USB 3.0 kicks it up a notch

Most everyone has used or knows about USB or universal serial bus. It's how we connect PCs to printers, external drives, web cams, smartphones and MP3 players. Well, the USB specification is being kicked up a notch with the introduction of USB 3.0.

The new USB 3.0, also called SuperSpeed USB, is ten times faster than the current Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and offers data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps. USB 3.0 is also backwards compatible with USB 2.0, which means legacy USB 2.0 devices will work with USB 3.0 adapters and vice versa.

USB 3.0 also uses power more efficiently than its 2.0 predecessor. It provides additional power when needed, and with its sleep mode, reduces power requirements when idle. Power consumption is further reduced by eliminating the USB 2.0 device polling function that constantly checks to see if devices were attached and doing something.

Developed by the USB Promoter Group (HP, Intel, Microsoft, NEC, Texas Instruments and others), the USB 3.0 specification was released late last year by the USB Implementers Forum. On September 21, 2009, NEC announced the first USB 3.0 product — a host bus adapter for adding USB 3.0 connectivity to existing desktop PCs.

Although most USB 3.0 products won't be available until some time in 2010, a few products are beginning to appear. One example is Super Talent's USB 3.0 RAIDDrive.

Perhaps the most noticeable physical difference between USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 is the cable. USB 3.0 cable ends have the same basic shape and standard contacts of USB 2.0 cables. However, USB 3.0 cables have 5 additional contacts used by USB 3.0 devices. So although USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 cables and devices are interchangeable, USB 3.0 cables are required to support SuperSpeed USB 3.0 speeds. Cable length is still limited to 3 meters (10 feet) though.

SuperSpeed USB 3.0 represents a quantum leap for wired peripheral
connectivity. USB 3.0 will likely replace other PC connectivity protocols such as FireWire (IEEE 1394), due in part to its fast data transfer speeds and support for legacy USB 2.0 devices.

Although USB 3.0 provides blazing fast speeds, it still needs to compete against other connectivity technologies including wireless. We'll just have to wait to see if 2010 will be the year of USB 3.0. For more information, see the USB-IF website and Wikipedia.

By Harry Hiles, HBH Technology LLC — 7 Nov 2009

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