User manual

LaCie Box • DESIGN BY NEIL POULTON Interface and Data Transfer Information
User Manual page 17
4. Interface and Data Transfer Information
4.1. Optimizing Data Transfers
Data transfers are the flow of data that accomplishes a task, usu-
ally related to moving data from storage to computer RAM, or be-
tween storage devices. With external drives, such as the SATA disk
installed in the LaCie Box, the data is transferred from the drive to
the computer via the USB interface. The data is fed from the drive
through the USB port on the drive, and passes to the computer
through the USB host-bus adapter interface.
USB
To utilize the enhanced Hi-Speed USB 2.0 performance, your
computer must be equipped with a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 host bus
adapter card (either sold separately, or integrated by your com-
puter’s manufacturer) and the appropriate drivers. These host bus
adapter cards, which include one or more USB ports, are shipped
with special Hi-Speed USB 2.0 drivers that enable the computer to
control the card. These drivers must be installed in order for USB
2.0 devices connected to the port to work at their correct speeds.
Computers running Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows
7 automatically manage Hi-Speed USB 2.0 devices and drivers,
while Windows 98 SE and Windows Me will require that drivers be
installed before a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 device is attached.
Mac OS 9.x does not support Hi-Speed USB 2.0 functionality,
and all Hi-Speed USB 2.0 devices will only operate at the original
USB specifications. Mac OS 10.2.7 and later supports Hi-Speed
USB 2.0, and Mac OS 10.x also supports Hi-Speed USB 2.0, but
you will have to purchase a third-party PCI or PC Card and ap-
propriate drivers.
Contact your LaCie reseller or LaCie Customer Support for in-
formation about Hi-Speed USB 2.0 PCI or PC Cards, or visit our
Web site: www.lacie.com.
4.1.1. USB 2.0 Cables and Connectors
USB is a serial input/output technology for connecting peripheral
devices to a computer or to each other. Hi-Speed USB 2.0 is the
latest implementation of this standard, and it provides the nec-
essary bandwidth and data transfer rates to support high speed
devices such as hard drives, CD/DVD drives, and digital cameras.
Included USB Cable
Your LaCie drive is shipped with a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable (Fig.
16 - USB 2.0 Cable Ends), to ensure maximum data transfer per-
formance when connected to a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port. The cable
will also work when connected to a USB 1.1 port, but drive per-
formance will be limited to USB 1.1 transfer rates.
Fig. 16 - USB 2.0 Cable Ends