Differentiate USB 2.0 and USB 3.0

USB 3.0 is a faster USB standard and more energy efficient than USB 2.0. USB 3.0 is backward compatible with USB 2.0 devices. However, data transfer speeds will be limited to USB 2.0 speeds when USB 3.0 interacts with USB 2.0 because USB 2.0 has lower speeds. In 2014, a new USB 3.1 standard was announced and is expected to be released by the end of 2015.

1. Comparison table USB 2.0 and USB 3.0

USB 2.0 USB 3.0 criteria Launched July 2000 November 2008 High Speed ​​Speed ​​(HS) 480 Mbps (Mb / s) 10 times the speed of USB 2.0. Super Speed ​​(SS), 4.8 Gb / s Signal transmission mechanism The interrogation mechanism in turn means that you can send or receive data   (Half duplex - half duplex) Synchronization means that you can send and receive data simultaneously (Full duplex - full duplex) USB 2.0 prices are cheaper than USB 3.0 USB 3.0 is more expensive than USB 2.0 Number of cables 4 9 Standard connection A Blue gray Standard connection B Smaller size There are more spaces for wires

2. What is USB 3.0 and USB 2.0?

Developed in the 1990s, Universal Serial Bus or USB for short, is a wired connection standard in computers. USB used for the purpose of connecting devices (phones, tablets, cameras, camcorders, music players) to computers. Devices such as smartphones, PDAs, tablets, and portable gaming devices (like PS3, PSP, etc.) can connect to a computer with a USB port.

Released ten years ago in 2008, USB 3.0 is the third official version of the USB standard. It upgraded USB 2.0, released in 2000 and a relatively slow transfer rate of 480 Mbit / s. USB 2.0 can load 500 mA power at 5V voltage. USB 3.0 has significantly more power load than USB 2.0, up to 900 MA at 5V voltage and 5 Gigabit / sec data transfer (Gbit / s). And more than 5 years later, in 2014, USB 3.1 was announced and is expected to be released by the end of 2015.

3. What is USB 3.1?

USB 3.1 generation 1

USB 3.1 Gen 1 (USB 3.1 Gen 1) is similar to USB 3.0. In fact, with the release of USB 3.1 Gen 1, all USB 3.0 ports have been renamed to USB 3.1 Gen 1. Therefore, the existing cables and devices now support USB 3.1 Gen 1. Standard This made some changes like the USB Type C connector on the new MacBook Pro.

Although there is a new name, the ability to transfer data and download power remains the same as USB 3.0. USB 3.1 Gen 1 supports speeds up to 5 Gbit / s or 625 MB / s and loads power up to 900 mA at 5V voltage. The USB 3.1 Gen 1 connector looks like a USB 3.0 A connector, in blue on the inside. Unlike Gen 2, Gen 1 has more than one type of connector. It has a bulky Type B connector (also known as a bulky printer) as well as a thin Micro-B connector. These ports are not capable of supporting all USB 3.1 Gen 2 power supplies.

2nd generation USB 3.1

This standard was released in July 2013, USB 3.1 Gen 2 has a transfer rate of 5 Gbit / s like USB 3.1 Gen 1 and allows a maximum speed of up to 10 Gbit / s (1.25 GB / S). Gen 2 also has the ability to load higher power, 5000 mA at 20V voltage via USB Type C connector.

Only USB Type C connectors can fully handle Gen 2's power and bandwidth. However, it also has a short cable length. In addition, devices and cables support newer, less popular Gen 2 standards.

Something about USB Type C (USB-C)

USB Type C (USB-C) is not only a connection port but also a USB standard. Although the structure of the connection port makes some of the features of USB 3.1 Gen 2 more excellent, it does not determine the transfer rate and the ability to load the power, instead you can use the device. on both ends of the cable to determine this information. But because the documents are not specifically stated, some buyers often use USB 3.1 with USB-C. However, if you buy quality cable with USB Type C connector on both ends, it will support all features of USB 3.1 Gen 2.

USB-C is an impressive connection port. It replaces all previous connection ports, creating a popular, robust connection, capable of transmitting up to 5,000 mA at a safe voltage of 20V.

4. USB 3.0 has more outstanding features than USB 2.0

1. Transfer rate: USB 2.0 has a transfer rate of 480 Mb / s and USB 3.0 has a transfer rate of 4.8 Gb / s - 10 times faster than USB 2.0 .

1. Additional number of wires: The number of wires in USB 3.0 doubles, from 4 wires to 8 strings. Additional wires need more space in both the cable and connection, so new connection types have been designed.

1. Power consumption: USB 2.0 provides 500 mA while USB 3.0 provides up to 900 mA. USB 3.0 devices provide more power when needed and save energy when the device is connected but not working.

1. Multiple bandwidths: Instead of processing data in one way, USB 3.0 uses two one-way data paths, one to receive data and one to transmit data while USB 2.0 can only process data. in one direction.

1. New feature: A new feature has been added on USB 3.0 (using NRDY and ERDY packages) to inform a device that is not in sync with the server.

When data is transferred via USB 3.0 device, cable, and connection, the server sends a request to select how to connect devices. These devices may be accepted for connection or ejects (removed).

If accepted, the device will send data or receive data from the server.

If there is no buffer or data space, it will respond with a Not Ready signal (NRDY) - signal to indicate that the server cannot process the request. When the device is ready, it sends an Endpoint Ready (ERDY) to the host that will then redo the connections.

5. Differentiate USB 2.0 and USB 3.0

Usually USB 2.0 standard pins are black, and USB 3.0 standard pins are blue.

From left to right: Micro USB Type AB, Micro USB Type B, USB 2.0 Type A, USB 2.0 Type B, USB 3.0 Type A, USB 3.0 Type B, USB 3.0 Type Micro B, Mini USB Type A

6. Backward compatibility

USB 3.0 standard is backward compatible with USB 2.0 standard. However, the speed is limited because the USB 2.0 port has lower speed.

However, USB 3.0 type B will not be compatible with USB 2.0 and devices using USB 2.0 standards. This means that USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 standard peripherals cannot be connected on USB 3.0 type B standards, although the USB 2.0 standard can be used to connect to USB 3.0 standard devices if is within the USB 2.0 standard speed range.

7. Price

In terms of price, USB 3.0 is much more expensive than USB 2.0.

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Having fun!