How to tell if I've got USB ports 2.0 or 3.0

searchlight123

AndyPix wrote: »

The little lightning bolt indicates it is a high power port and can power double the current to devices and is likely to provide power even with the pc switched off
(To charge your phone etc)

aahh, thats interesting. thanks andy.
i would then presume the other ports are usb 3 but they are not blue inside and the only markings near the port is of the usb 'logo' and what looks like 'ss'

AndyPix

USB 3.0

searchlight123

AndyPix wrote: »

USB 3.0

brilliant. that's the one.
thanks again.

agrinnall

Is there a software way to determine which (if any) ports are USB 3? For instance, on the laptop I'm using now in Device Manager USB controllers includes this entry:

ASMedia USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller - 0.96 (Microsoft)

Does that imply that the machine has USB 3, and if so is there any way to tell which port it refers to?

NB It's an academic question as I don't actually have any USB 3 devices at the moment.

AndyPix

That does imply that the machine has a USB 3 port, and if so it will be labelled as such by either the Blue innards, the ss symbol, or if you look inside, you will see 4 extra gold contacts in there (A bit further back)

hans_2

tonygold wrote: »

i have a HP Envy 15-ah 150na laptop bought recently. it has 4 USB ports. all are black inside. i have noticed one of them (on the left nearest the user) has a tiny 'lightning bolt' symbol next to the USB symbol. i'm assuming that one port is a USB 3 but i'm not sure??

Interfaces HDMI Headphone/microphone combo jack USB 2.0 3 x USB 3.0 LAN

Details

agrinnall

AndyPix wrote: »

That does imply that the machine has a USB 3 port, and if so it will be labelled as such by either the Blue innards, the ss symbol, or if you look inside, you will see 4 extra gold contacts in there (A bit further back)

A physical check does indeed confirm that there are two USB 3 ports (I'm quite surprised as it's 4 years old), but I was wondering if there was a way to identify them from the system information rather than by looking.

GabbaGabbaHey

wongataa wrote: »

A computer that old will have USB 2 ports.

agrinnall wrote: »

A physical check does indeed confirm that there are two USB 3 ports (I'm quite surprised as it's 4 years old)

The USB 3 specification was released in November 2008.

stator

agrinnall wrote: »

A physical check does indeed confirm that there are two USB 3 ports (I'm quite surprised as it's 4 years old), but I was wondering if there was a way to identify them from the system information rather than by looking.

No, anything in windows will just tell you what software/drivers are installed, not what hardware is present.

Using a magnifying glass and looking for the 8 pins is the best way

Annie1960

Neil_Jones wrote: »

USB 2 ports are black and USB 3 ports are blue.
Memory sticks that are USB 3 capable will work in USB 2 ports, just not as fast as they would do in USB 3 ports.

Great, that's what I needed to know. I'll open the pack, as I don't particularly need a fast speed, I just want it to work.