Co-Authored By:

Asked by: Yilian Agrest
technology and computing data storage and warehousingWhat is the difference between a 2.0 and 3.0 USB port?
Similarly, how can I tell the difference between USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports?
USB 2.0 transfer speed is 480 megabits persecond(Mbps), while USB 3.0 transfer speed is 4,800 Mbps.Thismeans USB 3.0 is approximately 10 times faster thanUSB2.0. More recently, USB 3.1 has also been releasedandhas a data transfer rate of 10,000 Mbps.
Beside above, how do I identify a USB 3.0 port?
Check the physical ports on your computer. Ifyousee a blue USB port, it's USB 3.0. It may alsobemarked on the outside of the port witheither“SS” or “3.0.” If you don'tsee anyblue ports or markings but you're still not sure,click theStart menu and openControl Panel.
USB 3.0 is also backward-compatible withUSB2.0, so you can plug a USB 2.0 peripheral intoa USB3.0 port and it will function properly. USB3.0'sincreased power output of 900 milliamps is enough to powermultipledevices, and more than enough to power anysingledevice.