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Gigabyte Boasts its USB Ports are Great for iPad

by - source: Tom's Hardware US

Got an iPad that refuses to charge even while it's plugged into your PC? Gigabyte has the answer for you.

When the iPad released, many new owners who were used to how their iPhones or iPod Touches worked when plugged into a computer's USB port were surprised that the Apple tablet wouldn't charge if it was still in use.

Apple's knowledge base article clarifies that the iPad might not charge while plugged into a USB port because it's not able to supply enough juice to charge the battery and to power the iPad in operation. The exception to that is new Macs that can turn its ports into high-powered ones when in need and now certain Gigabyte motherboards with a new driver.

Gigabyte was proud to announce (and show off in the video below) that its full range of Intel chipset-based X58, P55, H55, H57 as well as current and upcoming AMD 800 chipset series motherboards all allow charging of the iPad both while the device is in use and not in use.

The motherboard company detailed in its press release:

Recent industry and news reports indicate that USB ports on most Windows PCs are unable to provide enough power to charge the new iPad while the device is in operation due to differences between motherboard USB power output and the device’s charging specifications. However, Gigabyte’s unique USB power design is able to deliver extra power for devices that require more than the 500mA delivered from a traditional USB port. With a simple On/Off Charge driver update which can be found on the Gigabyte website, Gigabyte motherboard users are able to take full advantage of USB charging of their iPad, giving them more options and convenience when recharging their new device.

Download the On/Off Charge driver here.

Gigabyte Boasts its USB Ports are Great for iPad

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Shadow703793 04/13/2010 10:54 PM
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How about ASUS, EVGA,et al?

builderbobftw 04/13/2010 11:07 PM
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That's wahts up with all those 3x usb power logos on the boxes....

Marco925 04/13/2010 11:10 PM
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I wonder if this will extend to other things that either need more power or charging as well.

JasonAkkerman 04/13/2010 11:13 PM
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Can you use one of those cables that takes extra power from another USB port? Wouldn't that supply the required current to charge and operate at the same time?

Something like this? http://www.usbfever.com/index_epro [...] cts_id=236

I have used them before, most recently with an external 3 1/2" drive.

dman3k 04/13/2010 11:53 PM
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Regulas 04/14/2010 12:24 PM
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I have used Gigabyte on my last two builds and really like them.

ca87 04/14/2010 12:25 PM
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hakesterman 04/14/2010 12:53 PM
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Rancifer7 04/14/2010 12:53 PM
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Anonymous 04/14/2010 1:01 AM
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A good external USB hub (with its own power adapter) will fix the problem too - there are plenty of devices that need more juice than the standard ports provide.

mycpumelted 04/14/2010 1:44 AM
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Marco925 :
I wonder if this will extend to other things that either need more power or charging as well.



Yeah it would be nice to charge my nano while listening to it.

matt87_50 04/14/2010 1:53 AM
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-7+

I've long said that increasing the power that is supplied through USB is as important, if not more so than increasing bandwidth.


Cons29 04/14/2010 2:50 AM
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amabhy 04/14/2010 3:00 AM
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Codesmith 04/14/2010 3:01 AM
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Its not marketing BS. The ports with 3x power actually switch from 500ma of power to 1500ma of power per port.








randoMIZER 04/14/2010 3:02 AM
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http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10708

USB Y-Cable. Solves the problem for $3.20.

christopherknapp 04/14/2010 3:11 AM
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Glad I got the Gigabyte USB3 board :)

nukemaster 04/14/2010 4:11 AM
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I have run more power from Asus boards as well, even from my laptop. To be honest, EVERY Asus board I had could power a 2000ma laptop drive. My old P35 DS3R would NOT. But my X58A UD5 sure does. My Samsung screen's usb ports seem to run anything.

This is all without a driver.

Zinosys 04/14/2010 6:24 AM
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I own a GA-X58A-UD3R, and it's a great board. Like builderbobftw said, I now understand the full implication of the 3x USB power sticker. :P

I do notice that I'm able to power some laptop drives on my gigabyte that other computers won't too. So, I don't need another cable to connect my drive to the PC. It's just another incentive to buy a Gigabyte board. Of course you can spend $3 and get a Y cable, but this makes it simple. It's a useful little feature. :)

dimar 04/14/2010 6:57 AM
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I find it really stupid that the manufacturers gave USB only 500mA. Why not give it at least 2 or little more amps? Have to use that Y cable every time, and on some computers/laptops even that is not enough...

Anonymous 04/14/2010 7:14 AM
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Current is measured by an ammeter, and the units, are you say in the video, are in amps, or more precisely, amperes. Power, on the other hand, is usually expressed in watts. Otherwise very nice...

micky_lund 04/14/2010 10:40 AM
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too bad the iPad isn't good for anything

zak_mckraken 04/14/2010 2:51 PM
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My USB ports are great for plugging in mice, keyboards and webcams.

nukemaster 04/14/2010 3:16 PM
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wrote :

Current is measured by an ammeter, and the units, are you say in the video, are in amps, or more precisely, amperes. Power, on the other hand, is usually expressed in watts. Otherwise very nice...



Volts X Current(Amps) = Wattage anyway

So

5 x 0.5 = 2.5 watts - Normal USB
5 x 1.25 = 6.25 watts - Ipad's power requirements

Just posting this for those who want a "Watt" number.

imageraiter 04/14/2010 4:16 PM
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I thought USB had a universal power specification?

Guess I was wrong.

Anonymous 04/14/2010 5:21 PM
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Anybody actually gotten this working? tried every different port on my GA-UD6, with the driver installed, and no joy so far.

LMF5000 06/06/2010 6:43 PM
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JasonAkkerman :
Can you use one of those cables that takes extra power from another USB port? Wouldn't that supply the required current to charge and operate at the same time?Something like this? http://www.usbfever.com/index_epro [...] cts_id=236I have used them before, most recently with an external 3 1/2" drive.



No, because two USB ports would supply 0.5 + 0.5 = 1A maximum, but as this video shows, the iPad needs 1.25A. So you have three options:

1. Plug into three USB ports at once
2. Use the Gigabyte motherboards with high-power USB ports
3. Use the normal y-lead you describe in your post to connect to two USBs at once and somehow hack the iPad to charge at a reduced rate from two ports (since one port is barely enough to keep it running, two ports should run it and charge it slowly, and three ports would be enough to run it and charge it at full speed)

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