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Q: usb 2 on ppc...

im buying some external drives to make my clones of my system and seeing all those very cheap "only usb2 drives" i was wondering if my powerbook G4 could handle it and run in the real USB2 speed ?...

ty

powerbookG4, Mac OS X (10.4.11), powerbook powerpc g4 1 ghz

Posted on Feb 14, 2011 9:42 AM

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Q: usb 2 on ppc...

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  • by Niel,Helpful

    Niel Niel Feb 14, 2011 9:46 AM in response to skanner21
    Level 10 (311,939 points)
    Feb 14, 2011 9:46 AM in response to skanner21
    Unless you've added an USB 2.0 PC card to the computer, they'll be limited to USB 1.1.

    (56819)
  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Feb 14, 2011 9:55 AM in response to skanner21
    Level 9 (53,665 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 14, 2011 9:55 AM in response to skanner21
    You'd be better off getting at least one Firewire drive. In addition to Niel's observation about USB speed I notice you want to clone your drive. USB isn't bootable (but Firewire is) on just about all G4s so one of the prime advantages to having an external gets lost. Your native Firewire ports would also support Firewire 400 (but not work at newer 800 speeds).
  • by skanner21,

    skanner21 skanner21 Feb 14, 2011 10:00 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 14, 2011 10:00 AM in response to Limnos
    my powerbook run very well with firewire 800 !! ...??

    (and i know of course firewire is more than option but i was asking in view to save a bit of precious... money)
  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Feb 14, 2011 10:19 AM in response to skanner21
    Level 9 (53,665 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 14, 2011 10:19 AM in response to skanner21
    No, it won't run at 800 speeds (just like it won't run at USB2 speeds). However such external devices are usually backward compatible so if you buy FW800 or USB2 it will run at slower speeds. Firewire will require a different cable to go from 400 to 800, USB1 & USB2 use the same kind of cable. Firewire 400 is also still common.

    The point behind getting Firewire is it runs as speeds slightly faster than USB2 with your present configuration in addition to the previously listed features. Just don't expect 800 speeds if you get a newer one though you could get an 800 drive in anticipation of future computers. I just bought SATA drives although my computer doesn't hold them. I do have an external SATA connector so I'll use them as external drives until I eventually buy a computer that takes SATA.
  • by skanner21,

    skanner21 skanner21 Feb 14, 2011 10:20 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 14, 2011 10:20 AM in response to Limnos
    how do you explain i have a firewire 800 plug and a firewire 400's one on my powebook so ??....
  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Feb 14, 2011 11:51 AM in response to skanner21
    Level 9 (53,665 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 14, 2011 11:51 AM in response to skanner21
    You don't have both (not if you have a Powerbook). You have 400. Firewire 800 is only appearing on the newest Macs being sold now. Many people still have older 400 external drives and they have to buy a cable that matches both.

    To get more information about your computer, go to the Apple in the upper left corner of any window, then "About This Mac", then "More Info..." Copy and paste the information here, but omit the serial number. Also go to www.everymac.com and look up your Powerbook specifications and it will tell you what kind of ports you have.
  • by arnie,

    arnie arnie Feb 14, 2011 1:32 PM in response to skanner21
    Level 5 (4,065 points)
    Feb 14, 2011 1:32 PM in response to skanner21
    if it is PowerBook 17" Double Layer SD, it will have USB 2
    FW 400 and FW 800: http://support.apple.com/kb/SP38

    PowerBook 1.67GHz 15" and 17" have FW 800:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/SP48
  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Feb 14, 2011 2:02 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 9 (53,665 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 14, 2011 2:02 PM in response to Limnos
    I stand corrected, but it looks like you have this model

    http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powerbookg4/stats/powerbook_g4_1.017.html

    which does have both Firewire 800 and 400 (one of each) but not USB2.
  • by skanner21,

    skanner21 skanner21 Feb 14, 2011 2:07 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 14, 2011 2:07 PM in response to Limnos
    yes i have this one... and of course im not stupid enough to tell you i have firewire 800 and 400 if i dont...

    anyway i do not support usb2 right ? i mean i can use but with usb 1 speed right ?
  • by eww,Solvedanswer

    eww eww Feb 14, 2011 2:27 PM in response to skanner21
    Level 9 (52,994 points)
    Feb 14, 2011 2:27 PM in response to skanner21
    anyway i do not support usb2 right ? i mean i can use but with usb 1 speed right ?


    Right. USB 1.1 is 30-40 times slower than USB 2, so using USB drives with your computer would be a major exercise in frustration unless you have a USB 2 PC Card. Even if you do, your drives will need external power (their own AC adapters or an AC-powered USB hub), because the Powerbook's USB ports probably won't power them adequately (they seldom do). Without such a card and externally powered drives, don't even think about using USB drives with your computer. Spend the money and get a FireWire drive or drives.
  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Feb 14, 2011 2:30 PM in response to skanner21
    Level 9 (53,665 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 14, 2011 2:30 PM in response to skanner21
    As ewww says...
  • by skanner21,

    skanner21 skanner21 Feb 14, 2011 2:39 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 14, 2011 2:39 PM in response to Limnos
    ty limnos

    ill push the "solve button" soon for you im a pretty nice moron when it deals with computer...
  • by romko23,

    romko23 romko23 Feb 14, 2011 11:22 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 2 (395 points)
    Feb 14, 2011 11:22 PM in response to Limnos
    Why do you keep saying USB 2.0 isn't bootable? I have it running on my PowerBook and it works great.. Granted, its not in system preferences or start up menu, but when you enter open firmware and type:

    boot ud:3,\\:tbxi or boot ud:,\\:tbxi this causes the USB 2.0 drive to boot.. I have successfully booted not only a USB drive, but also a USB flash drive..

    It can be done.. and has been done since 10.4.3
  • by eww,

    eww eww Feb 15, 2011 6:06 AM in response to romko23
    Level 9 (52,994 points)
    Feb 15, 2011 6:06 AM in response to romko23
    Right. It's clumsy, inconvenient and slow, and requires a hack that many users won't want to fool with, and a portable USB drive may not be adequately powered by a Powerbook to mount at all, let alone boot, but yes indeed, if one wants to put up with all those disadvantages, it's possible to boot a Powerbook from a USB drive. You apparently like working around those drawbacks (or at least you like to brag about knowing how), but most people don't care enough to bother when the advantages of FireWire over USB (greater speed, standard bootability without hacks, adequate bus power, lower demand on system resources) are so abundantly clear.
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