Trust 5 Port USB 2.0 PC Upgrade Kit & Hub - hub - 5 ports

...is similar to the other Trust Front USB panel review I have done. However with this product we find an additional USB PCI card. Ok so what does that mean to me I ask you hear. Well basically with the other front panel you had to have existing USB ports on the back of your machine and use those for the panel with a link through lead. With this one you install a new USB card into a spare PCI slot (the long white slot inside your motherboard) and then ...
.../> As with the other Trust products I’ve used this is again perfectly stable and never causes me any problems or conflicts.

SPEED
Running at USB 2.0 speed it’s darn fast. At around 480mb a second even firewire isn’t going to touch it (that is only about 412mb a second). But it will also run at the slower 12mb a second should you have a USB 1.0 product as it is fully backwards compatible.

EASE OF INSTALLATION
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Now this is similar to the other Trust Front USB panel review I have done. However with this product we find an additional USB PCI card. Ok so what does that mean to me I ask you hear. Well basically with the other front panel you had to have existing USB ports on the back of your machine and use those for the panel with a link through lead. With this one you install a new USB card into a spare PCI slot (the long white slot inside your motherboard) and then run an internal cable to the front panel. This then means you have an additional two ports on the back for products such as an ADSL modem and printer that would be permanently connected, while you also gain three ports on the front for various other products that you may want to remove from time to time or just plug in now and then such as a digital camera or a joystick. All without the hassle of moving and scrambling round the back of the PC.

STABILITY
As with the other Trust products I’ve used this is again perfectly stable and never causes me any problems or conflicts.

SPEED
Running at USB 2.0 speed it’s darn fast. At around 480mb a second even firewire isn’t going to touch it (that is only about 412mb a second). But it will also run at the slower 12mb a second should you have a USB 1.0 product as it is fully backwards compatible.

EASE OF INSTALLATION
Slightly more to do here than with the other front plate as in addition to fitting the front plate you also have to fit the PCI card. Now once you’ve fitted one in the past it’s pretty straight forward. However for those of you not wanting to open your PC up (and don’t forget if it’s under warranty it will void the warranty) you may want to take it to a PC shop that can do it for you. (If you need advice however just feel free to ask me).

EASE OF USE
Once fitted it’s great, just plug in your device and away you go, no need to reboot as USB supports hotswapping within windows. Which means it will pick up and locate the device as soon as it is plugged in.

RELIABILITY
Wonderful, it’s just one of those products that just work simple as that.

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Nice easy step by step instructions to guide you through the whole installation and how to use it all.

MANUFACTURER SUPPORT
Not had to use it, but there are contact details in the manual.

VALUE FOR MONEY
At only around £30 it’s great, a front panel on it’s own is around £15 to £20 and a USB 2.0 card is around £30 on it’s own. So really you’re getting the front panel for free if you shop round.

MY OPINION
Recommend to anyone who uses USB a lot. Superb device and no problems. You just might need to get someone to install it for you.
 

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