USB 3.0 Cables- Basics Explained

Hidden Facts You Didn’t Know About USB 3.0 Cables

The entry of USB 3.0 cables was much publicized all over the internet with people talking about the great benefits and convenience it will have over prior versions. Features like speed, power consumption, higher frequency, etc. are some of the known facts, but there's much more to consider. Here are some facts about the new cables:

The cord length

Did you know that the new USB 3.0 cable has a maximum code length of just three meters? This is two meters shorter than the 2.0 cables. Though the slightly shorter length will limit the distance of operability of the cable, it has technical advantages which suit the functions of the cable. The USB 3.0 cable operates on high frequencies which can only travel for short distances. The 2.0 version was longer since it used low frequencies over longer distances.

The hardware

The hardware in USB 3.0 is relatively new and it uses a completely new technology compared to USB 2.0. This technology offers superior performance and since it was designed with backward compatibility in mind, the new 3.0 cables can still be used in 2.0 interfaces with the benefits of increased performances.

Peripherals won’t use USB 3.0 technology

Peripherals like mice and keyboards are unlikely to use the technology used in USB 3.0. Most of these peripherals are still stuck with the USB 1.1 technology and technically speaking, they don’t have any need for the 3.0 technology. This is because they don’t transfer enough data to warrant the implementation of such a technology.

The old USBs won’t be replaced by USB 3.0

A lot of speculations are going around that the entry of USB 3.0 sounds the death knell for the old USBs. It’s true that 3.0 offers better performance but this does not imply that all applications must use its kind of technology. If you don’t have any need for high volume and high bandwidth data transfer, then the older USBs will still offer satisfactory experience.