• Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
Flyy Tech
  • Home
  • Apple
  • Applications
    • Computers
    • Laptop
    • Microsoft
  • Security
  • Smartphone
  • Gaming
  • Entertainment
    • Literature
    • Cooking
    • Fitness
    • lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nature
    • Podcasts
    • Travel
    • Vlogs
  • Camera
  • Audio
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Apple
  • Applications
    • Computers
    • Laptop
    • Microsoft
  • Security
  • Smartphone
  • Gaming
  • Entertainment
    • Literature
    • Cooking
    • Fitness
    • lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nature
    • Podcasts
    • Travel
    • Vlogs
  • Camera
  • Audio
No Result
View All Result
Flyy Tech
No Result
View All Result

USB 3.2 and 3.1 Explained: What’s Gen 1, Gen 2 and Gen 2×2?

flyytech by flyytech
September 22, 2022
Home Computers
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


While USB 4 may be the latest and fastest generation, the most common USB ports on PCs and peripherals have a “3” in the version number, specifically USB 3.2 or USB 3.1 or even 3.0. When you’re looking at spec sheets, you’ll also also see generation numbers after the USB 3.2 or 3.1 so, for example, there’s USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 3.2 Gen 2 and even USB 3.2 Gen 2×2. And yet some ports with different version numbers actually have the same speed! Confused yet?

Fortunately, when you get past all the confusing decimals and generation numbers, it’s easy to determine what speeds you can expect from your USB ports, cables and devices. You just need to know the lingo, which we outline below. 

USB 3.2, USB 3.1 and USB 3.0 Versions and Speeds
USB Version Speed Altenrate Name Connector Type(s) Identical to
USB 3.2 Gen 1 5 Gbps SuperSpeed USB Type-A, Type-C, Type-B, Micro USB 3.1 Gen 1, USB 3.0
USB 3.2 Gen 2 / Gen 2×1 10 Gbps SuperSpeed+ USB 10 Gbps Type-A, Type-C USB 3.1 Gen 2
USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20 Gbps SuperSpeed+ USB 20 Gbps Type-C N/A
USB 3.1 Gen 1 5 Gbps SuperSpeed USB Type-A, Type-C, Type-B, Micro USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 3.0
USB 3.1 Gen 2 10 Gbps SuperSpeed+ USB 10 Gbps Type-A, Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2
USB 3.0 5 Gbps SuperSpeed USB Type-A, Type-C, Type-B, Micro USB 3.1 Gen 1, USB 3.2 Gen 1

USB 3.2 vs USB 3.1 and USB 3.0: What’s the Difference?

The version numbers are confusing and don’t mean much as USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1 and USB 3.2 Gen 1 are all interchangeable and operate at 5 Gbps while USB 3.1 Gen 2 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 are the same, operating at 10 Gbps. 

In fact, the USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum), which creates the standards, has told us several times that it would prefer manufacturers not to use these version numbers at all and instead list their products as either SuperSpeed, SuperSpeed 10 Gbps or SuperSpeed 20 Gbps or as just USB 5 Gbps, USB 10 Gbps and USB 20 Gbps. 

SuperSpeed USB

(Image credit: USB-IF)

If you are a vendor and pay for your product to be officially certified by the USB-IF, something many vendors skip, the organization even has a set of logos it would like to see you use.

USB Certification Logos

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

However, despite the USB-IF’s desires, we still see most PC vendors listing their ports as USB 3.2 or USB 3.1, without necessarily telling you what to expect from them. The spec sheets may not even list a generation number, though if they don’t, you should assume that it’s Gen 1 (5 Gbps).

The different USB 3.x version numbers exist purely because the number has been iterated with each speed advancement. In 2008, the USB 3.0 standard launched, bringing USB up to 5 Gbps, a huge leap from the 480 Mbps speed of USB 2.0, and for many years that was as fast as USB could go. In fact, even today, the vast majority of USB ports and products don’t go beyond 5 Gbps nor do you need them to. Many peripherals don’t even need to go beyond USB 2.0.

In 2013, USB-IF announced that it was taking USB up to 10 Gbps and, in doing so, changed the version number for all USB 3.x products. So USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) became USB 3.1 Gen 1 and the new, 10 Gbps speed became USB 3.1 Gen 2.

In 2017, the organization rolled out a 20 Gbps speed for USB 3.x devices. In honor of the new speed, the version number changed for all speeds so the 5 Gbps speed became USB 3.2 Gen 1 and the 10 Gbps speed became USB 3.2 Gen 2 and the 20 Gbps speed became USB 3.2 Gen 2×2. 

The 20 Gbps speed is called USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, because it uses two 10 Gbps lanes to give you the 20 Gbps speed. Would it have been less confusing if they called it USB 3.2 Gen 3? Who knows?

