USB 3.0 FAQ Sheet
What is USB 3.0?
USB 3.0, also known as SuperSpeed™ USB, is the latest generation of USB (Universal Serial Bus)
technology, which has standardized peripheral connectivity since 1996. It operates at speeds up
to 5 Gbps.
How fast is USB 3.0 compared to USB 2.0 and other technologies?
USB 3.0 is 10x faster than USB 2.0 technology. It is 67% faster than eSATA and 25x faster than
standard WiFi.
What are the main benets of USB 3.0 compared to USB 2.0?
USB 3.0 offers 3 major benets over USB 2.0:
1. USB 3.0 transfers data ten times faster, resulting in greater productivity and user
satisfaction.
2. USB 3.0 has improved power efciency, which delivers longer battery life for laptops,
tablets and peripherals connected via USB 3.0.
3. USB 3.0 has increased power output, which lets users power and charge more devices,
more quickly, without the need for an external power source.
What are the major technical changes that enable these benets?
The increased data throughput speed is achieved through the addition of two wires to the bus,
enabling bi-directional data transfer and the ability to read and write data simultaneously.
Additionally, a new interrupt-based data signaling method replaces device polling for a further
boost in speed.
This interrupt-based data signaling also eliminates the power drain associated with USB 2.0,
delivering enhanced power efciency and a preservation of battery life for laptops, tablets and
virtually any peripheral connected via USB 3.0. Legacy 2.0 devices also benet from this feature,
which is backward compatible with USB 2.0 devices.
Will current USB 2.0 products work with the new USB 3.0 ports?
Yes, the ports are compatible; however, the devices will connect at the lower USB 2.0 speed of
480 Mbps.
Is USB 3.0 available in laptops today?
Yes, most major brands of laptop computers (HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc.) are now shipping products
with integrated USB 3.0.
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USB 3.0
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