USB 2.0 and USB 3.0

medeiom

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Jun 4, 2012
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I see some Ultrabooks equipped with both USB 2.0 and 3.0 and my question is why???? Why not just go with a full USB 3.0 since 2.0 will eventually fade out.
 

undergroundtech

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May 13, 2012
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It's because most people enjoy the fact of having more than 1 or 2 usb ports on their labtops\desktop and motherboards as of now only support up to 2 3.0 ports, sometimes more. The motherboard I\o area can have 3 and more but the front ports will sometimes have passthroughs that actually make you plug them into the back to get the front ports to work, leaving you with less in the back but easier access in the front. Usb 2.0 isn't being completely replaced just yet because 3.0 isn't as flexible
 

mInInOwA

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Apr 4, 2012
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I'm guessing that mainly it's due to the chipset limiting the total number of USB 2.0 as well as 3.0 ports. Either way, it's good that my laptop has both 2.0 and 3.0, because my logitech wireless mouse simply doesn't work, when the receiver is plugged into the 3.0 jack.
 
2.0 is easier and cheaper to implement. That's why chipsets only support a few 3.0 ports. Adding more means adding a custom controller, which drives the price up.

People don't need that many fast USB ports, so a mix of 2.0 and 3.0 is the best solution.
 

Thankfully, they've agreed on a common standard for USB3.0 frontpanel headers, so the days of passthroughs are numbered. Well, until the same thing happens with USB 4.0 or whatever... :p
 

undergroundtech

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May 13, 2012
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Yeah, still see too many cases with them though :(