The card reader taps its power from the USB connection.

That's the advantage to using a powered hub - it does not draw power from the computer's USB ports.

It is entirely possible different ports could be different versions. The fronts typically have different controllers than the back. Older boards may have used both types.

I would want to try that device on another computer - but if I spent only $5 on it, not sure I would put much faith on it working perfectly as advertised either.

As for that other PC where this problem occurs, that's a totally different machine, newer, different brand. Its Device Mgr shows a similar list as the other PC: 5 hubs, 4 host controllers, one enhanced host controller, in no particular ordering. Clicking on the balloon at the port speed complaint pop-up just shows a single controller, one boldface hub and subordinate ports. I can't believe the newer PC has any remnant of USB 1.1 in it! I'm not sure what to think now, really. Arghh! I have yet another machine to try, give me time.

As for that other PC where this problem occurs, that's a totally different machine, newer, different brand

Geesh - I overlooked your first sentence in your opening post,

This occurs on a couple of different PCs running WXP

That's pretty convincing to me that the device has problems.

Okay, it's the card reader then. Dang it! Because I get the same message when I plug that in to a PC that hasn't native USB 2.0, but to which I added a 5-port USB 2.0 PCI card.

As for that TV tuner device, it doesn't beget the "faster performance" message when plugged in, but when software attempts to access it, it fails and it gives those funny plug/unplug beeping sounds in succession, as if the OS is balking about how or where the device is plugged in. No such difficulty when I plug the tuner into the back ports though. The card reader however balks about "faster performance" either place I plug it in. Arghh!

Well thanks to all for their assistance! I'm getting a brand spanking new card reader/writer for all of $3.19, from New York. We'll see if that makes a difference.

$3.19? That's cheap. Note you often get what you pay for.

Originally Posted by Digerati

$3.19? That's cheap. Note you often get what you pay for.

Note that you often don't get what you don't pay for.

Have we not learned our lesson?

Also, it seems that me that the co$ts of the overseas shipping would outweigh the savings. For example, if you pay $15 here and have $3 shipping thats $18. Compare that to buying it for $3 there with $15 shipping. $18=$18 no matter which way you cut it and I don't care who you are, international shipping is going to cost more than shipping here in the 48 states. Now that is just an example to illustrate my point that it costs more here but shipping is cheaper as compared to cheaper there but shipping is more. Buying here you get a better more accurately described product with probably some kind of warranty or at least a refund policy.

[Shipping from China for lightweight items, such as little electronic things, is normally very very cheap. Base price is also pretty enticing. The only down side is the wait, and like you said, issues about support and returns. I shop overseas in only certain limited cases.]

Okay, that new card reader came, it mounts without the "faster performance" message. It's going to suit my needs, I'm sure. But again there is a niggling issue: it only works correctly (on this PC here) if I plug it into one of my rear USB ports. It works unqualified on one of my other PCs I tried, the one with the USB 2.0 add-on PCI card. So this PC here, the one built by 3btech.com, it must have some defect in the USB controller for the front ports, is all I can surmise. If I plug this new reader in the front, it looks OK until I slip the card in, at which point I get those dinging sounds in succession, and the device seems to always wind up dismounted/removed, and my system becomes unstable and/or I have to reboot and/or I have to restore my Active Desktop. If I plug the reader in with card already inserted, it may work some, but instability always seems to result before long. Arggh!

But those woes are far afield from the current topic, so I'll just leave it for now and say thanks to all for their help on this front.

Good luck and thanks for the followup.