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The fastest interface currently available is Thunderbolt 3 with a data transfer rate of 40 Gbps. USB-IF recently released a new USB standard, USB4.

The already chaotic USB interface standard has become even more chaotic. Not to mention newbies, even our professional editors will be deceived if we don't pay attention to them. It is difficult to defend against buying inexpensive products at high prices.

What's new in USB 4?

USB4 absorbs Thunderbolt 3 protocol and reaches speeds of up to 40Gbps, double that of just-released USB3.2 Gen2X2 protocol, which has no physical application.

Unlike common USB standards, Thunderbolt 3 uses a PCIe 3.0 x4 link, which has more bandwidth and can support external graphics cards, external monitors, etc. function.

At same time, new interface will inherit excellent tradition of backward compatibility, old USB standard (U-disk, keyboard, mouse, USB headset and other devices can be connected through Typc-C interface).

Summarizing characteristics of USB 4: 1. High bandwidth 40 Gbps (dual channel). 2. Access to 100W power supply. 3. Compatible with old USB standards. 4. Ability to transmit 4K 60P image

Comparison of different USB standards

In order not to be a chore, we need to have some understanding of various USB interface specifications. So far, our USB interface standards have gone through many generations of development from USB1.0 to current USB4.

At present, USB2.0-USB3.1Gen2 standard is commonly used. We can say that since USB3.0, speed of our USB interface has changed significantly.

The USB interface was introduced in 1994. At time, interface standards across industry were pretty chaotic. At time, many manufacturers such as Intel offered interface standards to replace serial ports such as RS-232 and RS-485. and parallel ports such as EPP.

The USB standard was upgraded to USB1.1 in 1998, greatly increasing transfer speed from 1.5Mbps to 12Mbps (1.5MB/s).

After 1998, storage capacity of a large number of devices began to increase rapidly. USB1.1 12Mbps can no longer meet transmission needs of large capacity devices, and USB2.0 480Mbps standard was also born in line with times.

In 2008, our USB interface introduced 3.0 standard (5 Gbps). The blue interface allows you to distinguish new interface from old one at a glance.

Even though USB3.0 standard has been around for a decade, not all USB ports on our computers are still USB3.0 compliant, let alone USB3.1 Gen2 or even USB3.2 (USB3 .2 and USB4). The standard must be supported by Type-C interface, but this does not mean that Type-C interface can be called USB 3.2 and USB4 interface).

One thing we need to note is that not all blue ports are 10 Gb/s, USB3.0 is very ambiguous, and not all Type-C ports are USB3.2 or USB4 compliant.

Since introduction of USB3.0 standard, a very chaotic scene has emerged, and it is chaos that is reason for success of a business routine.

Standard chaotic interface - beginning of a business routine

A well-known incident among consumers who have taken advantage of standards confusion is this: when Apple Macbook was released in early days, it claimed that its USB Type-C interface is USB3.1 standard, but everyone found that speed of this interface is not complies with USB 3.1 10Gb/s standard, 5Gb/s only.

As a result, everyone in official logo says it's USB 3.1 Gen1, which is actually a USB 3.0 vest.

These producers really know how to play. Since Apple did it, let everyone do it. USB 3.1 sounds good and consumers love it. As a result, many consumers have not noticed that there is no difference between USB 3.1 Gen1 and USB 3.0.

Then USB-IF wanted to standardize standard (I always feel it's convenient for manufacturers to fool around like this), and now USB 3.0 is no longer in USB-IF specification and is being replaced by USB 3.1 Gen1, 10 Gbps is USB 3.1 Gen2.

Of course, this is not first time that USB-IF organization has screwed up:

When USB 1.1 standard was introduced in 1998, USB 1.1 standard included previous version of USB 1.0 under name USB 1.1, and USB 1.0 was officially renamed USB 1.1 Low Speed, and USB 1.1 standard at 12 Mbps was known as USB1.1 High Speed.

With release of USB2.0 standard, previous 12Mbps USB1.1 and 1.5Mbps USB1.0 have been incorporated into USB2.0 standard, and high-speed USB1.1 has been renamed USB2. .0 Full Speed, 480Mbps USB2.0 is called USB2.0 High Speed.

So it's hard to say if advent of USB4 interface will allow previous USB 3.2 or even USB 3.1 to be included in USB 4 standard.

Extension: USB-IF is a non-profit organization, a platform created to promote application of USB technology and specifications. USB-if facilitates development of high-quality, carefully controlled compatible USB devices through logo authorization and certification, and simplifies certification testing in favor of developingUSB cable.

