ulysses]

Hi,

I'm surprised HP doesn't put the answer in their manuals, since it's so basic a question. You'll have to send an email question on this to HP support to get the correct answer. I did this and they answered in a reasonable time.

For my HP Deskjet 812C they said ECP. Below is a copy of that message in full. Read it carefully - I'll be giving a quiz later.

QUESTION:
Printer works fine, but I'd like to know which gives the fastest
printing:
1. USB
2. Parallel port @ SPP
3. Parallel port @ ECP
4. Parallel port @ EPP
5. Parallel port @ ECP+ EPP
My PC's BIOS allows any of the
above settings & I've used 2 &
3 above without a problem.

ANSWER:
Thank you for contacting Hewlett-Packard's Customer Care.

Hi Gerald:

I understand you want to know which port gives the fastest printing.
The ECP port is the fastest port and the one recommended for our
printers. EPP would be the second fastest port, and the SPP port is
the slowest.

Port descriptions:
ECP
ECP stands for Extended Capabilities Port. This setting
allows the computer's parallel port to send and receive data
in both directions simultaneously. This is the preferred and
fastest type of communication available for newer printers.
ECP is the preferred port setting for most HP DeskJet
printers.

SPP, output, compatible, standard, or Centronics
These settings allow the computer's parallel port to operate
in an output-only mode, meaning data can be sent out to the
printer. The parallel port can also receive limited feedback
from the printer. These settings can also be used as the
alternate port setting for HP DeskJet printers if the ECP
port setting is not available.

Standard bidi, bidi, or bidirectional
These settings allow the computer's parallel port to send
and receive data, but only in one direction at a time,
either sending or receiving.
For information on checking or changing the parallel port
configuration for your computer, see the computer
documentation.

EPP is used for high speed read/write peripheral devices, such a disk
drives or CD ROM.


The speed of the LPT and USB ports are as follows:

LPT port: 90 Mb/Sec
USB port: 12 Mb/Sec

 

[Password]

Thanks for the help!
Chuck

 

[mastertech01]

In many bios configurations you can select ECP+EPP...thats where I set mine...

 

[pyr]

USB is way superior to the LPT port no matter what the HP support guy said. Why? Because the LPT port is part of the ISA bus and accessing it takes a whole lot of time and resources. Try using a parallel zip drive and then do anything on your computer.. you cant and it sucks. USB is nicer just for the reason you dont get a huge slowdown. Now, if you dont print much and you dont have any other parallel devices, then yeah it can be faster since USB does take up a significant amount of CPU time, but you notice it a whole lot less.

Ok, now from what Ive heard, and cant confirm is that 1.7 is better than 1.9 when using whatever selection allows you to choose. I havent used a parallel device in ages since they suck. Now if only I could get rid of serial devices Id be all set, but everything seem to use them

 

[corkyg]

Agree with Pyr! I have my HP Laserjet 4000 running off a Belkin USB/Parallel converter and it works better than it did in LPT1. This enables me to disable the parallel port in BIOS and save a IRQ. Also disabled Com2 for same reason. If I can ever get rid of the modem, I'll also disable Com1 as well. Someday we'll have broadband from a WAN . . . cable, DSL or wireless. In the meantime we suffer with US Worst.