USB 3.0

USB 3.0

The third-generation USB interface introduced in 2008. Called "SuperSpeed USB" (SS USB), USB 3.0 increased speed from 480 Mbps to 5 Gbps and reduced CPU overhead by no longer continuously polling devices. In practice, USB 3.0 devices do not achieve a 10x speed increase. For example, a USB 3.0 storage drive may deliver a 50% improvement over its USB 2.0 counterpart. See USB.

A Naming Jumble
USB 3.0 and 3.1 were renamed twice, resulting in the following three ways the same ports may be identified. Fortunately, this jumble should disappear in the future because a new naming convention was adopted with USB 4 (see USB). See USB 3.2.

USB 3.0            USB 3.1

      3.0                3.1
      3.1 Gen 1          3.1 Gen 2
      3.2 Gen 1x1        3.2 Gen 2x1

A Is Interchangeable; B Is Not

Type A 2.0 sockets accept 3.0 plugs. But Type B plugs are larger than their 2.0 counterparts. (Images courtesy of Intel Corporation.)

The Blue Ports

USB 3.0 ports generally have a blue tongue in contrast to black or white, which is USB 2.0. The SuperSpeed (SS) logos are the primary identifier.

The In-Between Naming

USB 3.0 was USB 3.1 Gen 1 for a while until it was renamed USB 3.2 Gen 1x1. (Image courtesy of Tripp Lite, www.tripplite.com)

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