USB 3.0
USB 3.0 can trace its practical lineage back to Intel Developer Forum 2007, where Pat Gelsinger demonstrated a prototype version running at 3.2Gbps.No truly integrated support until 2011?
The specification's been completed for over a year now, but widespread support will only occur once Microsoft and Intel/AMD integrate the software stack and controllers into the PC ecosystem. We doubt that will happen before 2011, as far as Intel is concerned, so motherboard manufacturers wishing to tout USB 3.0 technology need to look elsewhere for the host controller and drivers if installing for Windows-based machines. The Linux kernel has already been updated to support USB 3.0, though.
Industry heavyweights ASUS and Gigabyte have both announced Intel P55-based motherboards with USB 3.0 support, split between original models that were bundled with add-in cards and a newer breed with PCB-integrated support on the motherboard, as per the ASUS P7PP55D-E range.
Competition
USB 3.0 isn't the only ultra-high-speed connectivity on the horizon. FireWire S3200 is the logical competitor, although shipping products are few and far between, and Light Peak appears to have a rosy future if Intel can push it to the multimedia crowd.
One fits all
Pragmatically, USB 3.0 remains the best bet for the PC user who wants super-fast transfers to external peripherals. The cables can be longer than USB 2.0 and the plugs, fitted with nine pins instead of four, are designed to be backward-compatible because the controller aspect is wholly removed from USB 2.0's. What this means is that any USB 2.0 device plugged into a USB 3.0 host will be agnostic of its presence.
In summary, USB 3.0 will provide more speed (and power) over longer cable-runs than incumbent USB 2.0. It's needed because external hard drives, especially SSDs, can easily sate the bandwidth provided by USB 2.0. Right now, though, availability is based on companies integrating ASICs from the likes of NEC and Texas Instruments into products.
