Intel Motherboards - Questions about Parallel port

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Questions about Parallel port

Printed From: ASRock.com
Category: Technical Support
Forum Name: Intel Motherboards
Forum Description: Question about ASRock Intel Motherboards
URL: https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4275
Printed Date: 22 Jul 2025 at 1:54pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Questions about Parallel port

Posted By: Swoewiuf
Subject: Questions about Parallel port
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2017 at 11:49pm

Hello everyone!

I bought an ASRock motherboard a year ago, and I now have a little project requiring the use of a parallel port. (My motherboard is a B150M Pro4S.) I do have questions about this technology since it is considered "legacy" Tongue

I?�m reading a little bit about the port and its improvement through the years, but I couldn't find the answers I'm looking for.

I want to know the difference between the two following settings in the ASRock UEFI:

"ECP and EPP-1.9 Mode"
"ECP and EPP-1.7 Mode"

There are two other settings in the drop-down menu ("Normal" and "Bi-Directional" but I think those refer to older technologies (earlier days of the parallel port).

I'll keep looking for answers and I'll post it here if possible. In the meantime, please help me! :P

Replies:

Posted By: Xaltar
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2017 at 12:04am

From what I remember, 1.9 was more advanced and handled handshaking more efficiently but was not compatible with some older devices. 1.7 retained backward compatibility with a wider range of devices but did not perform as well.

This little write-up is rather technical but if you have any understanding of the concepts it should prove enlightening.

http://retired.beyondlogic.org/epp/epp.htm (copy paste link)

I'ts been a very long time since I played with parallel ports Big smile

I remember setting up all kinds of weird things with parallel and COM ports back in the day, including a working link between 2 PCs. Ahh 512kb/s data rates, how far we have come. Also worth noting, 512kb/s was the maximum theoretical bandwidth, typically the best I could achieve for file transfers was about 300kb/s with high quality cables.

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Posted By: wardog
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2017 at 8:37am

Xaltar wrote:

I'ts been a very long time since I played with parallel ports Big smile

Me too. And Amen for that fact.

And having said that I'll point you to where I used to look for/at BIOS settings when I first got started years ago. And years ago!

TechARP's BIOS Optimization Guide on EPP 1.7 and EPP 1.9:
http://archive.techarp.com/showFreeBOG253e.html?lang=0&bogno=84

Posted By: wardog
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2017 at 8:42am

" rel="nofollow - Too Normal and Bi-Directional are as they appear.

Bi-Directional is two way communications.

If you're doing a LPT project, these two items should have been covered in the the 1st chapter!?!