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Powered USB 2.0 Hub or PCI card?

Jeffwo

Jeffwo

Platinum Member
Computer (desktop) now has USB 1.1 I guess and I need 2.0 for printer and accessories.

Can I just buy a powered USB 2.0 hub or do I have to put a card in my desktop to plug a USB 2.0 hub into?
 
USB 2.0 devices are backwards compatible with USB 1.1 ports. Your printer should work fine, it'll just downgrade to USB 1.1 speeds.

If you add a USB 2.0 hub and plug it into a USB 1.1 port, you will still be limited to USB 1.1 speeds. To get full USB 2.0 speeds, you will need to add a USB 2.0 PCI/PCI-e card.
 
The USB 2.0 hub won't actually be able to do "High Speed" when connected to a USB 1.1 root port, just like tdawg said.

Get a USB 2.0 card - and consider getting an ALi chip USB/Firewire combo card while you're at it. They aren't much more, and save a precious slot.
 
A printer doesn't require USB 2. In fact if you look at the printer specs it probably says something like: USB2 Full Speed or some other nonsense, which means it's USB 1.1 If it doesn't say USB2 Hi(gh) Speed chances are it's not.
 
Please remember that USB 1.1 moves data at 12Mbits per second.
Thats MORE than fast enough for your printing needs.

Also, if you are short on USB ports I normally recommend a PCI card with at least 4 ports, preferably 2.0.
Messing with external hubs is a pain after a while. Its nice to have for devices you pull out often and carry around (cameras, media players) but otherwise its more crap sitting on your desk.
 
Try to get one with a NEC chipset. I don't know if it still applies, but back when I was looking for a new USB2.0 card I noticed on a number of peripheral manufacturer's site that you should avoid USB cards using ULI/ALI and VIA chipsets.
 
Nah. ALi are making a fine USB/Firewire combo chip (the only one in fact), and VIA's USB 2.0 controller chip is the exact same thing as in their chipsets. Just like the NEC chip or anyone else's, these devices are all good silicon.

On the other hand, cr@p cards can be made from any chip.

For the sake of using the same programming model and driver as what you already have, one might be inclined to use a VIA based card on an Intel or VIA chipset mainboard (UHCI model), and an ALi or NEC chip on whoever else's chipsets. It doesn't /really/ matter though ... personally I like to use said ALi USB/FW combo chip.
 
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