Hello again,

2 1/2 weeks ago i fried my onboard USB ports and posted my concerns on this forum here: http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=61654

So i decided to buy a generic VIA chipset USB PCI Adapter off eBay dirt cheap. I recently received it, hooked it up, WinXP recognized it and installed the drivers for it. It detects my external USB HDD but the speeds are awful. Analyzing in Diskeeper takes forever. Files read and write for ages. I connected my Samsung MP3 player and it froze my computer, i had to reboot every time. I tried uninstalling the onboard controller and disabling it in BIOS, that didn't help.

Here is a benchmark of my external USB HDD in HD Tune:
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/5649/seagate400gb1ip9.jpg

I performed the same benchmark on a laptop computer and the results were flawless, straight line across. No drops in speed like you see with my desktop machine above. So the problem is clearly not the HDD.

Is it possible that i purchased a defective USB PCI Adapter? I read somewhere that these cards are best installed on a clean OS installation, true? I've read also that VIA chipsets aren't recommended, true? IRQ conflict?

I'm lost, please help :(

PC Specs:
WinXP Pro SP3
ASUS P4P800SE MoBo
Antec Sonata Mid-Tower Case

Since its not a new card is it USB 2.0. If earlier 1.0 or 1.1 then transfers will be sluggish - period. If the HDTune results are correct then it probably is USB 2.0 since the maximum transfer speed for USB 1.1 is 1.5 Mbytes/sec and for USB 2.0 is 60 Mbytes/sec. Since maxima are seldom reached 30MBytes/sec would be acceptable.

If it's so sluggish that MB/sec means Mbits rather than Mbytes then that's a different story.

PS There's nothing wrong with the displayed benchmark as such. I have used HDtune since you posted and get comparable rates on an internal SATA. I mean to say - 29.5 MB/sec is about 1.8GB per minute after all! If there are functional read/write problems then I would be looking at the file system or check things with the maker's diagnostics.

brand new card USB 2.0 and yes the benchmark is 100% accurate. i tested it on my laptop with completely opposite results. i now cant get the card to detect anything, the HDD keeps looping over and over trying to communicate with the computer (LED keeps blinking), and it won't let me open any programs or access 'My Computer' while it's going on. i tried installing the card in another PCI port, no difference. frustration is setting in :(

i'm on the verge of wasting some more money on another card in hopes of getting one that actually works. i could really use some buying advice.

edit: it's a generic pci card, there is no maker. if your speaking of the HDD, well i tested it on the laptop and it works flawlessly as it should... read, writes you name it. communication between USB devices and USB interface/computer is where the problem lies.

This is what happens when i connect my Samsung MP3 player:
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2337/mp3player1nm6.jpg

I had to pull the USB cable out of the port just so i could regain functionality of the computer to copy this image :(

If you did fry the board at all previously then getting a replacement mobo might be necessary and also less aggravating in the long run.

i'll replace the MoBo if i am 100% certain it is the culprit. having said that, why hasn't anything else been affected by it? i have a firewire card, Ethernet card and AGP video card all in working order. I'm baffled to be quite honest :confused:

I'll try to pick up another card, brand name, from a local retailer so that i can get a refund in the event it doesn't work. If it doesn't work then i guess i replace the MoBo.

Go into Device Manager...make sure you check to Show hidden devices (under View) and remove everything USB related...then try to reinstall one of the cards.

Went out and picked up a pricey Belkin USB 2.0 PCI adapter with a NEC chipset, and to my surprise it is working without a hitch so far.

Benchmark with Belkin card:
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/2705/belkintest2zf9.jpg
Much more consistent data flow, but slower speeds (weird). With the previous card there was constant drop outs. It appears the card i got off eBay was a dud :rolleyes:

Thanks for the help! :)