We seem to be on the verge of seeing a new generation of USB port ( USB 4 ).
According to some leaks, the USB 4 technical specifications give way to high-speed USB connections. So much so that we can now compare it with Intel's Thunderbolt 3 port, which is known to offer high transfer speeds compared to previous generations of USB.
In this article, we will discuss with you more details about the USB 4 port and its new technology. And what sets it apart from previous USB versions.
What's new with USB 4 ?
Comparing the new USB 4 to Thunderbolt 3 is no exaggeration at all. In fact, Intel shared the Thunderbolt protocol with the USB Promoter suite, which in turn brought TB3 capabilities to the USB 4 specification.For information purposes, the USB Promoter Group is an industrial organization charged with developing USB interface specifications in terms of their characteristics and capabilities, while the USB Implementers Forum is a huge gathering of more than 700 technology companies whose aim is to develop and adopt USB technology in the products of its member companies.
When new USB 4 technology begins to appear in the various devices we use in our daily lives, it promises transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps per second. This is twice the current maximum speed of USB 3.2 Gen 2 × 2 and faster than the previous generations.
As with other versions of USB, USB 4 will maintain integration with both USB 2.0 and also USB 3.2, and in some cases, these USB 4 ports will work with devices and equipment supporting Thunderbolt 3 as well.
Although it sounds like a good upgrade in the tech world, the truth is full of complexities, and USB4 may not be much different from the previous one. So let's discuss it more closely below.
USB 4 Supports multiple speeds
Unlike in previous versions of USB, USB 4 will not be just one standard that works the same way on all different devices - it will come in two different speeds: besides the maximum speed of 40Gbps, there is also a 20Gbps speed. Per second, plus a third option at 10 Gbps. All these speeds come out of one USB 4 port depending on the connected devices.But according to the USB Implementers Forum, these different speeds are just a way to support backward compatibility. In other words, don't expect USB-enabled devices to see a future limited to lower speed.
It is currently unclear what major speeds the USB 4 port will appear when it is released. But to reduce the ado on the names of USBs, USB4 will be called 40Gbps as Gen 3 × 2, and 20Gbps Gen 2 × 2.
These are terms that manufacturers use to distinguish port speeds and are not something you'll see in your local computer store. The USB Implementers Forum says it will focus on making the names for USB 4 clearly indicate performance levels for the general consumer.
This is good news because the current names with the USB 3.2 port are quite confusing, they come with the names Gen 1, Gen 2 and Gen 2 × 2, which puts the non-professional user in a confusing situation when you have to choose between them.
USB 4 is Compatibile with older versions
As we all expect, USB 4 will be backward compatible, specifically, the USB 2.0 port above. This means that if you have an external backup storage based on the USB 2.0 port, you can still connect it via the new USB 4 port. But to achieve this, you will need a normal USB to USB Type-C adapter.Also keep in mind that your existing USB Type-C cables won't be good enough to work on USB 4. Any yes you will still support old speeds, but if you want to see an increase in the transfer rate, you'll need USB Type-C cables Qualified and new equipment.
Integration with Thunderbolt 3 ports
In addition to backward compatibility with USB versions, the USB Implementers Forum revealed that the new USB 4 port will also be compatible with Intel Thunderbolt 3 technology, which also uses Type-C connectors. This makes sense, do not forget that USB 4 already includes the specification of TB3.However, it should be noted that Thunderbolt 3 support is not mandatory on USB4. While Intel has given free use of the Thunderbolt 3 specification to the USB Implementers forum (it has done this voluntarily), it has not offered free use of the name «Thunderbolt 3», meaning that any manufacturer wants to state that their USB 4 ports are compatible with Thunderbolt versions must be supported by Intel. Perhaps this is why this technology is not spreading and expanding at the level of modern devices from startups.
In practice, we don't expect the situation with Thunderbolt 3 to change much for computers. You can forget to see the phrase “This device is compatible with Thunderbolt 3” on computers based on AMD processors - for example, as before USB 4.
There are likely to be a few Intel-based motherboards that will waive the USB4 ports supported for Thunderbolt 3, but for the most part, PC assemblers will rely on expansion cards to support Thunderbolt 3 devices.
The situation with laptops is slightly different, as the Thunderbolt 3 ports are not widespread in the laptop market. However, it is common when using the eGPU box to connect an external graphics card.
When it's time to replace an old laptop with a new USB device, the main problem is to make sure it supports older Thunderbolt 3 peripherals. If not, you will have to either abandon the old peripherals or look for a laptop that supports the old standard via USB4.
Variable bandwidth support
One of the best features of USB 4 is that it will pay attention to how much bandwidth your devices need when sharing resources.The most common example of this is if you are running an external data storage and monitor at the same time, the USB 4 will be smart enough to maintain high frame rates for viewing while giving the external storage what it needs to efficiently transfer data simultaneously and comfortably.
Support power delivery everywhere
As expected, the USB devices will be equipped with USB Power Delivery technology that can save up to 100 watts of power through the USB port.USB PD technology uses intelligent charging capabilities to ensure that the device being charged gets the most power. Both devices will negotiate charging rates so that charging is not too fast or too slow, depending on the device's need.