[klnaj]

How can I tell whether my motherboard has USB 1 or USB 2.0?

If the motherboard can only support USB 1.1, how can I have it to support USB 2.0? Do I need to update or install anything?

Thanks

[Squashman]

Check the motherboard specifications on the manufacturers website.

If it is only USB 1.1 then you will need to buy a USB 2.0 PCI card.

[JohnWill]

Open Device Manager, under USB Controllers you should see one of the entries say Enhanced Host Controller if you have USB 2.0.

[klnaj]

Thanks guys!

[justfoo]

Further to this question. Is there a way to actually tell what speed you are transferring at? I have a Dell Inspiron 8200 with an IO gear USB2 pcmcia card. it seems much faster than the usb 1.1 port on the computer, but is there a utility that can tell this?

[JohnWill]

You can use something like DiskSpeed32 or HDTach to do a check on the transfer speed of a USB hard disk on the channels.

[justfoo]

Thanks a lot, using HD Tach I get:
84.2 mbps with my laptop HD
16.2 mbps with my "USB2" connected HD.
Connecting that HD via my USB 1.1 port the result is 1 mbps so there is a great difference in speed.
P.S. These results were from the quick test.
Thanks again for your info John

[JohnWill]

Glad to help.

[finisterre]

Originally Posted by JohnWill

Open Device Manager, under USB Controllers you should see one of the entries say Enhanced Host Controller if you have USB 2.0.

for clarification......

Elsewhere in these forums, it has been stated that the Device Manager will designate USB 2.0 with the word 'Advanced...' (rather than 'Enhanced...')

e.g. in this thread: http://forums.techguy.org/hardware/2...1-1-1-a-2.html

I guess one of those is a typo? Or, either word can appear in the Device Manager?

At any rate, my DM shows 'ALi PCI to USB Open Host Controller' and 'USB Root Hub', which I take it means that I don't have USB 2.0

[TerryNet]

FWIW my (Dell desktop) Intel controller says "USB 2.0 Enhanced ...".

[JohnWill]

It's "Enhanced", no doubt he just had a small memory lapse. It doesn't always say USB 2.0 Enhanced however, see the following example.