USB 2.0 Upgrade questions

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2004-12-28 04:21pm

My computer has several USB 1.1 ports. It's very rapidly becoming apparent that not only do I not have enough ports but that USB 2.0 is the way to go with the latest peripherals.

I've decided to hold off a few months on a new system that I was planning on getting in January. So now I just received my IPod and it constantly tells me in the manuals and such that you need 2.0 for this to work. I know from people's comments in a previous Ipod thread that you can make due with a 1.1 connection but it will be damned slow.

I just checked with my Itunes last night and have over 15 Gigs of music ready to be loaded into this puppy from my current music files. I can imagine that it will take some time to do that. So I fired up a search for various upgrade options on my computer.

There are three options as I see it and would like your input as I am a total newb at this:

Internal USB 2.0 bay. There's a Blekin 4 port USB 2.0 that fits into a 3.5 inch bay (Which I have) It runs for about $49.

An external USB 2.0 hub that sports several ports, is self powered, and probably MUCH easier for me to use and install as my home PC would be a pain to drag out of its cubby hole, open up and install a new bay especially when I consider that by this summer at the latest I will have a brand new machine. My main concern with this option is that I have a USB 1.1 hub hooked up to my machine that has worked beautifully with most of my peripherals but conks out because there's not enough power to hook up my current jukebox for downloading. The IPod instructions warned that the Ipod would require a high powered connection to work so I don't want to spring for this if it won't have the juice to work.

Firewire. I don't have any fire wire connections at all but assume it would be as simple to plug in as a sound card.

What are your thoughts on the issue? Price is not much of an object as this is a stop gag allowing me to further justify pushing back the purchase of the new system.

DaveJB · Post by **DaveJB** » 2004-12-28 04:47pm

Both are going to require some kind of add-in card, just so you know. USB 2 has more devices supporting it, but Firewire has better sustained transfer speed and can supply more power (read: your iPod will charge faster). I'd go for Firewire, since you can move the card to your new PC (whenever you get it), while a USB 2 card would be pretty redundant in your new one.

Vohu Manah · Post by **Vohu Manah** » 2004-12-28 04:50pm

Both devices you are considering are hubs, and will not work without connecting them to an USB 2.0 port. Assuming you have a desktop, this Belkin PCI card will add USB 2.0 ports to your computer. This card in particular has an internal port to connect the internal USB 2.0 bay you were considering as well.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2004-12-28 05:05pm

Hmm....the firewire option does sound a little more tempting in terms of the benefits to the IPod and the fact that I can switch it to the new PC. But the USB 2.0 card (Thanks for the link Vohi Manah) would be nice as well, the price on that one is very sweet.

EDIT:
Here's a firewire PCI card for $9.99.

DaveJB · Post by **DaveJB** » 2004-12-28 05:25pm

Adaptec are a good brand, so that board would suit you fine.

Regarding the iPod, I've just checked the Apple website, and while full charge times are actually the same with both Firewire and USB 2, Firewire lets you do a "Fast Charge", which charges it up to 80% power in about half the time it takes for a full charge.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2004-12-28 05:32pm

What about a combocard?

here

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2004-12-28 06:02pm

It'd be cheaper and you'd get more ports if you just bought seperate firewire and usb 2.0 cards. The only reason to use that is if you need both kinds of ports and you don't have enough open pci slots.

Sharp-kun · Post by **Sharp-kun** » 2004-12-28 08:21pm

If you get Firewire are you really going to use it that much? USB2 has far more uses, so carrying the card over to a new PC can be useful in that its always handy to have a couple more ports. Firewire on the other hand tends to lie unused by most people and once you got USB2 on a new PC I doubt you'd really use it any more.