Introduction to USB 3.0

USB 3.0 - also known as SuperSpeedUSB - provides a standard interface for a variety of devices connected to PCs or audio/high frequency devices. Just a hardware device, you can use USB3.0 related functions only after installing USB3.0 related hardware devices in your computer! From keyboards to high-throughput disk drives, a variety of devices can use this low-cost interface for smooth, plug-and-play connectivity, so users don't have to worry too much about it.

The new USB 3.0 offers several enhancements while maintaining compatibility with USB 2.0:

Greatly improved bandwidth - up to 5Gbps full duplex (USB2.0 is 480Mbps half duplex)

Achieve better power management

Enables the host to provide more power to the device for USB—rechargeable batteries, LED lighting, and mini-fans.

Enables the host to recognize the device faster

New protocols make data processing more efficient

USB 3.0 can transfer large files (such as HD movies) at the storage rate defined by the storage device. For example, a USB 3.0 flash drive can transfer 1GB of data to a host in 15 seconds, while USB 2.0 takes 43 seconds.

Transmission rate

The actual transfer rate of this new ultra-high-speed interface is approximately 3.2Gbps (ie 409.6MB/s). The theoretical maximum rate is 5.0 Gbps (ie 640 MB/s).

data transmission

USB 3.0 introduces full-duplex data transmission. Two of the five lines are used to transmit data, two are used to receive data, and one is ground. In other words, USB 3.0 can read and write at full speed at the same time. Previous USB versions did not support full-duplex data transfer.