There’s also a lesser-used version called USB 3.2 Gen 1×2, which is 10 Gbps and nearly identical to USB 3.2 Gen 2. The difference is that, while USB 3.2 Gen 2 has a single, 10 Gbps data lane, USB 3.2 Gen 1×2 uses two 5 Gbps lanes to get to its 10 Gbps total. That shouldn’t matter to you as an end user, but you may see the USB 3.2 Gen 1×2 terminology.

What Kind of Connectors Do USB 3.2 and USB 3.1 Use?

USB 3.2 / 3.1 / 3.0 B Connectors

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Both the 5 Gbps and 10 Gbps speeds are available with either USB Type-A or USB Type-C connectors. USB Type-A ports have the traditional, rectangular connectors that can only be inserted one way. USB Type-C ports are smaller, oval-shaped and reversible. Despite the fact that USB Type-C is extremely common on laptops and phones, many modern desktops don’t ship with even one USB Type-C port.

USB-C and USB Type-A

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Though not very common, you’ll also find USB 3.x cables with Type-B connectors, the kind of square connector used mostly to connect to printers and USB hubs.

USB 3.2 / 3.1 / 3.0 B Connector

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

And there are also some SuperSpeed micro USB connectors. However, these SuperSpeed Type-B and micro USB connectors are larger than regular Type-B and micro connectors so are not backwards compatible.

Micro USB 3 connector

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

So, if you’re wondering what kind of wires or adapters you need for a port, the version number alone won’t tell you that. A USB 3.2 Gen 1 or USB 3.2 Gen 2 port or the USB 3.1 equivalents could have either type of connector.

However, if you are using USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps), you will definitely be using USB Type-C. The Type-A ports cap out at 10 Gbps. Also, though rare, the USB 3.2 Gen 1×2 (also 10 Gbps) can only use Type-C.

What Colors are USB 3.2 / USB 3.1 Ports?

USB 3.0 / 3.1 / 3.2 5 Gbps Ports Are Often Blue

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The USB-IF does not mandate that USB ports have to be any particular color. However, a blue port is usually 5 Gbps, which means that it’s SuperSpeed USB (aka USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 3.1 Gen 1 or USB 3.0). Some manufacturers now use red USB ports to include SuperSpeed 10 Gbps USB (aka USB 3.2 Gen 2 or USB 3.1 Gen 2).

USB 3.2 Gen 2 Ports in Red

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

However, it’s also possible that ports will just be black, which doesn’t indicate anything at all. Your best bet for determining speeds is look at the spec sheet for any device, whether it’s a USB hub, an SSD or a motherboard.

What Cables Do You Need for USB 3.2 / USB 3.1?

USB Cables

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

As with all things USB, USB 3.2 and USB 3.1 are backward compatible with older USB standards. So, if you use a USB 2.0 device or cable and plug it into a USB 3.2 port, you’ll get a connection but at the speed of the slowest link in the chain (in this case 480 Mbps). 

If you have a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port and want to take advantage of its 10 Gbps speed, look for a cable that supports 10 Gbps (it could be USB 3.2 Gen 2 or USB 3.1 Gen 2) and a peripheral that does the same. If you want to get 20 Gbps speeds, all three pieces: the port, the peripheral and the cable, must support that speed.

What Can I Do with USB 3.2 or USB 3.1?

USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 3.1 Gen 1 run at up to 5 Gbps speeds, which in and of itself, is more than most peripherals require on their own. Wired mice and keyboards, even those with high polling rates, don’t even max out the USB 2.0’s 480 Mbps limit. However, some of the best webcams, require USB 3.2 / 3.1 / 3.0 connectivity, especially when they’re delivering 30 fps at 2K or 4K resolutions.

The Dell Ultrasharp Webcam Uses USB 3.0 / 3.1 / 3.2

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

If you’re using a USB hub, you’ll want at least a 5 Gbps connection, because all of the peripherals connected to that hub will be sharing that bandwidth. So, if you have a mouse, a keyboard and a webcam all plugged into the same hub, they will definitely need at least the 5 Gbps that USB 3.2 Gen 1 / USB 3.1 Gen 1 provides.

Monitors or docking stations that use DisplayLink technology, which allows your computer to output video over a standard USB Type-A port, often require 5 Gbps speeds. 

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, external SSDs and hard drives need at least USB 3.2 / 3.1 / 3.0 speeds. The fastest external SSDs or SSD enclosures can operate at USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) or USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps), though the 10 Gbps speed is far more common and cheaper. 

In a quick search of Amazon, we found an M.2 NVMe USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 enclosure for $68 (opens in new tab) and USB 3.2 Gen 2 enclosure for just $28 (opens in new tab).

How Much Power Do USB 3.2 and USB 3.1 Offer?

