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USB 3.2 specs published by USB Implementers Forum

by Mark Tyson on 29 September 2017, 10:01

Tags: USB Implementers Forum

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The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) have released the specifications for USB 3.2. The headlining change delivered by this new spec is two-lane operation using existing USB Type-C cables to provide maximum data transfer speeds to 2GBps (yes, gigabytes per second, not gigabits).

Back in July we got advance notice that the USB 3.2 specification would double USB Type-C bandwidth, and that has now been set in stone with the publication of the standard. The main change is, as mentioned in the intro but in other words, that the original USB standard was a single lane solution but USB 3.2 provides dual-lanes.

The advance notice published in July by the USB 3.0 Promoter Group shares word-for-word the same bullet pointed advantages delivered by USB 3.2, as follows:

  • Two-lane operation using existing USB Type-C cables
  • Continued use of existing SuperSpeed USB physical layer data rates and encoding techniques
  • Minor update to hub specification to address increased performance and assure seamless transitions between single and two-lane operation

It is noted that, as you would expect, to obtain the full benefit of this performance increase, a new USB 3.2 host must be used with a new USB 3.2 device and the appropriate certified USB Type-C cable (a SuperSpeed+ USB 10Gbps-certified cable).

One other good thing about USB 3.2 coming along is that it delivers a clear, easy to recognise, update over the multiple USB 3.X product mix we already have available - USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1, USB 3.1 Gen 2, and USB Type-C.



HEXUS Forums :: 10 Comments

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USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 Gen 1 is exactly the same thing or protocol, to be precise. Thanks for that confusion, USB IF!

Not confusing, on the other hand is USB Type C, which is a connector and enables fun stuff like the DisplayPort and ThunderBolt alternate modes. AFAIK, when it comes to “goold old” USB data transfer USB Type A, which still the most common connector, can do USB 3.1 Gen 2 just as well.

Oh, and I almost forgot USB PD for power delivery.

As I see it the main boon of USB 3.2 is that it does away with the USB Type A connector. And the added speed, of course.
Oh how we all love .x updates to specifications….. I really wish the people responsible for specs would look a little more to the future of what it might need rather than having to do these tiny incremental updates that should have been there to start with….
LSG501
Oh how we all love .x updates to specifications….. I really wish the people responsible for specs would look a little more to the future of what it might need rather than having to do these tiny incremental updates that should have been there to start with….

That would be the way to make sure that specifications never get released as they are never good enough and the world evolves as fast as the spec can try and track it so the spec can never catch up.

“The best is the enemy of the good”, Voltaire worked out that chasing perfection is seldom worth it, some things are unchanging across the centuries.
Type C only, nice hopefully this will push board manufacturers to add more Type C ports.
DanceswithUnix
That would be the way to make sure that specifications never get released as they are never good enough and the world evolves as fast as the spec can try and track it so the spec can never catch up.
I'd personally rather have a delay than have 3 different 3.x specs floating around at the same time…. and it's not like anything they're adding couldn't have been foreseen with a small bit of thinking ahead…. it's not hard to realise that more speed is always useful so ‘over spec that’ to start with and arguably the same goes for ‘multi lane operation’ which is kind of way everything is going on the pc at the moment when trying to get more performance etc.