How can I determine my USB version? I have a MacBook Pro 15" bought in 2010, running OS X 10.9.5. I think it's 2.0, but I'm not sure. I've looked in my system profile and there are several USB listings. I'm wanting to purchase an external hard drive and want to make sure it's compatible. Do I have to get USB 2.0 or can I use 3.0?
Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)
USB is backward compatible. You should be able to plug a USB3 device into a USB2 port. The device will just run at USB2 speeds. The same is true in the other direction. You can plug a USB2 device into a USB3 port. And many USB keyboards and mice are USB1 (1.5Mb/sec) and they work just fine being plugged into a USB2 or USB3 port.
My point is, you should be able to buy a USB3 device and use it on your Mac. It will transfer data at the speed your Mac's USB ports can handle.
But if you want to figure out what you have, plug in a USB device and look at the "Hub" it is attached to via Applications -> Utilities -> System Information -> USB. If the Hub "Up to" speed is 480Mb/sec, then it is USB2. If it is faster, than it is USB3. And if you see slower, then you are misreading the information, as all intel based Macs have had at least USB2.
DO NOT look at the actual device speed, as that could be less. For example in the following screen shot, the Hub is 480Mb/sec, but the IR Receiver is 1.5Mb/sec. It is the Hub speed you care about, not the speed of an individual device.
USB Version?
