Hey guys.
My new laptop is USB 3.0 capable, and I have some questions about it.
• If I plug something old, say...my old Sandisk MP3 player or my second gen iPod touch, will it charge faster than if I had plugged it into a USB 2.0 port?
• Will I get faster data read/write speeds on ANY flash disk, or does the flash drive need to be specifically USB 3.0 capable?
• USB 3.0 is backwards compatible with USB 2.0, but USB 1.0 devices will not work on it, right?
I may be mistaken, but I believe USB 1. will run on it. It is backward compatible and that usually means 2.0 and 1.0. USB 3.0 puts out a little more power than USB 2.0 so it is possible to damage some things that are made for 2.0. I'm thinking especially about the Ipod touch. I haven't plugged mine into USB 3.0 ports because the instructions say 2.0 and I don't know if 3.0 is too much for them. but anything else 2.0 will usually run on it, and some will run even a little faster.
You cannot damage something by supplying more available power. The device you are powering will only use as much power as it needs. As long as it is the same voltage, which it has to be, the device will not be damaged.
Also, the spec states:
"Note that the maximum power draw for a SuperSpeed device operating in non-SuperSpeed mode is governed by the limits set in the USB 2.0 specification."
You won't get faster speeds by using a non-USB 3.0 device, such as a flash drive. As with all other computer technologies, the transfer goes at the rate of the slowest link in the chain. If you are using a 2.0 flash drive on a 3.0 port, the 2.0 speeds are the slowest, and what you'll see for a transfer rate.
The USB people have been diligent so far in that any USB device will operate in the new USB 3.0 ports. the 3.0 ports have 5 extra connectors inside which will mate with a 3.0 plug. Earlier USB plugs will not, but will operate at their respective speeds and voltage. If you are going to connect to 3.0 via a cable your will need a USB 3.0 cable withe the 5 extra wires and connectors within. A 3.0 cable is nearly as big as a standard CAT5 ethernet cable.
Also note that many Flash storage devices are not fast enough to make a difference. For example, class 6 and below SDHC cards won't push the limits of USB 2.0 either reading or writing, so USB 3.0 does not allow additional performance.
For Compact Flash cards, you have to buy one of the really fast ones (300x or better) before you'll start getting limited by USB 2.0.
SSDs and the newest, fastest SDHC cards are a different matter. Some of the class 10 cards should be pushing past USB 2.0 limits on reads, though not writes. I guess for those you'd want a USB 3.0 card reader.
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