Will a USB 2.0 device work on a USB 1.1 port?

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Hello, everyone! I'm looking to buy an external drive with Lightscribe for my Mac desktop. The usb ports on the Mac are either 1.0 or 1.1 (Up to 480 Mb/sec). All of the newer external drives that I've seen have 2.0 usb ports. Am I out of luck or will they work together? I'm using OSX 10.6.7. Thanks in advance!
 
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It should, the spec as I recall indicates that devices be forward and backward compatible.
 

bobtomay

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No, 2.0 is backward compatible. 1 is not forward compatible.

That is:

A USB 1 or 1.1 device will work on a 2.0 port - the port is backwards compatible.

A USB 2 device will not work on a 1.1 port - the port is not forward compatible.

NOTE: There are no Macs capable of running 10.6.7 that do not have USB 2 ports. If you have an Intel Mac, you have USB 2.

If you're looking at System Profiler to see this info, what you are probably seeing is the mouse you have plugged in, which is more than likely a USB 1 device.
 
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I've used 2.0 devices on 1.1 ports. I swear. It's been a long time since I've read the spec though. Remember all that will happen is the throughput will be stepped back.

But, I could be wrong
 

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Gotta go with Dysfunction on this one. If you have a USB 2.0 device - for the most part - you can use it on a 1.1 port - the only exception might be if it requires a certain current draw - believe they raised the limit as the spec progressed. YOu will of course be limited to USB 1.x data rates.

To the OP - the 480 Mbps ports you describe are actually USB 2.0 - so you're in luck anyway you read this thread. :)
 

bobtomay

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Well, won't say it won't work at all - never tried it myself. Heard too many stories of USB 2 drives not functioning properly on USB 1 though.

But that shouldn't be a concern here. If he's running 10.6.7, he's got USB 2.
 

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What's with all you guys running in stealth mode these days :Angry-Tongue:
 

bobtomay

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Got tired of newbs PMing me wanting one on one tech support for free a couple of years ago instead of posting in the forum.
 
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Yea, if it's 480Mb/s it's 2.0 1.x is 1.5Mb/s for .0 and 12Mb/s for .1

I missed the speed reference the first timeO:)
 

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