[SOLVED] How Many Inserts Can a USB Port Handle?

Crag_Hack

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The title says it all. How many inserts can a USB port or plug handle before wearing out? My research only popped up a wikipedia article saying 1500 cycles for standard, 5000 for mini usb, and 10,000 for micro-usb and usb-c. However I also read claims that the port or plug would never wear out through a lifetime of extensive use. What's the verdict? Thanks!
 
Solution
I'm guessing there's no relevant data out there for USB port/cable failure like the Backblaze hard drive failure study... sounds pretty alarming though if you plug something in once a day and your port lasts 1500 cycles it would only equate to 4 years which is not a long time at all. Can tech shops repair ports in this condition?
The USB standards group might have some info, but I doubt it is ever published. USB ports are generally disposable. Even in a cell phone, the entire port is usually the replacement.
But ports that are damaged, are not just from insertion. It is twisting, levering, and other abuse.

kanewolf

Titan
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The title says it all. How many inserts can a USB port or plug handle before wearing out? My research only popped up a wikipedia article saying 1500 cycles for standard, 5000 for mini usb, and 10,000 for micro-usb and usb-c. However I also read claims that the port or plug would never wear out through a lifetime of extensive use. What's the verdict? Thanks!
"A lifetime of extensive use" ... Several thousand seems like a lifetime for most devices with USB.
Since only chargers and battery packs have "original" USB ports these days, and 10,000 connects on a USB-C would be 27 YEARS of charging your phone every night. I don't think that insertions is an issue.
 

USAFRet

Titan
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The actual answer is...."Until it breaks"

'Never' is a very long time, and not gonna happen.

There is pretty much no way to know when your cable or port will fail.
Rated for 1500 insertions, and your particular one might die at 300, or it may last until 10,000.
 

Crag_Hack

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Dec 25, 2015
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I'm guessing there's no relevant data out there for USB port/cable failure like the Backblaze hard drive failure study... sounds pretty alarming though if you plug something in once a day and your port lasts 1500 cycles it would only equate to 4 years which is not a long time at all. Can tech shops repair ports in this condition?
 

kanewolf

Titan
Moderator
I'm guessing there's no relevant data out there for USB port/cable failure like the Backblaze hard drive failure study... sounds pretty alarming though if you plug something in once a day and your port lasts 1500 cycles it would only equate to 4 years which is not a long time at all. Can tech shops repair ports in this condition?
The USB standards group might have some info, but I doubt it is ever published. USB ports are generally disposable. Even in a cell phone, the entire port is usually the replacement.
But ports that are damaged, are not just from insertion. It is twisting, levering, and other abuse.
 
Solution

Crag_Hack

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Any possibility a high quality device might be a little tougher? Say a premium ASUS/MSI/GByte/Asrock mobo or a nice Samsung external SSD. Or no way to tell since the manufacturing conditions are not known.
 

kanewolf

Titan
Moderator
Any possibility a high quality device might be a little tougher? Say a premium ASUS/MSI/GByte/Asrock mobo or a nice Samsung external SSD. Or no way to tell since the manufacturing conditions are not known.
Unknown. If you are so concerned use an eternal USB hub. Plug it in once. Then if it fails, either use a different port or replace it.
I have never had a port on a PC fail from too many insertions.