There are a lot of USB 3.1 labeled U disks and data cables on market these days, and it doesn't tell you if they're Gen1 or Gen2.

Then how can you tell if this product is a USB3.1 USB 3.0 vest or a true USB 3.1 Gen2? Now there are two main methods: look at speed, continuous read speed of a standard USB 3.1 Gen2 USB flash drive should exceed 500MB / s.

Looking at price, current basic price of real USB 3.1 Gen1 product on market is 350 RMB/128GB. If it is Gen2 standard, price may double.

As an example, if you want to transfer a 5 GB movie file to your mobile storage device, USB 3.1 Gen1 will theoretically take no more than 10 seconds, but if you're using USB 3.1 Gen2, it will only take 4.13 seconds. , Theoretically, USB3.1 is more than twice as fast.

Actually, speed will not be as fast due to impact of storage particles and other factors, but we need to know that USB interface can be used not only to connect storage devices, then we need to know about new interface - USB Type interface -C, as a result, advent of this USB Type-C interface has led to a more chaotic choice for us now and more and more seller routine.

The appearance of USB Type-C interface is even more chaotic

We used to be able to distinguish between them by different standards. As a result, appearance of USB Type-C completely confused us, because Thunderbolt 3 transmission protocol was originally carried on USB Type-C interface, so many people in my opinion USB Type-C is a high-speed interface.

But in fact, USB Type-C is just an interface, it can be equipped with various transfer protocols, and even if desired, it can only be used to carry USB1.0 (only 192Kb/s transfer rate) transfer protocol.

In beginning, all USB3.0, USB 3.1 Gen1, and USB 3.1 Gen2 ports were blue Type A ports, and other port was based on needs of connected devices. With advent of USB Type-C interface, whole market has become even more chaotic.

USB Type-C was originally created for USB 3.2 (20Gbps transfer rate), and to implement USB 3.2 standard, connected devices must be USB Type-C.

It is also valued for its Thunderbolt transmission protocol due to its advantages such as multi-pin. The Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) transmission protocol can be transmitted over USB Type-C interface, which also creates a high class character. and high-speed USB Type-C. Today, USB 4 The standard also inherits Type-C interface, and now data transfer interface is unified Type-C.

However, some mobile phone and PC manufacturers use USB Type-A on one end and USB Type-C on other, and they report that using Type-C interface can provide faster data transfer and charging speed that their products mobile phone PC can get these BUFF bonuses with USB Type-C, and many consumers don't understand these procedures.

I've even seen some motherboard manufacturers equip Type-C interface on motherboard, but it's USB 3.1 Gen1, which is pretty misleading.

Overview

So I want to remind everyone that having a USB Type-C interface does not necessarily mean having a high-speed Thunderbolt 3/USB4 interface. We still need to pay attention when buying products.

We all know that Thunderbolt 3/USB4 standard is twice as fast as a simple USB Type-C interface, it can also transmit video signals and even charge faster. The beginning of unification of device interfaces.

However, USB-IF has a dark history of incorporating old USB standards into new ones.

When USB 1.1 standard was introduced in 1998, USB 1.1 standard included previous version of USB 1.0 under name USB 1.1, and USB 1.0 was officially renamed USB 1.1 Low Speed, and USB 1.1 standard at 12 Mbps was known as USB1.1 High Speed.

With release of USB2.0 standard, previous 12Mbps USB1.1 and 1.5Mbps USB1.0 have been incorporated into USB2.0 standard, and high-speed USB1.1 has been renamed USB2. .0 Full Speed, 480Mbps USB2.0 is called USB2.0 High Speed.

After advent of USB3.1 standard, 5Gb/s USB3.0 has been renamed USB 3.1 Gen1, and 10Gb/s USB3.1 has been renamed USB 3.1 Gen2.

So I wouldn't be surprised if USB-IF integrates old 20 Gigabit USB 3.2 into USB 4. Even if some manufacturer gets tricky again, it's not impossible to rename USB 3.1 to USB 4 Full Speed.

Confusion in data interface and confusion in transmission standards makes it very easy for some manufacturers to fish in troubled waters, imitate ambiguous descriptions, exaggerated promotional words, and easily buy inexpensive products at a high price. Prices.

When you buy a product, you should carefully read product's detailed specifications and avoid tragedy of wasting money on things that aren't good enough.