HP LaserJet 2420 RAM upgrade

In article <1190393718.366753.134630.TakeThisOut@y42g2000hsy.googlegroups.com>,
Silicon Sam <SiliconSam.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Sep 20, 9:09 pm, magdalena <magdalenab....TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote:
> > I added 256MB of RAM to the stock 32MB in my HP LaserJet 2420. I haven't
> > done any heavy-duty printing yet--just the odd page or two or three--but
> > so far it doesn't seem any faster than before I added the RAM. The RAM
> > shows up when I look in the printer utility. Is the speed increase more
> > apparent when printing long documents? Does it matter which slot the
> > larger module is installed in? (The manual doesn't say anything about
> > that.) This printer is fast enough for most things, but I got the RAM
> > for faster speed when printing (for example) a 20-page graphics-laden
> > document. I'd appreciate any input anyone might have on the subject!
>
> I doubt you'll see any speed improvement on long documents. You're
> limited by the speed of the printer itself, not how much RAM it has.
> You'll only see some improvement on complex pages with lots of
> downloaded fonts, pictures, etc... Graphics such as line drawings,
> not so much. They aren't memory hogs.
>
> Raymond

I do a lot of complex pages with fonts, photos, etc., so I hope there's
an improvement. It's hooked up via USB (but not 2.0). I think I'll need
to get an ethernet card for it to see better speed, no?
 >> Stay informed about: HP LaserJet 2420 RAM upgrade 

On 2007-09-21 13:32:06 -0500, magdalena <magdalenabung.DeleteThis@comcast.net> said:

> It's hooked up via USB (but not 2.0).

USB 1.x is very slow.

> I think I'll need
> to get an ethernet card for it to see better speed, no?

Or get a USB 2 card.

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 >> Stay informed about: HP LaserJet 2420 RAM upgrade 

In article <2007092115204175249-jollyroger@poboxcom>,
Jolly Roger <jollyroger.TakeThisOut@pobox.com> wrote:

> On 2007-09-21 13:32:06 -0500, magdalena <magdalenabung.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> said:
>
> > It's hooked up via USB (but not 2.0).
>
> USB 1.x is very slow.
>
> > I think I'll need
> > to get an ethernet card for it to see better speed, no?
>
> Or get a USB 2 card.

I think I can't put a USB 2 card in a G4/400, though! Ethernet it is...
(or a whole new Mac!).
 >> Stay informed about: HP LaserJet 2420 RAM upgrade 

magdalena <magdalenabung.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote:

> In article <2007092115204175249-jollyroger@poboxcom>,
> Jolly Roger <jollyroger.DeleteThis@pobox.com> wrote:
>
> > On 2007-09-21 13:32:06 -0500, magdalena <magdalenabung.DeleteThis@comcast.net> said:
> >
> > > It's hooked up via USB (but not 2.0).
> >
> > USB 1.x is very slow.
> >
> > > I think I'll need
> > > to get an ethernet card for it to see better speed, no?
> >
> > Or get a USB 2 card.
>
> I think I can't put a USB 2 card in a G4/400, though!

Yes you can. I have a cheap USB 2 card in my PowerMac G4 Quicksilver
(which also only has USB 1.1 built in), and it is just a standard PCI
card which will work fine with an older PowerMac G4.

The only problem I've had is that it doesn't support the computer's
sleep mode properly, so if I leave anything plugged into it the computer
will hang when I wake it up again. This doesn't bother me as I'm only
using it for temorarily connected devices.

This may be less of a problem with older PowerMac models (which don't
have the same deep sleep mode) or if you can find a better USB 2 card
that is fully Mac compatible.

> Ethernet it is...

An Ethernet option for the printer might give you more flexibility,
especially if you have multiple computers (no need to have the "host"
computer on if you want to print from another one).

My ten year old HP LaserJet 6MP is connected to Eternet via an equally
antique HP JetDirect EX, and I have full access to it over my Airport
network from every computer.

--
David Empson
dempson.DeleteThis@actrix.gen.nz
 >> Stay informed about: HP LaserJet 2420 RAM upgrade 

On 2007-09-21 21:44:10 -0500, magdalena <magdalenabung.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> said:

> In article <2007092115204175249-jollyroger@poboxcom>,
> Jolly Roger <jollyroger.TakeThisOut@pobox.com> wrote:
>
>> On 2007-09-21 13:32:06 -0500, magdalena <magdalenabung.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> said:
>>
>>> It's hooked up via USB (but not 2.0).
>>
>> USB 1.x is very slow.
>>
>>> I think I'll need
>>> to get an ethernet card for it to see better speed, no?
>>
>> Or get a USB 2 card.
>
> I think I can't put a USB 2 card in a G4/400, though!

What makes you think that?

> Ethernet it is... (or a whole new Mac!).

Why?

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 >> Stay informed about: HP LaserJet 2420 RAM upgrade 

magdalena <magdalenabung DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote:

> > Or get a USB 2 card.
>
> I think I can't put a USB 2 card in a G4/400, though!

Why do you think _that_? Of course you can! Which is why JR
recommended it.

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 >> Stay informed about: HP LaserJet 2420 RAM upgrade 

In article <1i4u949.247rgk1nsw36bN%mikePOST@TOGROUPmacconsult.com>,
mikePOST.TakeThisOut@TOGROUPmacconsult.com (Mike Rosenberg) wrote:

> magdalena <magdalenabung.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > > Or get a USB 2 card.
> >
> > I think I can't put a USB 2 card in a G4/400, though!
>
> Why do you think _that_? Of course you can! Which is why JR
> recommended it.

