USB 3.0 to 5 Gbps: specifications are published

[Paxton]

According to the announcement had been made, the USB Implementers Forum issued Monday specifications 1.0 of the future standard USB 3.0, that should be reflected in public facilities late 2009 or early 2010.

Those who have experienced both know that there was a before and an after USB 2.0: flow theoretical maximum of 12 Mb / s with USB 1.1, users were able to enjoy to trade much faster, can climb up to 480 Mbps. According to its promoters, USB 3.0, the next major evolution of the standard Universal Serial Bus, will be a new turning point: it comes from a theoretical bandwidth of 5 Gpbs or 625 Mb / s!

Also called "superspeed USB, USB 3.0 has a good chance to quickly appeared on computers and peripherals trade, it is supported by big names in information technology as Intel, HP, NEC, NXP Semiconductors , Microsoft and Texas Instruments, all of which participated in its development.

This new standard has the added benefit of working with existing equipment: although the connector used now has five runways, it retains the format "Type A" of traditional USB 2.0 ports (four tracks).The backward compatibility is ensured, even if the flows logically be capped according to the standard the oldest actuation.

Attention, however, USB 1.1, which could in turn gradually being ousted: Technically, nothing precludes a USB 3.0 hub communicates with a USB 1.1 device, but this support is not part of current specifications of the new standard and is not guaranteed.

Structurally, USB 3.0, in fact, many differences with his predecessors.While the USB 2.0 based on a single data stream, going in one direction and then in the other, the USB 3.0 for its offer the possibility of using several two-way flows.The new standard also introduces new methods of energy management, which will allow hubs to move in different states when they are not being used.

While the interest of Apple and others to reduce FireWire seems to be edging ever, despite the recent approval of a new standard to 3.2 Gbps, USB 3.0 This, at least on paper, all arguments needed to become de facto as the next standard wire transfers between storage devices.As with previous generations, there are different formats for the USB connectors 3.0, starting with the mini-USB.The first USB 3.0 controllers final day should see the current 2009.It is therefore likely that motherboards, external hard drives and computers from 2010 provide USB 3.0 ports as standard.

[Tobius]

It makes good on paper, but good to see in practice. And then, still lack chaining, which is quite handy. But I am very curious to see (but I'm also very curious about the FireWire 3200 ...).