How to tell if you are running at USB 2.0?

[schultzey11]

I installed a USB 2.0 card in my computer and it doesn't seem like it's any faster than the usb 1.1 ports off the mother board. I believe I installed the latest driver. Any ideas how I can tell if I am running at USB 2.0?

See card here:USB 2.0 Card

 

[Rike]

If you plug in a 2.0 device to a 1.1 port, XP will give you a notification that the device will run faster on a 2.0 port.

The only time I've noticed a difference between 1.1 and 2.0 is when I've used a 2.0 portable drive of some kind on a 1.1 port for large writes or reads. It's really slow.

 

[TheSiege]

just delete your USB drivers and have windows install them again if its 2.0 card it will then run at 2.0

 

[andy04]

remove the card remove all drivers and see what USB controllers are showing up in your device manager, then put the card in and install the drivers and what is added - make sure you see new NEC controller and Host... If you see that then theres nothing wrong with the card or installation - its something to do with the USB device you are connecting.

Is it a Flash memory based device ? maybe the device's speed is slow...

 

[schultzey11]

I think its the devices speed. 1 gb flash drive read 6mb/s write 3mb/s.

Thanks for the help.

 

[jlbenedict]

Plug a device into the card that you KNOW for a fact is USB Version 2.0, such as an external hard drive, if you have one.

Bring up the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon.
Here is an example from my system: USB Storage Device

Now click on the "Properties" button and you should see this: USB Storage Device Properties
Look in the middle and for the "Location" section you should see the location id and then if your device is USB 2.0 compatible, it will show in parenths. (VERSION 2.0).

 

[GregMal]

That card has an NEC chipset and the native XP drivers should be used.
When I installed my NEC chipset PCI card to add 3 USB ports, XP automatically set it up.
But yes, look at hardware USB info in the device manager.
It should say enhanced USB controller....

 

[Seekermeister]

Originally posted by: Rike
If you plug in a 2.0 device to a 1.1 port, XP will give you a notification that the device will run faster on a 2.0 port.

The only time I've noticed a difference between 1.1 and 2.0 is when I've used a 2.0 portable drive of some kind on a 1.1 port for large writes or reads. It's really slow.

I'm a bit confused on this. Are you saying that a USB port is only running at 1.1 or 2.0? I had assumed that a port had the ability to provide either automatically, depending on what was connected to it.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Seekermeister

Originally posted by: Rike
If you plug in a 2.0 device to a 1.1 port, XP will give you a notification that the device will run faster on a 2.0 port.

The only time I've noticed a difference between 1.1 and 2.0 is when I've used a 2.0 portable drive of some kind on a 1.1 port for large writes or reads. It's really slow.

I'm a bit confused on this. Are you saying that a USB port is only running at 1.1 or 2.0? I had assumed that a port had the ability to provide either automatically, depending on what was connected to it.

A USB controller only capable of transmitting/receiving at 1.0/1.1 speed will (obviously) not run at 2.0 speed even with a USB2.0 device attached to it. Technically speaking, the "port" and cable are the same, but for it to work both devices have to be able to communicate at the higher speed.

A USB2.0 controller might mistakenly run at only 1.1 speed if it is configured improperly, which I think is what people are talking about here.

 

[Seekermeister]

Matthias99,

Thanks, but I'm still confused, but that's because that I really don't understand the USB system. I guess that I'll go over to usbman.com, and try to educate myself.

 

[bwnv]

What Mathias99 is saying is that a USB 1.0/1.1 port can't run any faster than that. A USB 2.0 port can run @ 2.0, but if you plug in a 1.0/1.1 device it will only run at that speed. The newer speed device is backwards compatible.

 

[Seekermeister]

Originally posted by: bwnv
What Mathias99 is saying is that a USB 1.0/1.1 port can't run any faster than that. A USB 2.0 port can run @ 2.0, but if you plug in a 1.0/1.1 device it will only run at that speed. The newer speed device is backwards compatible.

It's not that what you and Matthias99 said isn't clear enough in itself, but I think what confuses me is that I'm not certain when the terms used represent a physical or virtual device.

For instance, my MB has 4 2.0 ports + 2 2.0 ports powered by my sound card. Therefore, I would assume that any of these would function either way. But, looking in the Device Manager, there is listed 5 root hubs, 4 universal host controllers, 1 enhanced host controller, plus some other devices which I'm not too certain about. By the numbers, I would assume that there is a root hub for each of the host controllers, but if that is true, then I fail to understand, because everything that I have attached to USB is 2.0 (2 mice - 1 listed at 50ma), 1 printer (not listed by name), UPS (24ma), microscope (500ma) and a couple of composite devices (2ma and 98ma). This would make it appear that all 3 devices would appear in the same root hub, but they don't...each is in a separate hub. If only 1 hub is getting 2.0 power, then 2 devices are underpowered.

This is of particular interest to me, because of problems that I'm having with the 2 mice. Only 1 appears in the Device Manager. If judged by the power, only the microscope is being powered at 2.0, but that probably wrong.

It seems that the information given is simple enough, but not understanding exactly what it means.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Seekermeister

Originally posted by: Rike
If you plug in a 2.0 device to a 1.1 port, XP will give you a notification that the device will run faster on a 2.0 port.

The only time I've noticed a difference between 1.1 and 2.0 is when I've used a 2.0 portable drive of some kind on a 1.1 port for large writes or reads. It's really slow.

I'm a bit confused on this. Are you saying that a USB port is only running at 1.1 or 2.0? I had assumed that a port had the ability to provide either automatically, depending on what was connected to it.

On some motherboards you have to load ISB 2.0 drivers....
Some will only run USB until you load the drivers for USB2.....

Also some mobo`s are a real puta to get the USB 2.0 drivers to load!!