USB 2.0 Key connection

Since its release in 2000, USB 2.0 has provided the necessary bandwidth to support electronic and computer peripheral devices, including hard drives, CD/DVD drives, and digital cameras. Data transfer rates can reach up to 480 Megabits per second (Mb/s).

The USB 2.0 standard requires native USB 2.0 cables and connectors to achieve Hi-Speed transfer rates. Please note that USB 2.0 cables and connectors are compatible with the USB 1.1 interface, an older and much slower iteration of the USB serial standard. USB 1.1 was released in 1998 with transfer rates of up to 12 Mb/s.

Your LaCie USB 2.0 Key is meant for use with a USB 2.0 interface. However, USB 2.0 keys are also compatible with other USB serial interfaces:

USB 3.0 Port. You may plug a USB 2.0 device into a USB 3.0 port to access or copy data. However, file transfer rates will not exceed USB 2.0 speeds.

USB 1.1 or Legacy Port. You may plug a USB 2.0 device into a USB 1.1 or Legacy port to access or copy data. However, file transfer rates are limited to USB 1.1 or Legacy speeds.

USB 3.0 Key connection

SuperSpeed USB 3.0 is the latest version of the USB standard, providing higher bandwidth and greater power economy.

Transfer rates for USB 3.0 can attain up to 5 Gigabits per second (Gb/s). Due to such high potential for reading and writing data, USB 3.0 is theoretically up to 10 times faster than its predecessor, USB 2.0. To allow for easier adaption to new technology, USB 3.0 portable key drives and USB 3.0 cables are built for backwards compatibility. It is possible to connect them to USB 2.0 ports on a computer. Please note that transfer rates will always adhere to the speed of the computer's USB connection type.