What is VIA Rev 5?

Several of my USB ports are labeled "VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller ". Is that USB 1.0, 1.1, or 2.0? Thnx

 

Many thanks, you seem to know what you're talking about I know nothing about hardware.

I have five of those Rev 5 controllers. I have two VIA USB Enhanced Host Controllers. But I also have two USB 2.0 Root Hubs (no word "Enhanced ")...is that 2.0? And five USB Root Hubs.

Does all this add up to five 1.1 ports and two 2.0 ports? Or do the hubs allow for (for ex), six ports of each flavor.

Thanks again

 

USB 2.0 came out in April 2000 so unless your motherboard is that old, you have 2.0 all around. To verify, post your motherboard or PC make and model number.

Do note that most devices are backwards compatible, that is, a 2.0 device will work fine in a 1.x port - but perhaps a little slower, and with an occasional popup telling you you could get better performance if you used 2.0. Likewise, most 1.x devices will work fine in a 2.0 port.

 

Board: MSI MS-6380E 1.0
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 07.00T 04/02/01

Now you know why I'm confused. Pete's comment is what I've heard before: "if it doesn't say enhanced, it ain't 2.0 ". Bill is saying "the word 'enhanced' doesn't imply anything ". I've never received a "get 2.0" popup, but I haven't used all my ports either.

Many thanks for your help.....BTW, that SIW is neat, better than Belarc.

 

I did not say anything of the sort! Please don't twist my words around. 2.0 = Enhanced. It may or may not say "Enhanced ". Enhanced is a marketing term - not a technical term.

Oh, and 3.0 is just around the corner - it may be marketed as Super Enhanced or the like.

 

Bill....my apology, I was thinking "A 2.0 may or may not say "Enhanced ". The point being that it can be 2.0 without saying enhanced. So is the only way to tell (eg, VIA Rev 5) is to plug-em in and look for a pop-up message?

 

Pete....mine looks like yours, USB 1 and 2 both supported. Does that mean all my ports are USB 2.0 capable?

 

No worries! And that's right, it may or may not say enhanced.

I agree that SIW will tell you a lot, though it may not clearly identify which device is which. Same with Belarc Advisor.

Perhaps if you told us specifically what you are trying to do, we could be of greater help. Pete's link to your board shows it came out in 2001, probably designed prior to that. I suspect it does not have 2.0. So if your worry is that your newer USB devices are not going to work, don't. They will, just not at full performance. You cannot change your motherboard ports, as the serial controllers for those I/O ports are integrated into the motherboard.

But, you can buy an inexpensive 4-Port USB2.0 PCI card to add 2.0 ports. Piece of cake.

As for Pete's screen shot, nothing in there says 2.0. USB 2: supported is for something else.

 

Bill/Pete...my interest is purely intellectual. This computer was in the shop about 4 years ago, and I asked that they add some 2.0 ports (I only had two 2.0's at the time plus a few 1.1's). I would just like to validate that they really did add those 2.0 ports!