# Will USB 2.0 handle older USB devices without problems? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 23, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-usb-2-0-handle-older-usb-devices-without-problems/115565 "2002-06-23T15:11:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-usb-2-0-handle-older-usb-devices-without-problems/115565/21 "2002-06-25T14:16:49Z")
To use Fire Wire or I-link for Sony or 1394 to Engineers costs money in royalties. USB 2.0 does not. PC and device Manufacturers wanted a non Royalty high speed connection. The Cnet article says $1 a port which is huge but that was in 1999 the other article says $0.25 per device which is still huge as these sorts of things go. [http://news.com.com/2100-1040-220209.html?legacy=cnet](http://news.com.com/2100-1040-220209.html?legacy=cnet) [http://www.1394la.com/f\_qa.html](http://www.1394la.com/f_qa.html) ---
**Author:** ![Popup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@Popup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Popup)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-usb-2-0-handle-older-usb-devices-without-problems/115565/22 "2002-06-25T15:29:46Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\* …which isn’t much to work with. By comparison, Firewire carries 8 to 40v, up to 1.5a, which is actually enough to power an external burner or drive._\* I don’t want to carry this pissing contests any further, but I was intrigued by that remark. How on earth does it work? Is the voltage somehow regulated on the host side, to an unspecified level? Seems mighty dodgy to me! To me 9V sounds high, and 40V astronomical, considering todays sensitive electronics. Also 1.5A sounds borderline on those tiny connectors, but I guess it is feasible. Have you got any cites to back up the claim? ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-usb-2-0-handle-older-usb-devices-without-problems/115565/23 "2002-06-25T16:02:43Z")
The spec does call for increasing the bus power voltage is the device requires more power. A device should be able to enumerate at 7.5V but can negotiate for more voltage. USB always gives 5V ± .5V and you can negotiate for more current. [http://www.1394ta.com/Download/Technology/Specifications/TA\_1999001-1.pdf](http://www.1394ta.com/Download/Technology/Specifications/TA_1999001-1.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-usb-2-0-handle-older-usb-devices-without-problems/115565/24 "2002-06-25T19:54:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by k2dave \* > Really, how many users actually use DV? I don’t have any figures at my fingertips, but figure that digital camcorders are replacing analog ones, HDTV is on the horizon, people are snapping up widescreen home theater systems, and DVD burners are starting to take off. Seems to me like there’s definitely a growing interest in making your own high-quality digital video stuff (home movies, TV show archives, etc.), just as the advent of the VCR led to a growth in analog home-video editing. Just because not everyone uses it now doesn’t mean there won’t be a market for it in the future; look at CD-burners, for instance. > [@](#): > > _originally posted by gazpacho_ > The Cnet article says $1 a port which is huge but that was in 1999 the other article says $0.25 per device which is still huge as these sorts of things go. I believe it was initially $1 per device (unlimited number of ports), but that got negotiated down to $0.25 per device once folks complained about it. And IMO, Intel is pushing USB 2.0 because they want to use it to drive sales of their CPUs, which have USB built in. If folks use Firewire for broadband tasks instead, that makes it easier for them to switch to an Athlon or AMD instead. ---
**Author:** ![Popup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@Popup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Popup)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-usb-2-0-handle-older-usb-devices-without-problems/115565/25 "2002-06-26T07:56:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gazpacho \* > \*\*[http://www.1394ta.com/Download/Technology/Specifications/TA\_1999001-1.pdf](http://www.1394ta.com/Download/Technology/Specifications/TA_1999001-1.pdf) \*\* Thank you **gazpacho** , for helping to eradicate ignorance! I would never have guessed, that the nodes can actually negociate the voltage. These new-fangled gadgets! ---
**Author:** ![quar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/a5b964/32.png) [@quar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quar)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-usb-2-0-handle-older-usb-devices-without-problems/115565/26 "2002-06-26T14:38:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\* > And IMO, Intel is pushing USB 2.0 because they want to use it to drive sales of their CPUs, which have USB built in. If folks use Firewire for broadband tasks instead, that makes it easier for them to switch to an Athlon or AMD instead. \*\* Pardon? I don’t think so. USB support is a function of the motherboard and chipset being used. It is NOT built into the processor. Quar ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-usb-2-0-handle-older-usb-devices-without-problems/115565/27 "2002-06-26T15:14:30Z")
Well, if you want to try 2.0 out IO Gear USB 2.0 PCI Card for only $9.95 after $10 rebate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-usb-2-0-handle-older-usb-devices-without-problems/115565.md?page=1)