Have you ever wondered what an SS USB is? If you’ve seen this term online, but can’t connect it to a piece of equipment that you know – then you might be trying to find out what this term means.
If this sounds like you, then you’ve come to the right place!
In the guide below we’re going to be taking you through everything there is to know about SS USB. We’ll explain what they are, what you might want to use one for, and where you can buy them!
What Is An SS USB? What Does the SS Stand For?
SS stands for “SuperSpeed” which is the name given to the new USB 3.0 standard. The USB 3.0 standard was released in 2010, and since then many manufacturers have started producing products that support this standard.
This includes laptops, computers, external hard drives, printers, scanners, cameras, etc.
The reason why these devices are called SuperSpeed USBs is that they allow data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps (Gigabits per second). This is much faster than USB 2.0 which only allows data transfers at 480 Mbps (Megabits per second).
If you look on Amazon or eBay, you may see some items labeled as “USB 3.0”, however, most of these are USB 2.0 with a USB 3.0 logo added to them. They are still fully compatible with USB 3.0 though so don’t worry if you see something like this!
It’s worth noting that not all USB 3.0 ports will work with your computer, so make sure you double-check before purchasing!
Why Do I Need One Of These Things? Why Should I Get One?
Many people who own a laptop or desktop PC already have several different USB cables lying around their house. However, when you plug anything into your computer via a USB cable, it usually takes quite a while to get connected.
It could even take several minutes! When you’re transferring large amounts of files over USB, this can slow down your system.
An SS USB solves this problem by allowing you to transfer data at lightning-fast speeds. You won’t need to wait long for things to happen anymore.
It’s important to note that although the speed of data transfer is increased, the power consumption is reduced too. So you should always try and keep your device plugged into an SS USB whenever possible.
There are two main reasons why you would want to purchase an SS USB. Firstly, if you’re using a laptop then you’ll probably want to use an SSD drive.
SSD drives are incredibly quick and require less time to read/write data from/to them. Therefore, having an SS USB connection will help ensure that your data is transferred quickly.
Secondly, if you’re connecting any kind of storage device to your computer, such as an external hard drive, then you’ll benefit from an SS USB connection.
External hard drives often contain a lot of data and therefore you’ll need to transfer it very quickly. Having an SS USB connection will mean that you don’t have to wait long for the process to complete.
Where Can I buy a SS USB?
There are lots of places where you can buy one of these things online. If you search Google for “SS USB” you’ll find plenty of websites selling them. Alternatively, you can also visit Amazon or eBay and browse through their USB listings.
However, there are other ways to connect to an SS USB port too. For example, you might be able to attach one directly to your motherboard. This is known as a “Type-A” USB connector. Type-A connectors are found on motherboards and come in three sizes: micro, mini and full size.
Alternatively, you might be able to see an SS USB port on the back of your computer case. This is known as the “type-C” USB connector. Type C connectors are smaller than type A connectors but larger than normal USB connectors.
How Much Are They? How Do I Know Which Ones To Choose?
The price of an SS USB depends on what type you choose. The cheapest ones tend to be made out of plastic whereas the more expensive ones are usually made out of metal. There are many different types of SS USB available, including single, dual, quad, octa, and 16x.
Each one has its advantages and disadvantages, so we’ve listed them below:
Single
Single SS USBs are perfect for laptops because they only have one socket. They’re small, lightweight, and easy to carry around. However, they’re also much slower than multiples.
Dual
Dual SS USBs are great for desktops because they offer twice the amount of sockets compared to a single SS USB. They’re slightly bigger and heavier than single SS USBs.
Quad
Quad SS USBs are ideal for laptops with four USB sockets. They’re the largest and heaviest of all the SS USBs.
Octa
Octa SS USBs are similar to quad SS USBs except they have eight USB sockets instead of four. They’re not commonly used though.
16x
16x SS USBs are the most common type of SS USB. They’re generally used for desktop computers and laptops with multiple USB ports. They’re quite large and heavy.
Which SS USB Should I Get?
It depends on what you’re going to be using it for. If you’re planning on using it for transferring files between devices then you should get an octa or quad SS USB. These are the best options because they allow you to plug in multiple devices at once.
If you’re planning on just having one USB connection to your computer at a time then you could go for a single SS USB. You won’t be able to use two or more devices simultaneously which means that you’d have to unplug one before plugging another in.
If you’re looking for something cheap then you should probably stick to buying a single SS USB. It’s cheaper than buying a quad SS USB and it’s easier to carry around.
Final Thoughts
We hope that this article has explained to you what a SS USB is and why you should get one! SS USBs are great pieces of kit that can be used for a variety of different functions. We recommend getting one if you plan on connecting several devices to your computer at once.
