How Can You Tell Which USB Speed?

spd2demun · ‎07-28-2007

I'm cleaning up my stash (of computer cords, that is) and I have some clear USB cords/plugs with no writing on them (one has light-up ends). No wire gauge listed, nothing.

Is there any way to tell if these are 1's or 2's?

Only keeping 2's for now, and would like to send the 1's to recycle at BestBuy.

Any help is appreciated! I've already searched the Net and only found tests for which type of USB device is on a computer.

edit to clarify subject

Uniblurb3 · ‎09-14-2009

Good question and maybe one of our tech wizards can answer.

Here's a pretty snooty answer from wiki I'm sure you saw in regards to USB2 compliant cables:

"- it is fatally poor business practice to manufacture a higher grade product without marking it as such.".

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Usb1_cable_and_usb2_cable_markings

I saw another site which said there will be a "+" next to the USB symbol on the plug itself if it's USB2.

Know where you are coming from and checked all my USB cables. Not one has any info on the cable or the plug itself and believe most are USB2. Now if you would cut the cables open........ LOL, and forget about saving them!

PS. good move on putting a blue edge on the cable plug if it's USB 3.0 and too bad they didn't think of color coding w/USB2.

hpmsrm · ‎09-14-2009

Ya know what guys?.....It's my position that the cable has absolutely nothing to do with USB speed....and that any markings or advertisements to the contrary are just hype to try to get us to buy more expensive cable. It's like those outfits that claim their $95 HDMI cable will deliver a sharper picture than the discount $10 HDMI cable. But.....that's just my opinion. Smiley winks.gif

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spd2demun · ‎07-28-2007

If I can't get an expert answer, then if it looks old, it's going to be recycled.

Another clear one has ferrite cores, but it has yellowed a bit.

Like most people, I don't use USB for much of anything now except for an external HDD and ancient printer.

The old A/B's aren't marked either (like the printer uses). One is the blue data cable from the UV install, but it's marked I/II.

Some of these may go with external HDD cases, so I'll have to dig that all out and check. I used to be so organized, I don't know what happened to me.

edit for unclear thought process while tired

mibrnsurg · ‎07-15-2008

This should help, 1/2 are same cable, 3 seems to be wider for more data transmission:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB#Physical_appearance

Chris

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hpmsrm · ‎09-14-2009

Chris, THAT is quite a tutorial. Very informative. SPD is right....I'm no expert. So USB 3 cable contains twice as many wires as USB 1 & 2 version. Thus it's larger. Hmmmm. OK. I'm certainly not the one to question the folks who write the standards. But WOW.....that is quite a confusing list of connectors.

By the way. I've been considering purchasing another external HDD and I want USB 3. I move a lot of large files around. But I'll have to add a USB 3 card to my desktop. I have done some searching around and, so far, all I can find are cards with just two ports. Haven't found a single one with 3 or more ports. They are not expensive. But I'd like more than just the two.

Has anyone else noticed that the cost of both external and internal HDD's have gone up?

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spd2demun · ‎07-28-2007

I haven't looked at prices on external HDDs, but figured they'd be lower since a lot of people are using cloud services now.

I don't have any USB 3s here, so they must be thick as Cat 6 Ethernet?

Guess I'll pitch the yellowed clear one, and it's very long besides. Keep one spare A/B for the old printer, and let the rest go.

Thanks for the replies; educational for sure!

SomeJoe7777 · ‎01-30-2008

hpmsrm wrote:

Has anyone else noticed that the cost of both external and internal HDD's have gone up?

About 4 months ago, there was massive flooding in Thailand that took out hundreds of factories, including several that make hard drive parts, as well as a main facility of Western Digital.

Hard drive prices rose across the board as a result.

How Can You Tell Which USB Speed?

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