USB 3.x nomenclature is so STUPID

[rezwits]

Have you seen the "USB 3.0" wikipedia page?

I think we should all just get to grips with:

USB 3.0 = 2.5Gbit/s
USB 3.1 = 5.0Gbit/s
USB 3.2 = 10.0Gbit/s
then
USB 3.4, 3.5 whatever would be 20.0Gbit/s

They already say, "this standard 'replaces' this standard" etc...

All I know is when I look at my USB I goto system profiler and check for 2.5 or 5.0, I haven't seen 10.0 yet!

So to me it's like 3.0 (2.5) and 3.1 (5.0) DONE for now...

I know there are exceptions to everything even exceptions, but this is just about throughput and simplicity!

I mean if we want we can just say what is that, "it's only usb 2.5 thru, or it's usb 5.0 thru" eh

Laters...

 

[jerwin]

2.5 Gb/s doesn't exist as a tier. Maybe for some SATA variant.

USB 3.0 Superspeed is (up to) 5.0 Gbps
USB 3.1rev2 Superspeed+ is (up to) 10 Gbps

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/usb-31-usb-type-c-refresher,news-51106.html

 

[ZapNZs]

I'm not completely sure why the IF chose to proceed how they did. If anything, they made something more confusing than necessary, which is a little ironic given their most recent push has been to do away with much of the confusion!!!

Now, to many Consumers, USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 appear to be something different, when in fact it may be the same thing (if this is 5 Gbps 3.1 gen 1) or may be different (if it is 10 Gbps 3.1 gen 2).

Having two different revisions of USB 3.1, one of which was formally 3.0, has resulted in confusion as to which products support what speeds, with many products being branded as "USB 3.1" without specifying gen 1 vs gen 2, or 5 Gbps vs 10 Gbps.

To further add to the confusion, there is also the misconception that USB-C is somehow faster than USB-A, even though both can utilize the 2.0, 3.1 gen 1 (3.0), and 3.1 gen 2 protocols. Now, when a Maker sells a product, they may label the USB-C product as 3.1, while labeling the USB-A product as 3.0, when in reality both are using the same 5Gbps standard.

When USB 3.2 is released, it's going to make things insanely more confusing given there will be both 3.2 10 Gbps and 3.2 20 Gbps, both of which (IIRC) will be able to do this using existing cables labeled for 3.1 gen 1/2...

 

[rezwits]

^^ Gees, no-kidding, that's what I didn't even want to mention HAHA

I have yet to see a TRUE 10Gps (aka 3.1 gen2) in my profiler...

And to the other note, I have PCIe cards that come in at the 3.0 (2.5Gbps mark) 1 for a Mac Pro, and 1 is a PCIe for MacBook Pro 17" USB3 card.

But like I was saying

if you have a 3.0 at 5.0Gbps and 3.1 at 5.0Gbps, I mean the whole 3.x whatever means NOTHING.

All we care about is 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, or 20.0. And then it's like oh yeah 40.0 for TB3!

I don't even care what it shows, in profiler, it would be cool to see 3.1 show up, but for now if I see 5.0 I am happy.

Lagers...(Laters+Beer)

 

[g4cube]

And all that that USB-C connector guarantees is USB 2.0 performance.

Could be anything from that, all the way up to Thundetbolt-3.

Buyer beware. For cables and devices.

I just got a USB-C to 3-port adapter that is labeled with the USB-IF Superspeed+ 3.1 logo. Has USB Type A, HDMI, and USB-C pass-thru. Will have to see what it really will do. With my Chromebook and my Dell tablet. Apple device will have to wait until things settle down.

 

[rezwits]

Check this OUT, after reading more closely:

http://appleinsider.com/articles/17...than-05m-generally-dont-support-usb-31-speeds

If you get a 40Gbps Thunderbolt "Active" Type-C (both ends) Cable, it LOSES, USB 3.1 compatibiility!! (and I think that means like ALL USB capability). CRAZY!!

I saw these Type-C/USB31/Thunderbolt 3 cables, on Amazon boasting 20Gbps! TB3!! and I was like WHAT? Nah nah you gotta have 40 right?, but if you want ALL features, the highest you can go is 5/10/20 3.0/3.1/TB3, respectively.

So I guess those would be the cables you want?? If you want to settle for 20Gbps TB3!?

WoW...

oh side note, I guess you can get Passive 40 TB3 that are compatible with USB3.1 hmm still reading...

 

[apiro]

@rezwits, funnily enough you can get 40 Gbps in a passive (i. e. not losing USB compatibility) TB3 cable... but it can't be longer than 0.5m.