USB1 to USB2

[gtruk9]

I have an upgraded R40 thinkpad... I like it's performance but it only has only two usb ports and they are both USB1.1 -- how can I upgrade from USB 1 to 2 -- is there a pc card or someway that it can be done.

Thanks in advance
GT

[Harryc]

Sure, just get a 4-port USB 2.0 PCMCIA card. Here's some examples -
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=4+port ... &_osacat=0

[ajkula66]

BTW, unless you have an R40e your ports should be 2.0 already...

[gtruk9]

Thanks for all your help... but no alas, I do not have an R40e but just the regular R40 that has been spiffed up with the exception of the USB ports... I see I can get pcmia plug in upgrade for about 11 bucks on ebay so that is what I will do.

I also need to upgrade the wireless card on this ... it only picks up 11mpbs speed...
Then this baby will be golden.

Thanks again
GT

[goofyGAguy]

I think you misunderstood George. If you own an R40, your USB ports should be running at 2.0. If not, you have a motherboard problem.

[gtruk9]

Is there a way of doing a bench test on finding out the speed of my USB connection?. For the most part my thinkpad works fine so I don't think there is anything major with my motherboard.

Thanks GT

[ajkula66]

You really don't need a benchmark test. If you plug an USB 2.0 device, and the machine shows that "this device can perform faster" there's a Southbridge chip failure somewhere on the horizon, it's as simple as that...

FWIW, it can probably run for years with the ports the way they are...

[rkawakami]

You could try something like this: http://www.passmark.com/products/usb2loopback.htm It's pricey at $50 but I believe it will tell you what you would like to know. The next best thing to do, which is free if you already have the equipment, is to connect a USB storage device and then transfer a really large file and time how long it takes. USB 1.1 is rated at 12Mbps and USB 2.0 is 480Mbps. Note that these are ideal/theoretical transfer rates and that write caching should be turned off (if possible).

[gtruk9]

I do have an external WD harddrive and I transferred tons of files to store -- this is why I am asking in the first place... it seems faster than say 12mbps but definately not 480 but it's not really that fast... I guess I should time a .5gig file and see how long it takes and then I will know it's benchmark speed... I will see what it is.

[qviri]

Do you have any USB based storage devices? A spinning hard drive would be ideal, but most flash drives will be fast enough too. Download the free program hdtune, plug the USB drive in, run the program, and use it to benchmark the USB drive (select it from the drop-down). If you get maximum transfer rate above 1.5 MB/s, you're using USB 2.0. If not, let us know the rate and the drive you used.

[gtruk9]

Sounds like a plan and yes I am using a Western Digital Xternal HD 320 gigger so it should work to test... I will try it and get my results back to the forum...

[jkahng]

on a side note, if you end up buying an pcmcia usb 2.0 adapter, be prepared to loose another usb port as hard drives without an external power source(like most 2.5" external cases are) will not be able to spin / operate correctly the power coming from the adapter. you'll have to use a second usb port to draw the extra power.

most people need the 2.0 for high data transfer rates when moving files from an external hard drive to laptop or vice versa.

just my 2 cents...