The Universal Serial Bus or USB as it is better known has gone through
several modifications. Initially been launched as the USB 1.0 Low Speed
1.5 Mbits/s, it was followed by USB 1.1 Full Speed 12 Mbits/s. Then USB
2.0 High Speed 480 Mbits/s arrived and the latest is the UBS 3.0
SuperSpeed 5.0 Gbits/s.
Boasting of a huge data transfer bandwidth rate of 5.0 Gbit/s, the
SuperSpeed USB 3.0 released by Intel and its partners in August 2008 is
a revolutionary aid to high-speed data transfer. Announced in 5th
January 2010 at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the first
certified USB 3.0 consumer products included 2 motherboards by ASUS and
Gigabyte Technology. The New devices supporting USB 3.0 are expected to
be backward compatible and consist of a new system of wiring to ensure
duplex communication.
However, such great speed of data transfer requires an equally speedy
portable storage device. They are best suited to solid-state devices
than magnetic hard disks with limited RPM and read or write speed. Thus,
to avail the maximum benefits from USB 3.0, it is essential to develop
new Mass Storage Device drivers that effectively support the system.
Though compatible with USB 2.0 it doesn't support USB 1.0.Features
and Benefits of USB 3.0
The USB 3.0 has 5 additional connecting pins and offers a maximum
power of 900mA. Thus, they are highly suitable for Portable HDD’s.
USB 3.0 assures Lower Consumption of Power and proves to be more power
efficient due to its power-usage protocols that saves power by remaining
inactive to idle devices and responds to only active data traffic.
Designed to allow faster data transfer speed, USB 3.0 are capable of
carrying more power. This facilitates charging of 4 devices from a
single hub as well as offers you the scope to power heftier hardware as
well.
The split in data lanes enables USB 3.0 to read and write from a
portable storage device simultaneously while facilitating an increased
and swift data transfer. While one pair of lanes is dedicated to
transmission of data the other pair is reserved for receiving of data.
This bi-directional data transfer is immensely beneficial for syncing up
information unlike the uni-directional approach used in USB 2.0.
Therefore, a combination of six wires guarantees full-duplex
communication.
The USB 3.0 offers drastically improved transmission of graphic contents
from camera flash cards as well as digital movies.
With such great features and advantages, it is no wonder that the USB
3.0 will continue to rule the roost for several more years.
|