I had a foggy memory of hearing that--but now I realize that it applies
to OS9, not OSX (e.g. http://snipr.com/1r33n). With my slow processor,
though, will the speed gain from USB 1 to 2 be noticeable, on my G4/400
Sawtooth's slow processor? Basically, I need to decide whether to just
get an JetDirect ethernet card for the LaserJet or a USB 2 card. If the
USB 2 card will make a big difference in print speed (given my slow
processor), I'll do that (and hopefully spend less money).
 >> Stay informed about: HP LaserJet 2420 RAM upgrade 

magdalena <magdalenabung RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote:

> I had a foggy memory of hearing that--but now I realize that it applies
> to OS9, not OSX (e.g. http://snipr.com/1r33n). With my slow processor,
> though, will the speed gain from USB 1 to 2 be noticeable, on my G4/400
> Sawtooth's slow processor? Basically, I need to decide whether to just
> get an JetDirect ethernet card for the LaserJet or a USB 2 card. If the
> USB 2 card will make a big difference in print speed (given my slow
> processor), I'll do that (and hopefully spend less money).

Your processor speed will have the same limitation regardless of which
connection type use. Either way, whether it's ethernet or USB 2, your
goal is to send data from Mac to printer at a greater rate, and in both
cases your processor will likely set the upper limit. I believe you'll
see a noticeable improvement but well below the some 20-fold difference
between USB 1.1 and 2.0. The USB card should cost twenty bucks or so.

--
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 >> Stay informed about: HP LaserJet 2420 RAM upgrade 

In article <1i4udgv.1u0sxki163k1t9N%mikePOST@TOGROUPmacconsult.com>,
mikePOST RemoveThis @TOGROUPmacconsult.com (Mike Rosenberg) wrote:

> magdalena <magdalenabung RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > I had a foggy memory of hearing that--but now I realize that it applies
> > to OS9, not OSX (e.g. http://snipr.com/1r33n). With my slow processor,
> > though, will the speed gain from USB 1 to 2 be noticeable, on my G4/400
> > Sawtooth's slow processor? Basically, I need to decide whether to just
> > get an JetDirect ethernet card for the LaserJet or a USB 2 card. If the
> > USB 2 card will make a big difference in print speed (given my slow
> > processor), I'll do that (and hopefully spend less money).
>
> Your processor speed will have the same limitation regardless of which
> connection type use. Either way, whether it's ethernet or USB 2, your
> goal is to send data from Mac to printer at a greater rate, and in both
> cases your processor will likely set the upper limit. I believe you'll
> see a noticeable improvement but well below the some 20-fold difference
> between USB 1.1 and 2.0. The USB card should cost twenty bucks or so.

I installed a USB 2.0 card tonight. I plugged my Canon i960 and Apple
Cinema Display into the two slots (and the LaserJet into the ACD).
Printing is almost instantaneous for most documents now! (I might still
get an ethernet card for the LJ, if I can get a good price, so the other
two computers on the network can print to it.) One thing I noticed after
installing the USB card: In my Printer Setup Utility and in Print dialog
boxes, there are now two instances of the i960 (i960 and i960-1); the LJ
still shows once. I have to choose i960-1 to print. I can live with
that, but the organizer in me doesn't like it! Should I delete them and
re-add the printer to the Printer List?
 >> Stay informed about: HP LaserJet 2420 RAM upgrade 

On 2007-09-22 22:16:51 -0500, magdalena <magdalenabung.RemoveThis@comcast.net> said:

> In article <1i4udgv.1u0sxki163k1t9N%mikePOST@TOGROUPmacconsult.com>,
> mikePOST.RemoveThis@TOGROUPmacconsult.com (Mike Rosenberg) wrote:
>
>> magdalena <magdalenabung.RemoveThis@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>>> I had a foggy memory of hearing that--but now I realize that it applies
>>> to OS9, not OSX (e.g. http://snipr.com/1r33n). With my slow processor,
>>> though, will the speed gain from USB 1 to 2 be noticeable, on my G4/400
>>> Sawtooth's slow processor? Basically, I need to decide whether to just
>>> get an JetDirect ethernet card for the LaserJet or a USB 2 card. If the
>>> USB 2 card will make a big difference in print speed (given my slow
>>> processor), I'll do that (and hopefully spend less money).
>>
>> Your processor speed will have the same limitation regardless of which
>> connection type use. Either way, whether it's ethernet or USB 2, your
>> goal is to send data from Mac to printer at a greater rate, and in both
>> cases your processor will likely set the upper limit. I believe you'll
>> see a noticeable improvement but well below the some 20-fold difference
>> between USB 1.1 and 2.0. The USB card should cost twenty bucks or so.
>
> I installed a USB 2.0 card tonight. I plugged my Canon i960 and Apple
> Cinema Display into the two slots (and the LaserJet into the ACD).
> Printing is almost instantaneous for most documents now!

I love solutions that turn out to be relatively inexpensive!
Congratulations! : )

> (I might still
> get an ethernet card for the LJ, if I can get a good price, so the other
> two computers on the network can print to it.)

Those tend to cost more, so it's just a matter of how much it's worth to you.

> One thing I noticed after
> installing the USB card: In my Printer Setup Utility and in Print dialog
> boxes, there are now two instances of the i960 (i960 and i960-1); the LJ
> still shows once. I have to choose i960-1 to print. I can live with
> that, but the organizer in me doesn't like it! Should I delete them and
> re-add the printer to the Printer List?

Yep you can do that. I do that occasionally when something I've changed
causes multiple entries.

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 >> Stay informed about: HP LaserJet 2420 RAM upgrade