USB device "can perform faster"

I have Vista Ultimate installed on a Dell Dimension 4600 with 2.5GB
RAM. It has USB ports on both the front and rear. Occasionally Vista
tells me my USB connection can perform faster and shows a display with
"Intel 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller" and "Intel 82801 USB2
Enhanced Host Controller", "Generic USB Hub" and similar descriptions.

Apparently I have stuff (primarily, my external HD) plugged into a
low-performance USB port rather than the one on the 'USB2 Enhanced
Host Controller'. Unfortunately I see no way to discern the
difference, externally.

Can someone provide some guidance or suggestions? I'm technically
literate but stuck on this.

Thanks in advance.
--
Chris Cowles
Gainesville, FL

Dell's website should have a quick guide to show which ports
are the high speed ones,,,,,,,, I suspect any grouped in 4 to
be such.

"Chris Cowles" <spam_magnet@remove-me-bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:uQb7tw90HHA.728@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>I have Vista Ultimate installed on a Dell Dimension 4600 with 2.5GB RAM. It
>has USB ports on both the front and rear. Occasionally Vista tells me my
>USB connection can perform faster and shows a display with "Intel 82801EB
>USB Universal Host Controller" and "Intel 82801 USB2 Enhanced Host
>Controller", "Generic USB Hub" and similar descriptions.
>
> Apparently I have stuff (primarily, my external HD) plugged into a
> low-performance USB port rather than the one on the 'USB2 Enhanced Host
> Controller'. Unfortunately I see no way to discern the difference,
> externally.
>
> Can someone provide some guidance or suggestions? I'm technically literate
> but stuck on this.
>
> Thanks in advance.
> --
> Chris Cowles
> Gainesville, FL
>