# How do you determine if a usb flash drive is USB 3.0 compatible? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2018, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-determine-if-a-usb-flash-drive-is-usb-3-0-compatible/806167 "2018-01-08T22:14:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-determine-if-a-usb-flash-drive-is-usb-3-0-compatible/806167/1 "2018-01-08T22:14:50Z")
I know I have two USB 3.0 drives/ports on my computer, but how do I determine if my flash storage drives are 3.0? I have a couple of them that might be, but other than watching how fast data is copied to them, how do I tell for sure? Windows 10, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-determine-if-a-usb-flash-drive-is-usb-3-0-compatible/806167/2 "2018-01-08T22:17:29Z")
It will certainly say, since USB 3 compatibility is a big deal. But, you can also look at the connector - USB 3 requires 9 pins, USB 2 and earlier only takes 4. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-determine-if-a-usb-flash-drive-is-usb-3-0-compatible/806167/3 "2018-01-08T22:21:43Z")
Ninjaed - but [here](http://pinoutguide.com/Slots/usb_3_0_connector_pinout.shtml) is the link to pictures of the connector. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-determine-if-a-usb-flash-drive-is-usb-3-0-compatible/806167/4 "2018-01-08T22:29:45Z")
You look for benchmarks: > **[USB UserBenchmarks - 639 USB Flash Drives Compared](https://usb.userbenchmark.com/)** > **[The 7 Best USB 3.0 Flash Drives](https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-of-the-fastest-usb-3-0-flash-drives-you-should-buy/)** > > USB 3.0 flash drives are an excellent way to transport files and data around and offer high transfer speeds. Here are some of the best. > **[Best flash drives of 2023: USB memory sticks for all your data storage needs](https://www.techradar.com/news/best-usb-flash-drives)** > > The best flash drives around are even larger, faster and more portable than you might think Just because something is USB3 compatible (or even “SuperSpeed”), it doesn’t mean it has to be fast. That just means the connector has the theoretical possibility of supporting that speed, but the flash drive’s internal memory chips might not be able to read/write that fast. That’s really just marketing fluff – don’t fall for it. It’s like putting race car tires on a crappy car; the engine would never actually put out enough power. Some USB2 drives can be faster than some USB3 drives. What you need is USB 3 + publicly-verified (NOT manufacturer’s) benchmarks. Edit: Also, the blue connector is not a guarantee. Some knockoffs will paint their connector blue to just LOOK like USB3, but could be USB2 or USB1. Seriously, look for benchmarks and buy from reputable companies (Amazon direct, Best Buy, NOT eBay or third-party sellers). ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-determine-if-a-usb-flash-drive-is-usb-3-0-compatible/806167/5 "2018-01-08T22:34:47Z")
The connector on the computer will often be blue and/or have “SS” next to it. The plastic in the tip of the drive may be blue. This is a recommendation, not a requirement, so yours may be 3.x and not blue. But the presence of blue is usually a good sign. ETA: yes, don’t buy off brand or from potentially counterfeit sources. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-determine-if-a-usb-flash-drive-is-usb-3-0-compatible/806167/6 "2018-01-08T22:39:43Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > The connector on the computer will often be blue and/or have “SS” next to it. > > The plastic in the tip of the drive may be blue. > > This is a recommendation, not a requirement, so yours may be 3.x and not blue. But the presence of blue is usually a good sign. > > ETA: yes, don’t buy off brand or from potentially counterfeit sources. Yeah, I was looking for blue on the computer, but they are not blue. [They are, however, labeled with this 3.0 symbol and the drivers installed are for USB 3.0.](https://nikeagent.custhelp.com/rnt/rnw/img/enduser/kb_35498.png) It’s only the flash drive themselves I am not sure about. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-determine-if-a-usb-flash-drive-is-usb-3-0-compatible/806167/7 "2018-01-08T22:42:45Z")
Just to explicitly clarify something: Seriously, USB is a complete shitshow. USB 3.0 is different from 3.1, and both are different from SuperSpeed, and SuperSpeed is different from SuperSpeed+, and 3.0 is actually 3.1 Gen 1, which is different from 3.1 Gen 2, which is different, which are again all different from type C, and **none of these guarantee good performance in a flash drive**. **Do not rely on the USB logo, connector color, or any words on the packaging (SuperSpeed, Gen 1/2, etc.) to tell you how fast a flash drive will be. They vary a LOT, by a factor of 10x or more. Benchmarks and only benchmarks will tell you what you can reasonably expect.** ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-determine-if-a-usb-flash-drive-is-usb-3-0-compatible/806167/8 "2018-01-08T22:50:33Z")
:smack: Arg, sorry, one last time: I completely misread the OP. I thought you were _looking_ for a flash drive. Didn’t realize you already had some and were just trying to verify whether they were USB3. The simplest way is to do a copy test: if you exceed more than 60 MB/sec, it’s USB3. Otherwise you can look up their model/serial number online, or plug it in and go to the device manager in Windows and look for their hardware info there. You could find out what kind of chipset it uses, maybe, but that wouldn’t necessarily let you know how fast they are, just what their theoretical maximum (which no flash drive really reaches). Sorry, was over-eager there. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2018, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-determine-if-a-usb-flash-drive-is-usb-3-0-compatible/806167/9 "2018-01-08T22:59:51Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > :smack: > > Arg, sorry, one last time: I completely misread the OP. I thought you were _looking_ for a flash drive. Didn’t realize you already had some and were just trying to verify whether they were USB3. > > The simplest way is to do a copy test: if you exceed more than 60 MB/sec, it’s USB3. > > Otherwise you can look up their model/serial number online, or plug it in and go to the device manager in Windows and look for their hardware info there. You could find out what kind of chipset it uses, maybe, but that wouldn’t necessarily let you know how fast they are, just what their theoretical maximum (which no flash drive really reaches). > > Sorry, was over-eager there. My bad. Nah, your info. was interesting and useful, too. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-determine-if-a-usb-flash-drive-is-usb-3-0-compatible/806167/10 "2018-01-10T15:14:12Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > :smack: > > Arg, sorry, one last time: I completely misread the OP. I thought you were _looking_ for a flash drive. Didn’t realize you already had some and were just trying to verify whether they were USB3. > > The simplest way is to do a copy test: if you exceed more than 60 MB/sec, it’s USB3. > > Otherwise you can look up their model/serial number online, or plug it in and go to the device manager in Windows and look for their hardware info there. You could find out what kind of chipset it uses, maybe, but that wouldn’t necessarily let you know how fast they are, just what their theoretical maximum (which no flash drive really reaches). > > Sorry, was over-eager there. My bad. I appreciate your information. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-determine-if-a-usb-flash-drive-is-usb-3-0-compatible/806167/11 "2018-01-10T19:41:09Z")
Alternatively, you can download [USBDeview](http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html) which is a handy utility that gives you lots of detailed information about connected USB devices. It will tell you for sure what USB protocol a given device is using.