Not all hardware with USB are the same. Some count with a higher transfer rate, so they will adapt better when you need to send movies or large files in the shortest amount of time.
Currently there are USB 2.0 and USB 3.0Although these numbers seem insignificant at first, in reality they are not. They have different advantages and characteristics when it comes to using them. But be careful, as a USB 3.0 stick might not be used correctly on a 2.0 port.
To clarify these doubts, we have developed the following article. You can find the answers to the difference between these two technologies. We will also tell you How should you connect a USB 3.0 to a 2.0 port without failing.
What are the main differences between the USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 standard?
The data transfer rate or speed is the time that elapses between sending and receiving digital data between two electronic devices. It is measured by the number of bits that are transmitted per second. In this way we take as a unit of measurement the "B / s".
But What does this have to do with USB sticks? The answer is everything. A USB memory is connected to a port that bears the same name, also known as the Universal Serial Bus, without any type of controller, thus allowing the computer and the removable memory to interact according to a specific transfer rate.
There are currently 2 standards used for USB. One is 2.0, also called Hi-Speed USB and the other one is USB 3.0 or "Super Speed". Although the physical appearance of both is similar, they do not have the same characteristics, the highlight being the transfer speed. The second USB is much higher (480 MB / s versus 4800 MB / s, or what is the same 4.8 GB / s respectively).
USB 2.0 is not recommended for HD formats, while the other version can transmit it satisfactorily. Also, a 3.0 device can be plugged into 2.0 ports and they will work at the slowest speed. The same happens if you join a USB 2.0 in USB 3.0, but you should bear in mind that it will not increase the transfer speed either.
If you have a Windows XP computer which is rare, but it can happen, you can only use 2.0 technology. From the later version of that operating system it becomes compatible with USB 3.0.
Regarding the use of electrical energy, USB 2.0 occupies around 500 mA, while 3.0 milliamps reach 900. By this we mean that energy consumption is higher due to the work it does to have a higher bandwidth.
Steps to use a Pendrive or USB 2.0 device on a 3.0 port
While it is true that there are some incompatibilities found in Windows 8 when you plug a USB 3.0 of some hardware into a 2.0 port. For example, a Toshiba V63700-C Canvio hard drive or SanDisk Extreme 16GB or 32GB memory was found to be malfunctioning.
To solve this problem, a hotfix must be downloaded Microsoft to return the factory settings to the BIOS.
But, if you have Windows 10, which is the most recommended on your computer, you should have no trouble using it on a USB 2.0 port any connection with 3.0 technology. You should bear in mind that the speed that will be maintained will always be the lowest, so you will work with transfers for 2.0.