2.5 External HDD strange USB cable

G

GTi

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GTi said:
I purchased a 2.5" 120gb external HDD today and it came with a funny looking USB cable, It has 2 A type and 1 B type connections. The A type have two different colors, one white and the other off white to light brown. I did a google and no such thing. Anyone got one, I would like to know what the second A type is for???????:confused:

http://www.quepublishing.com/content/images/art_upgrade01_04_02/elementLinks/USBFig03.jpg
Click to expand...

Its to give the drive more power from the USB ports. It can happen that you get too little power, my drive made funny noises on my one friends weak power supply and crashed when trying to write to the drive and that was with both in, with just one in it wouldn't even start up...
 
These cables are specifically for machines running on USB 1.1. USB1 doesn't deliver enough power and that is why you need access to the extra port.

If you are running USB 2 then you shouldn't need it.
 
pope24 said:
These cables are specifically for machines running on USB 1.1. USB1 doesn't deliver enough power and that is why you need access to the extra port.

If you are running USB 2 then you shouldn't need it.
Click to expand...
I bought a SATA 2.5" enclosure the other day and guess what . . I needed it. :o
 
pope24 said:
These cables are specifically for machines running on USB 1.1. USB1 doesn't deliver enough power and that is why you need access to the extra port.

If you are running USB 2 then you shouldn't need it.
Click to expand...

I disagree.

Most usb ports can only deliver 500mA. Alot of devices need more than 500mA. Thus you have two connections so that you can get more current to supply the usb devices power needs. The spec for usb 2 is only 500mA.
 
I've tried the 2 A type in two USB ports on my laptop and it does make a slight differents. I say it feels more stable that way when coping to and from it.
 
pope24 said:
These cables are specifically for machines running on USB 1.1. USB1 doesn't deliver enough power and that is why you need access to the extra port.

If you are running USB 2 then you shouldn't need it.
Click to expand...

Do they still make computers with 1.1 USB1? I second that.
 
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