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Thread ID: 126302 2012-08-19 16:27:00 USB ports and their mysteries Sapperbro (6562) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1295525 2012-08-19 16:27:00 Can someone please enlighten this old fogey about the relevance of USB 1 to 3. Are they a physical item or a software item? How does one increase or decrease the operation and/or system? I have a case fitting that needs replace with only one of my two slots working, but suspect my case is somewhat outdated and may have to be replaced completely. Sapperbro (6562)
1295526 2012-08-19 18:25:00 Usb 1 - 3 are physical hardware ports. 1 being the oldest piece of hardware and 3 being the bewest. Im pretty sure USB 1 is a square connector where as USB 2 and 3 are rectangular. USB 3 is the newly upgradged USB 2 port which has had significant speed and performance upgrades. Be werry though, a USB 3 device costs over double a USB 2 device. stratex5 (16685)
1295527 2012-08-19 20:10:00 USB 1 & 2 are physically Identical and use the same connectors, the only difference is speed. USB 3 is backwards compatible with them and the connector is the same shape but it has extra pins so a USB 3 socket will work fine with USB 1 or 2 devices and vice versa but you will not get USB 3 speeds out of an older port and can not connect a USB 3 port on the motherboard to a USB 2 connector on the case because the motherboard end is different and not compatible.

USB 1 - max speed = 12 Mbps
USB 2 - max speed = 400Mbps
USB 3 - max speed = 5Gbps
dugimodo (138)
1295528 2012-08-19 21:40:00 Im pretty sure USB 1 is a square connector where as USB 2 and 3 are rectangular.

USB's square connector (called USB B) is the device end of the cable and is used for larger devices such as printers.
pcuser42 (130)
1295529 2012-08-20 05:37:00 Thanks all. Given me something to work with. Will a USB 2 pen drive or portable hard drive, work in a USB 1 port. Sapperbro (6562)
1295530 2012-08-20 05:41:00 Thanks all. Given me something to work with. Will a USB 2 pen drive or portable hard drive, work in a USB 1 port.

Yes, but very slowly. ;)

I've even used my USB 3.0 flash drive in a USB 1.1 port :lol:
pcuser42 (130)
1295531 2012-08-20 05:46:00 USB 1.0 - max speed = 1.2 Mbps
USB 1.1 - max speed = 12 Mbps
USB 2.0 - max speed = 480Mbps
USB 3.0 - max speed = 5Gbps

Just updated the USB 1.0 / 1.1 / 2.0 speeds there for ya ;)
Chilling_Silence (9)
1295532 2012-08-20 20:13:00 Just updated the USB 1.0 / 1.1 / 2.0 speeds there for ya ;)

:p yeah alright. Not so bad just off the top of my head. They are only theoretical speeds anyway and none of them are actually achievable due to overheads etc.
dugimodo (138)
1295533 2012-08-21 20:16:00 To elucidate and get to the nub of my request, I have just resurrected a PIII with a boost in Ram and Hard Drive capacity (second drive for data storage). Running XP. What is required to boost to USB 2? Sapperbro (6562)
1295534 2012-08-21 20:58:00 You can buy a PCI USB2.0 card for around $30 from somewhere like PBTech. Chilling_Silence (9)
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