How do you speed up the LPT1 Printer port (parallel port)?

[Quickfingerz]

Whenever i print something it prints way to slow. I know it's not because of the printer because my epson stylus color 850 prints fast on my 233 mmx computer. Right now I'm using a SD11 mobo. When I do direct cable connection, My computer can't do anything. I know there is a way to speed it up. Please let me know how.

 

[obenton]

Parallel port settings are set in the motherboard BIOS, generally on the integrated peripherals page. Choose the setting that say EPP and ECP.

 

[zemel]

At startup, while system is checking memory, go into cmos/bios setup and look at peripherals.....see what your "onboard parallel mode" is....change it.....maybe it's at standard....try one of the others...also check your printer manual.....is printer bi-directional, but you forgot to set up the correct mode for it ?

 

[vailr]

USB prints faster than parallel port. The parallel port can be disabled in bios set-up, freeing up an IRQ.

 

[JellyBaby]

<< USB prints faster than parallel port. >>

Hmmm I heard ECP+EPP is faster than USB. Dagnabit which is it?

 

[Sir Fredrick]

Another vote saying that USB is faster. dont' know how this is relevant to Quickfingerz question though

 

[Mday]

ecp and epp are measured faster than USB in terms of printing.

besides, for USB, the periph attached is not allowed to have the entire 1.5 MB (12 Mb) of bandwidth. obviously due to the USB being a shared bus and the PP having one or two (with passthrough for scanner or external drive).

 

[Herr Yunta]

USB might be shared but it is definately faster then using the parallel port on my HP 952C. Most noticable when printing pictures. Cable is usually cheaper too.

 

[Mday]

actually, with most, if not all, the reviews i've read on printers that can do USB and ECP\EPP, the ECP\EPP came out faster. i mean, ecp\epp is not exactly plain old PP anymore.

 

[Quickfingerz]

I switched it to ECP and now my mouse works I can actually use my computer while i'm printing. Are there any advantages or disadvantages of ECP. I've had a few problems printing with ECP mostly when i print web pages that are 5 pages or more.

Will ECP work with Direct Cable connection?

 

[AMB]

For another vote, I have heard that USB is faster for printing. Although, in the forums a while back, the only contradicting thing that I have seen was that someone recieved an e-mail from HP explaining the different methods and speeds, abd ECP came out first.