RSS
Home
USB 3.0 is on the way
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Courtesy of Wikipedia.
By the end of 2010, the world of USB will see revolutionary changes. Ever since it's public introduction back in 1996, the USB standard has made four major evolutionary specification hops, those being 1.0, 1.1, 2.0 and now 3.0. At each hop, newer USB specifications gained better speed, stability and flexibility over prior versions. This latest hop goes further by opening new doors and possibilities for USB.
Upon its introduction in 2008, the USB 3.0 specification radically changed the way USB works. Of particular importance is the new methodology now used in USB 3.0 device communications. Prior to 3.0, the USB specification required that a host communicate with all devices connected to its bus by continuously polling them. USB 3.0 eliminates the need for polling due to its new ability to establish host directed communications pipelines with 3.0 capable devices. This effectively allows a USB 3.0 host to establish a high bandwidth communications pipeline with a device connected to its bus. This also allows the host and device to conduct multiple data streams within that communications pipeline.
USB 3.0 also introduces the SuperSpeed bus and another USB transfer mode. With the USB 2.0 specification, data transfer rates as high as 480 Mbit/sec could be achieved. USB 3.0, through the use of the SuperSpeed bus, trumps this by allowing data transfer rates as high as 4 Gbit/sec. As a consequence, the SuperSpeed bus also required a redesign of USB ports, cables and connectors so that they could accommodate the higher data transfer rates. Fortunately, even with the vast improvements in speed and design changes, the USB3.0 specification is still backwards compatible with USB 2.0.
Along with improved device communications and speed, USB 3.0 brings with it better power management. Because USB 3.0 eliminates continuous device polling, 3.0 devices can selectively go into low power modes when idle. As well, the USB 3.0 specification allows for a type of power throttling which can give more power when needed or less when not needed. This means that 3.0 buses can better support more self powered devices without becoming over taxed like USB 2.0 buses currently do. It also gives USB 3.0 enabled devices the capability to do things faster. Cell phones connected to a 3.0 bus for the purpose of battery charging, will do so much more quickly, for example.
The biggest effect that USB 3.0 will have is on future device designs. Users will finally be able to plug in multiple USB monitors without any special software. Because of the high bandwidth capabilities that USB 3.0 provides, these monitors will also function more efficiently High definition camcorders as well would benefit both from the high bandwidth capabilities and the added ability to transmit data through wireless USB. Moreover, users seeking to build computer a networks could find themselves having to choose between wired, WiFi and wireless USB networking options. Ultimately, USB 3.0 could eventually lead to a completely wireless as well as highly advanced computing environment.
Another major effect will be the decline and possible elimination of current data port technologies. E-SATA ports on devices such as portable hard drives may disappear as newer USB 3.0 drives come on the market. As well, USB 3.0 could hasten Firewire's decline in popularity and may lead to its elimination on all computers made by Apple. In any case, the lowly PS-2, serial and parallel ports are certainly going to fade away into computing history.
Although ASUS had to do an abort, go around with its nearly first on the market P6X58 3.0 capable motherboard, USB 3.0 enabled devices are still going to slowly but surely appear as 2010 unfolds. When they do, users will be truly amazed at the capabilities that these devices have to offer due to the USB 3.0 specification.
To get more info about the new USB 3.0 specification surf on over to Wikipedia.
Tech tip: If you are a system builder with a computer that has flaky USB performance, take a look at these three areas. The first is the USB device itself. Although rare, USB devices can malfunction and cause system stability problems. Try removing the offending device and see if that corrects the issues. The second is the system's BIOS. Your motherboard, even a new one, may not have the latest and greatest BIOS. Check the motherboard manufacturer's website for new BIOS files and what problems they correct. If one of the issues is USB performance, you should then download and install the new BIOS. If the motherboard's BIOS is not the issue, the computer's power supply may be the culprit. An underpowered power supply may not be able to handle a lot of self powered devices such as USB TV tuners. In this case either reduce the number of USB devices attached to the computer or upgrade the power supply.
Vox populi time: Are you excited about the new USB 3.0 specification? If so or if not, why? Leave a comment.
Sources: Wikipedia and Techspot.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