The USB 3.2 / USB 3.1 / USB 3.0 standards are only specked for 5 Volts and 900ma for a very unimpressive total of 4.5 watts. That’s a hair better than USB 2.0 which caps out at 2.5-watts, but not enough to charge a modern smartphone or tablet very quickly. Also consider that 4.5 watts is the maximum so an individual USB 3.2, Type-A port on a laptop or desktop may not even deliver that much.

USB Power Standards
Standard Port Type Max Watts Max Amps Volts
USB 3.2 / 3.1 / 3.0 USB-A, USB-B 4.5W 900mA 5V
USB Power Delivery (PD) USB-C Only 240W 5A 5V, 9V, 15V, 20V, 28V, 36V, 48V
USB Battery Charging (BC) USB-A, USB-C 7.5W 1.5A 5V
USB-C (non PD) USB-C 15W 3A 5V
USB 2.0 USB-A, USB-B, micro USB 2.5W 500mA 5V

But it’s important to remember that the charging standards a port supports and the USB version number are not necessarily related. Many chargers and hubs use different charging standards that allow them to go well above the USB 2.0 or USB 3. limits. Those that use USB Battery Charging (USB BC) can deliver up to 7.5 watts over a Type-A port. And then there are third-party standards like Qualcomm Quick Charge that go to 18 watts and beyond. 

If you’re using a USB Type-C cable and port, the charger / host device could support USB Power Delivery (USB PD), which can go as high as 240 watts in some cases. But the wattage has nothing to do with data speeds as a USB 2.0 port could have power delivery while a USB 3.2 port might not.

Video Over USB 3.2 / USB 3.1

Technically speaking, neither USB 3.2 nor USB 3.1 by itself can deliver video. Using DisplayLink technology, one can convert and compress video into USB data that goes out to a specially-enabled hub or portable monitor. However, few people today use DisplayLink devices.

Many of the best ultrabooks and best graphics cards have USB Type-C ports that support “alt mode,” which means that the USB cable and port can deliver data using a protocol that’s not part of the USB spec. In many cases, that protocol is DisplayPort  1.2, 1.3 or 1.4, which can then connect your computer to a monitor or TV. However, just because a port supports USB 3.2 or even USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 that does not mean it will necessarily support alt mode.



Source_link

flyytech

flyytech

Next Post
Malicious NPM Package Caught Mimicking Material Tailwind CSS Package

Malicious NPM Package Caught Mimicking Material Tailwind CSS Package

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended.

Russian Turla Hackers Hijack Decade-Old Malware Infrastructure to Deploy New Backdoors

Russian Turla Hackers Hijack Decade-Old Malware Infrastructure to Deploy New Backdoors

January 8, 2023
The future of mobility is now: Five themes to watch at CES 2023

The future of mobility is now: Five themes to watch at CES 2023

January 9, 2023

Trending.

Image Creator now live in select countries for Microsoft Bing and coming soon in Microsoft Edge

Image Creator now live in select countries for Microsoft Bing and coming soon in Microsoft Edge

October 23, 2022
Review: Zoom ZPC-1

Review: Zoom ZPC-1

January 28, 2023
Allen Parr’s false teaching examined. Why you should unfollow him.

Allen Parr’s false teaching examined. Why you should unfollow him.

September 24, 2022
Elden Ring best spells 1.08: Tier lists, sorceries, incantations, and locations

Elden Ring best spells 1.08: Tier lists, sorceries, incantations, and locations

January 14, 2023
How to View Ring Doorbell on a Roku TV

How to View Ring Doorbell on a Roku TV

December 20, 2022

Flyy Tech

Welcome to Flyy Tech The goal of Flyy Tech is to give you the absolute best news sources for any topic! Our topics are carefully curated and constantly updated as we know the web moves fast so we try to as well.

Follow Us

Categories

  • Apple
  • Applications
  • Audio
  • Camera
  • Computers
  • Cooking
  • Entertainment
  • Fitness
  • Gaming
  • Laptop
  • lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Microsoft
  • Music
  • Podcasts
  • Review
  • Security
  • Smartphone
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Vlogs

Site Links

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Recent News

Malicious ChatGPT Chrome Extension Hijacks Facebook Accounts

Malicious ChatGPT Chrome Extension Hijacks Facebook Accounts

March 26, 2023
DPA Offers New 2012 and 2015 Pencil Microphones for the Stage

DPA Offers New 2012 and 2015 Pencil Microphones for the Stage

March 26, 2023

Copyright © 2022 Flyytech.com | All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Apple
  • Applications
    • Computers
    • Laptop
    • Microsoft
  • Security
  • Smartphone
  • Gaming
  • Entertainment
    • Literature
    • Cooking
    • Fitness
    • lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nature
    • Podcasts
    • Travel
    • Vlogs

Copyright © 2022 Flyytech.com | All Rights Reserved.

What Are Cookies
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT