An installation package required to enable USB 2.0 device recognition on some Windows 7 computers
An installation package required to enable USB 2.0 device recognition on some Windows 7 computers
Vote: (69 votes)
Program license: Free
Developer: INTEL CORP
Version: 5.1.2600.0
Works under: Windows
Vote:
Program license
(69 votes)
Free
Developer
Version
INTEL CORP
5.1.2600.0
Works under:
Windows
Pros
- USB 2.0 drivers
- Official Intel software
Cons
- None
This is the official Intel driver for the USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller.
The Intel USB 2.0 Driver for Windows 7 is an official driver published by Intel for Windows 7 devices. There is both a 32-bit and 64-bit version as well as versions of this package designed for versions of the Windows operating system that are older and newer than Windows 7.
Note that this driver is designed specifically for Intel motherboards and certain boards in particular. It is not a generic driver that you should use just because you have an Intel CPU or any Intel motherboard. Windows can usually install a generic driver that will provide basic performance for you.
So, why use this official Intel driver rather than a generic implementation. Generic drivers adhere to the basic functionality of the USB standard. The Intel driver is more sophisticated in that it is designed specifically for this USB host controller implementation. This should mean better performance.
USB is a standard that continues to evolve and is backward-compatible. A USB 1.1 port can support USB 2.0 but will only deliver speeds up to what 1.1 was capable of. Note that as the USB 2.0 was nearing release, Intel was shipping motherboards that had USB 2.0-ready host controllers. That means that the ports could support USB 2.0 but were currently running at 1.1. This driver brought these host controllers up the full performance and feature standards as per USB 2.0.
Note that this is an install package. While executables are not necessary for device drivers, they are user friendly. All you have to do is run the EXE. The installer will initiate Windows to find the host controller or multiple host controllers in question and update the current device driver with this one. After the installation is complete, a reboot will likely be required. It is also advised to remove USB connections before installing and then reconnect them after the reboot.
Pros
- USB 2.0 drivers
- Official Intel software
Cons
- None
