LaCie USB 2.0 / FireWire 400 & 800 PCI Card •
DESIGN BY SISMO
USB 2.0 Q & A
User Manual
page 10
What Are The Benefits Of The USB Interfaces?
✦
Cross-platform: Use your USB peripherals on both Mac and
Windows platforms.
✦
“Hot Swappable”: No need to shut down or restart your
computer when adding or removing a USB device. Plug it
in and its ready.
✦
Automatic configuration: Once your device is connected,
your computer recognizes the device and automatically
configures the necessary software.
✦
Daisy-Chaining: with USB ports on your computer, you can
connect up to 127 peripherals using hubs.
✦
Easy Installation: One standardized port and plug combi-
nation makes it simple to connect.
What Are The Ideal Uses For USB 1.0?
USB 1.0 is perfect for more traditional connections such as
keyboards, mice, joysticks and scanners. These types of devices
don’t require fast data transfer rates, and operate very success-
fully at the slower speeds.
What Are The Ideal Applications For Hi-Speed USB
2.0?
Digital cameras, CD/DVD drives, hard drives and scanners will
all benefit from the added bandwidth and performance gains
of the new implementation of the USB standard. Hi-Speed USB
2.0 provides the necessary fast data transfer rates that today’s
devices require, and combines the earlier specifications so older
devices that operated under the original USB standards will still
work with Hi-Speed USB 2.0.
Will USB 1.0 Devices Run Faster When Connected
To A Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Bus?
Unfortunately, no. USB devices will still operate at 12Mb/s at
full-speed and 1.5Mb/s at low-speed on a Hi-Speed USB 2.0
bus. Even though USB 1.0 devices won’t run any faster, they
can work alongside Hi-Speed USB 2.0 devices on the same bus.
However, if you plug in a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 device to a USB 1.0
bus, the speed of the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 device will decrease
to 12Mb/s.
What Is A USB Hub?
Technically, you can connect up to 127 devices to a single USB
bus. For more than two devices, though, you must make new
connections using a peripheral called a “hub.” A hub, which you
hook up directly to a USB connector on your computer, usually
has 4 or 7 output connections enabling you to connect the same
number of peripherals. Some hubs have no power supply and
others are self-powered. When you choose a hub, opt for the
self-powered variety, as they have their own AC adapter. The
most powerful hubs provide 0.5A of power to each port.
Will Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Devices Work On USB 1.1
Hubs And Vice Versa?
You can use your Hi-Speed USB 2.0 devices with USB 1.1 hubs,
but the peripherals will be limited to USB 1.1 performance levels.
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 is backwards compatible, so you will be able
to connect USB devices to Hi-Speed USB 2.0 hubs; however, the
USB devices will still maintain their normal performance levels
(i.e. 12 Mb/s).
In order to achieve the fast data transfer rates of Hi-Speed USB
2.0, you must connect your Hi-Speed USB 2.0 device directly to
a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port on either a computer or hub.
For more information about the USB interface, please visit:
www.lacie.com/technologies
4. USB 2.0 Questions & Answers
