Cable Types

Question 1

USB 1.0 (Low Speed) – Speed and Features

Answer 1

USB 1.0 supports speeds of 1.5 Mbps, providing an upgrade from serial ports with faster data transfer than previous standards (~115 Kbps).

Question 2

USB 1.1 (Full Speed) – Speed and Uses

Answer 2

USB 1.1, known as “Full Speed,” operates at 12 Mbps and was widely adopted for basic peripherals like keyboards and mice.

Question 3

USB 2.0 (High Speed) – Speed and Capabilities

Answer 3

USB 2.0 supports 480 Mbps, enabling compatibility with external storage devices and early external hard drives.

Question 4

USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen 1 – Speed and Identification

Answer 4

USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen 1 operates at 5 Gbps, marking the first generation of SuperSpeed, and is often identified by blue connectors.

Question 5

USB 3.1 Gen 2 – Speed and Applications

Answer 5

USB 3.1 Gen 2, known as SuperSpeed+, provides 10 Gbps speeds and is commonly used for high-end external drives.

Question 6

USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 – Speed and Usage

Answer 6

USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 reaches 20 Gbps, suitable for advanced applications requiring high bandwidth, such as video editing.

Question 7

USB 4.0 – Speed and Compatibility

Answer 7

USB 4.0 supports up to 40 Gbps, designed for ultra-fast applications, and is compatible with USB-C ports for data, video, and power.

Question 8

USB Cable Length Limit for USB 1.0

Answer 8

USB 1.0 cables are limited to 3 meters (9 feet) to preserve data transfer speeds.

Question 9

USB Cable Length Limit for USB 2.0

Answer 9

USB 2.0 cables can extend up to 5 meters (15 feet), supporting higher speeds over longer distances.

Question 10

USB Cable Length Limit for USB 3.0 and Above

Answer 10

USB 3.0 and higher are recommended at a 3-meter (9 feet) limit due to high data rates that require strong signals, with longer cables risking signal loss.

Question 11

USB 1.0 / 2.0 Ports – Power Output and Use

Answer 11

USB 1.0 and 2.0 ports provide up to 500 mA (0.5 A) and deliver 2.5 watts of power, sufficient for basic peripherals.

Question 12

USB 3.0 Ports – Power Output and Use

Answer 12

USB 3.0 ports deliver up to 900 mA (0.9 A) for a total of 4.5 watts, ideal for most modern devices.

Question 13

Powered USB Ports (PD) – Power Output and Applications

Answer 13

Powered USB (PD) ports can supply 1.5 A (7.5 watts) or more, making them suitable for charging larger devices.

Question 14

Effect of Lower-Power USB 2.0 Port on Charging Speed

Answer 14

Using a lower-power USB 2.0 port for charging will slow the rate compared to wall chargers, which can reach 2 A (10 watts).

Question 15

Thunderbolt – Versions, Speed, and Compatibility

Answer 15

Thunderbolt versions 1 & 2 use DisplayPort connectors, while versions 3 & 4 use USB-C connectors, with speeds up to 40 Gbps, and Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 being fully compatible with each other.

Question 16

Thunderbolt – Cable Length and Compatibility

Answer 16

Thunderbolt cables are typically under 2 feet (0.5 meters) in length, and Thunderbolt 3 devices can use USB-C ports, but USB-C ports do not support Thunderbolt devices.

Question 17

Lightning Cable – Use, Connector, and Features

Answer 17

The Lightning cable is proprietary to Apple devices (iPhones, older iPads), featuring a reversible Lightning connector on one end and either USB-C or USB Type-A on the other.

Question 18

SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) – Purpose and Versions

Answer 18

SATA is used to connect storage devices (e.g., internal hard drives) to motherboards, with versions offering speeds of up to 1.5 Gbps (SATA 1), 3 Gbps (SATA 2), and 6 Gbps (SATA 3).

Question 19

SATA – Cable Types and Limitations

Answer 19

SATA uses a 7-pin data cable for data transfer and a 15-pin power connector, with speed limited by the device, such as a 7,200 RPM hard drive not reaching 6 Gbps.

Question 20

eSATA – Purpose and Comparison

Answer 20

eSATA is an external connection for SATA devices, offering high-speed external storage, but is less common due to faster USB 3 and USB 4 speeds.

Question 21

IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) / PATA – History and Connectors

Answer 21

IDE/PATA is an older technology replaced by SATA, using a 40-pin ribbon cable for data transfer and a MOLEX connector for power, supporting parallel communication for multiple devices.

Question 22

SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface) – Legacy Use and Types

Answer 22

SCSI is a legacy technology that supports daisy-chaining up to 127 devices, with Narrow SCSI supporting 7 devices and Wide SCSI supporting 15, using a 68-pin or 80-pin connector.

Question 23

SCSI – Speed and Limitations

Answer 23

SCSI offers a maximum speed of 320 Mbps, which is significantly slower than modern SATA connections.