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###A "USB 3.0 connection" requires a USB 3.0 cable.

Some USB 3.0 devices can be connected and operated as a USB 2.0 device (at USB 2.0 speeds), using a USB 2.0 cable. However, speed is not the only issue.

There are at least three important differences in cable construction between the two standards.

###Related to speed:

• The USB 3.0 cable has 9 internal conductors vs. 4 in USB 2.0.

  Four of the nine match the USB 2.0 configuration (two are for power and two are for signal). Connecting a USB 3.0 device with a USB 2.0 cable uses those conductors and operates like a USB 2.0 device.

  The other five are signal conductors, which are used for the communication method that provides USB 3.0 "superspeed" (a good general description can be found here).

• USB 3.0 cables have a limit of 3 meters vs. the USB 2.0 limit of 5 meters.

  (Note that this is a practical limit. The cable can be any length as long as it meets all of the electrical requirements in the specification. The 3 meter limit is based on maximum allowable losses using the largest recommended wire size so that the cable is flexible.) source: specs

###Related to power:

• A USB 2.0 cable may not be adequate for a high current USB 3.0 device.

  Some USB 3.0 devices draw more power than USB 2.0 devices. The power conductors in USB 3.0 cables need to be able to carry 900mA instead of 500mA for USB 2.0.

Additional information on USB 3.0 vs. 2.0 can be found here.

A "USB 3.0 connection" requires a USB 3.0 cable.

Some USB 3.0 devices can be connected and operated as a USB 2.0 device (at USB 2.0 speeds), using a USB 2.0 cable. However, speed is not the only issue.

There are at least three important differences in cable construction between the two standards.

Related to speed:

• The USB 3.0 cable has 9 internal conductors vs. 4 in USB 2.0.

  Four of the nine match the USB 2.0 configuration (two are for power and two are for signal). Connecting a USB 3.0 device with a USB 2.0 cable uses those conductors and operates like a USB 2.0 device.

  The other five are signal conductors, which are used for the communication method that provides USB 3.0 "superspeed" (a good general description can be found here).

• USB 3.0 cables have a limit of 3 meters vs. the USB 2.0 limit of 5 meters.

  (Note that this is a practical limit. The cable can be any length as long as it meets all of the electrical requirements in the specification. The 3 meter limit is based on maximum allowable losses using the largest recommended wire size so that the cable is flexible.) source: specs

Related to power:

• A USB 2.0 cable may not be adequate for a high current USB 3.0 device.

  Some USB 3.0 devices draw more power than USB 2.0 devices. The power conductors in USB 3.0 cables need to be able to carry 900mA instead of 500mA for USB 2.0.

Additional information on USB 3.0 vs. 2.0 can be found here.

###You cannot achieve USB 3 speed without a USB 3 cable. However, speed is not the only issue.

A USB 2 cable will work (at USB 2 speeds), for some, but not all, USB 3 devices.

There are at least three important differences in cable construction between the two standards.

###Related to speed:

• The USB 3 cable has 9 internal conductors vs. 4 in USB 2.

  Four of the nine match the USB 2 configuration (two are for power and two are for signal). Connecting a USB 3 device with a USB 2 cable uses those conductors and operates like a USB 2 device.

  The other five are signal conductors, which are used for the communication method that provides USB 3 "superspeed" (a good general description can be found here).

• USB 3 cables have a limit of 3 meters vs. the USB 2 limit of 5 meters.

  (Note that this is a practical limit. The cable can be any length as long as it meets all of the electrical requirements in the specification. The 3 meter limit is based on maximum allowable losses using the largest recommended wire size so that the cable is flexible.) source: specs

###Related to power:

• A USB 2 cable may not be adequate for a high current USB 3 device.

  Some USB 3 devices draw more power than USB 2 devices. The power conductors in USB 3 cables need to be able to carry 900mA instead of 500mA for USB 2.

Additional information on USB 3 vs. 2 can be found here.

###A "USB 3.0 connection" requires a USB 3.0 cable.

Some USB 3.0 devices can be connected and operated as a USB 2.0 device (at USB 2.0 speeds), using a USB 2.0 cable. However, speed is not the only issue.

There are at least three important differences in cable construction between the two standards.

###Related to speed:

• The USB 3.0 cable has 9 internal conductors vs. 4 in USB 2.0.

  Four of the nine match the USB 2.0 configuration (two are for power and two are for signal). Connecting a USB 3.0 device with a USB 2.0 cable uses those conductors and operates like a USB 2.0 device.

  The other five are signal conductors, which are used for the communication method that provides USB 3.0 "superspeed" (a good general description can be found here).

• USB 3.0 cables have a limit of 3 meters vs. the USB 2.0 limit of 5 meters.

  (Note that this is a practical limit. The cable can be any length as long as it meets all of the electrical requirements in the specification. The 3 meter limit is based on maximum allowable losses using the largest recommended wire size so that the cable is flexible.) source: specs

###Related to power:

• A USB 2.0 cable may not be adequate for a high current USB 3.0 device.

  Some USB 3.0 devices draw more power than USB 2.0 devices. The power conductors in USB 3.0 cables need to be able to carry 900mA instead of 500mA for USB 2.0.

Additional information on USB 3.0 vs. 2.0 can be found here.

You cannot achieve USB 3 speed without a USB 3 cable. However, speed is not the only issue.

A USB 2 cable will work (at USB 2 speeds), for some, but not all, USB 3 devices. There are at least three important differences in cable construction between the two standards.

Related to speed:

• The USB 3 cable has 9 internal conductors vs. 4 in USB 2.

  Four of the nine match the USB 2 configuration (two are for power and two are for signal). Connecting a USB 3 device with a USB 2 cable uses those conductors and operates like a USB 2 device.

  The other five are signal conductors, which are used for the communication method that provides USB 3 "superspeed" (a good general description can be found here).

• USB 3 cables have a limit of 3 meters vs. the USB 2 limit of 5 meters.

Related to power:

• Some USB 3 devices draw more power than USB 2 devices. The power conductors in USB 3 cables need to be able to carry 900mA instead of 500mA for USB 2. A USB 2 cable may not be adequate for a high current USB 3 device.

Additional information on USB 3 vs. 2 can be found here.

###You cannot achieve USB 3 speed without a USB 3 cable. However, speed is not the only issue.

A USB 2 cable will work (at USB 2 speeds), for some, but not all, USB 3 devices.

There are at least three important differences in cable construction between the two standards.

###Related to speed:

• The USB 3 cable has 9 internal conductors vs. 4 in USB 2.

  Four of the nine match the USB 2 configuration (two are for power and two are for signal). Connecting a USB 3 device with a USB 2 cable uses those conductors and operates like a USB 2 device.

  The other five are signal conductors, which are used for the communication method that provides USB 3 "superspeed" (a good general description can be found here).

• USB 3 cables have a limit of 3 meters vs. the USB 2 limit of 5 meters.

  (Note that this is a practical limit. The cable can be any length as long as it meets all of the electrical requirements in the specification. The 3 meter limit is based on maximum allowable losses using the largest recommended wire size so that the cable is flexible.) source: specs

###Related to power:

• A USB 2 cable may not be adequate for a high current USB 3 device.

  Some USB 3 devices draw more power than USB 2 devices. The power conductors in USB 3 cables need to be able to carry 900mA instead of 500mA for USB 2.

Additional information on USB 3 vs. 2 can be found here.