USB 3.0 Header compatible with USB 2.0?

[Trackr]

Hey, I am wondering about USB headers.

If you use a USB 2.0 header cable with a USB 3.0 motherboard connector/port, will it be subject to USB 2.0 speeds?

For instance, if I have a USB 2.0 port on my Front Panel and a USB 3.0 connector on my motherboard - will I retain USB 3.0 speeds? If so, will I still retain such speeds even with a USB 2.0 header cable?

Which is to say, does the cable matter or the connectors/ports?

And lastly, can a non-blue USB 2.0 port when connector to a USB 3.0 motherboard connector retain USB 3.0 speeds, or will it forever only be USB 2.0?

Thanks!

 

[bodan]

Yeah the cable matters obviously, or you could simply plug a USB 1.1 extension into a USB 3.0 port and get 3.0 bandwidth... Needless to say, you can't. Pretty sure to be called USB 3.0 it has to be backward compatible with 2.0, so yeah.

 

[raybik]

I woudl not recommend connecting to the USB 3 header if it is the newer, longer style USB 3 header they are putting on the newer boards.

I would recommend looking for an internal USB adapter.

NZXT sells an internal USB "extender" I calll it, that is just a board that plugs into an existing header, has a floppy power connection for power, and extends the amount of USB headers by 4 (3 if you minus the header it uses on the motherboard).