Why Do Some Laptops Have Both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports?

BloodTotal · Dec 25, 2012

I thought that USB 3.0 was backwards comparable with USB 2.0. So if they are, then what's the point of having both 3.0 and 2.0 on your laptop?

A google search for this proved unsuccessful.

Batou1986 · Dec 25, 2012

Because usb 3.0 isn't backwards compatible with everything tho it should be and usb 2.0 hub controllers are cheaper/integrated.
Also usb 3.0 needs drivers before it will work.

Bo$$ · Dec 25, 2012

Price is the main reason

drivers etc are small issues

BloodTotal · Dec 25, 2012

Batou1986 said:
Because usb 3.0 isn't backwards compatible with everything tho it should be and usb 2.0 hub controllers are cheaper/integrated.
Also usb 3.0 needs drivers before it will work.

I've tried finding what wouldn't work? Also, couldn't you technically use a usb 2.0 hub on a usb 3.0 input? Wouldn't it just allow more usb 2.0s? Unless the drivers don't allow that yet. Because I don't see why it can't physically work?

Bo$$ said:
Price is the main reason drivers etc are small issues

Tried looking around for usb 3.0 prices, no luck. How expensive could it be?

Frick · Dec 26, 2012

BloodTotal said:
I've tried finding what wouldn't work? Also, couldn't you technically use a usb 2.0 hub on a usb 3.0 input? Wouldn't it just allow more usb 2.0s? Unless the drivers don't allow that yet. Because I don't see why it can't physically work?

Mouse, keyboards, USB memory sticks, sound cards, whatever.. Could be anything really. It is backwards compatible, but sometimes (or pretty often in my experience) it doesn't work, at least not as intended. I think it has something to do with controllers, but tbh I have no idea.

Fourstaff · Dec 26, 2012

BloodTotal said:
Tried looking around for usb 3.0 prices, no luck. How expensive could it be?

Cheap, a few dollars at most. That said, sometimes motherboard real estate in laptops is in short supply (especially those poorly optimised ones) it makes sense to leave them out.

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System Name	Blood
Processor	Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4Ghz
Motherboard	ASUS P5Q PRO @ stock settings
Cooling	Antec Case fans (max) OCZ Vandetta 2 CPU cooler with a Kaze Jyuni 120mm fan 1200RPM+-100RPM 67.5CFM
Memory	Patriot Viper Series 4GB 2x2GB DDR2 800Mhz 5-5-5-15
Video Card(s)	BFG NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 OC MAXCORE 896MB PCIe 2.0 Core 216 @ stock settings
Storage	Seagate Barracuda 500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s
Display(s)	Acer AL2616Wd 25.5" 1920x1200 800:1 178degrees viewing angle 5ms S-IPS Panel
Case	Antec Nine Hundred
Audio Device(s)	Auzentech X-Plosion 7.1 with a coaxial cable connected to a Logitech z5500
Power Supply	BFG ES-800 800W
Software	Windows Vista (soon to be Windows Xp, Vista, and Windows 7 triple boot)

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Case	Fractal Design Define R4
Audio Device(s)	Line6 UX1 + some headphones, Nektar SE61 keyboard
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Keyboard	Cherry MX Board 1.0 TKL Brown
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Why Do Some Laptops Have Both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports?

BloodTotal

Batou1986

Bo$$

Lab Extraordinaire

BloodTotal

Frick

Fishfaced Nincompoop

Fourstaff

Moderator

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