USB 2.0 and printers?

speedlever

Senior member
Oct 27, 2000
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Anyone know if a slow device like a printer will benefit from USB 2.0 vs USB 1.1?

I just bought my first USB device last night.. a Canon i850 printer. I just read on the box that it is USB 2.0 full speed. Since my mobo (Asus A7V) only offers USB 1.1, I'll have to get a USB 2.0 PCI card to utilize USB 2.0 with the printer. But if the printer won't benefit, I see no point.

I'm also in the market for a CF reader. I'm holding off until I decide whether to put in a USB 2.0 pci card, a firewire pci card, or a combo USB 2.0/firewire pci card.

If the printer won't benefit from USB 2.0, I might as well save a few bucks and just put a firewire card in and get a firewire CF reader (which I can do for about $50).

http://www.enpc.com/cgi-bin/enpc/RW011001.html?mv_pc=PriceGrabber

What are your thoughts?

 

bozo1

Diamond Member
May 21, 2001
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It's basically marketing hype. You are going to be limited to the speed of the printer which is much slower than even USB 1.1. The one advantage to a 2.0 printer is that it won't slow down your USB bus if you have other 2.0 devices on it but you still won't be printing any faster.
 

LED

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
6,127
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What are your thoughts?
Get a card which have both inputs as USB2.0 will progress and more High Speed devices will be availablen in the future.

Most all USB 2.0 Printers to date are Full speed which is the same as USB1.1 and CF readers are available in USB 2.0