USB Technology: Multi-TT Hub Goes Head-to-Head With Single-TT

Test Configuration

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Test System
ProcessorIntel Pentium 4, 2.0 GHz256 kB L2-Cache (Willamette)
MotherboardIntel D845EBT, Intel 845E chipset
RAM256 MB DDR/PC2100, CL2, Infineon
Controlleri845E UltraDMA/100 controller (ICH4)
Display AdapterNVIDIA GeForce2 MX 400
Network Card3COM 905TX PCI 100 MBit
Operating SystemWindows XP Pro 5.10.2600Service Pack 1
Benchmarks and Tests
Performance MeasurementsHD Tach 2.61, c't h2benchw
Drivers and Settings
Graphics DriverNVIDIA reference driver 29.42
DriversIntel Application Accelerator 2.3
DirectX Version9.0
Resolution1024x768, 16 bit, 85 Hz refresh

As always, our benchmark programs are either self-explanatory or easy to understand. However, we would like to briefly discuss this particular testing procedure:

We ran both USB hubs in four different configurations and with two different devices designed primarily with home and business users in mind. One of them was an external USB 2.0 hard drive from ValuePlus called SPIO. The other was a standard Memory Stick from Hana Micron (USB 1.1).

We ran the hubs in the following four configurations:

  • Simple benchmark without any peripheral devices. No other USB devices were connected to the hub.
  • Test with one device (e.g., SPIO), while data is written to the second device (e.g., Memory Stick).
  • Test with one device while a USB 1.1 webcam is active.
  • Test with one device while the webcam is active and data is written to the second device.

The different configurations create different load states that could very well occur during normal use and that the USB hubs would have to cope with.

  • I am having a really hard time resolving this issue on a brand new Asus desktop machine with the Asus motherboard P8H61-MX. It seems that Asus have cut a corner or two and only included a single TT setup on the motherboard which has 6 inbuilt USB ports. I am having real difficulty finding a PCI express USB card here in the UK which actually has a built in Multi TT setup. My Novation NIO 2|4 soundcard and my Vestax VCI-100 midi controller fail to function without multi TT, and if anyone has any advice it would be appreciated.

    David
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