USB leads

[Upatdawn]

so there are 2 types of USB ports on a PC?

[ThunderSpook]

There might be 3 types, although 2 have the same connector type.

[JulianHJ]

USB-A - the big original rectangular ones
USB-C - small rounded rectangular ones

There's a bunch of other sizes/specs in use on different devices, but these are the two USB ports you'll find on most modern laptops. USB-A now tends to be 3.0 spec, which is a lot faster than 2.0 spec - but they look the same physically. 3.0 spec tend to be blue.

[anonymous-user]

USB 3 are as the above poster says blue
BUT some times they are black but have the initials ss on or around the port

[Upatdawn]

[Upatdawn]

[deckster]

1) All those USB ports are the same.
2) Your motherboard and/or backing plate is badly installed.
3) Please for the love of god clean your PC. I feel dirty just looking at it.

[chris285]

They are all USB 2 which are type A

Blue is for USB 3 on the back off motherboards(from my experirence), but can be other colours normally to highlight it is faster

and Type C is what i have on my samsung galaxy which is a different connector

[alfaben]

Upatdawn said:

so there are 2 types of USB ports on a PC?

Typically just USB Type A, you'll find Type-C typically on phones and 2018+ era laptops.

There is a good Wikipedia Article which talks about the different connectors.

[Upatdawn]

PC spec says i have 4x USB2 and 4x USB3 ports


4 of the ports (the ones that take my USB stick and printer leads,etc) have a blue insert, the others do no

Edited by Upatdawn on Wednesday 27th February 13:36

Edited by Upatdawn on Wednesday 27th February 13:37

Edited by Upatdawn on Wednesday 27th February 13:37

[ThunderSpook]

The blue ones will be USB 3.0, the black ones will be USB 2.0, they will both have the same connector but the black ones look badly aligned within the case. Also USB 2.0 and 3.0 are often the opposite way up to each other.

[deckster]

Upatdawn said:

PC spec says i have 4x USB2 and 4x USB3 ports


4 of the ports (the ones that take my USB stick and printer leads,etc) have a blue insert, the others do no

What is your actual question?

[gizard]

I would hazard a guess he can't find the other 2x USB3 ports - there is probably a header on the motherboard internally to allow you have the 2 'missing' ports connected to ports on the front of the case - and in this case your case may not have the ports?

[Upatdawn]

is there any advantage of using either?

the blue/USB3 is the commonest in fact ive not got any usb 2 items

ive 4 blue USB 3 ports and wanted 1 more but hey ho

[deckster]

USB 3 is faster, if you need speed (e.g. you're connecting an external hard drive). For many applications there is no practical difference.

If you need more USB ports then get a powered USB hub, they aren't expensive.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_2_13?url...