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How to Make the Move to USB 3.0

Posted 02/02/10 at 02:00:00 PM by Mark Edward Soper

The 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) introduced a bunch of new SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) peripherals with more to come. With USB 3.0 promising performance as much as ten times faster than USB 2.0, you'll want to add USB 3.0's digital goodness to your system as soon as you can. So, what do you need to know to make it work? Whether you have a desktop or mobile PC, we survey your options and help you zero in on your best choices.

Who’s Who in USB 3.0 Controllers

At some point in the next year or so, we'll probably see Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA begin to include USB 3.0 support in their motherboard chipsets for both desktop and mobile systems. In the meantime, it's up to third-party developers to make USB 3.0 a reality.

NEC's The One - at Least for Now

The leading player in the USB 3.0 controller game is currently NEC, whose μPD720200 controller chip was the first to be certified by the Universal Serial Bus Implementer's Forum (USB-IF) (PDF link) back in September 2009. NEC’s USB 3.0 controller chip has been incorporated in all of the motherboards and systems that currently include USB 3.0 support, as well as add-on cards that include USB 3.0 support.

NEC silicon powers all current USB 3.0 add-on cards and motherboards

Is VIA in Your PC's USB 3.0 Future?

A possible future rival to NEC is VIA Technology, which has released two new products that demonstrate its USB 3.0 prowess: VL810 SuperSpeed Hub Controller and VL700 USB 3.0-SATA controller. Although VIA Technology was once a major PC chipset vendor, its recent emphasis on embedded systems has made it less of a factor in PC silicon. Thus, for the immediate future, NEC is the vendor that makes USB 3.0 host adapters possible.

NEC and Marvell - Different Chips, Different Jobs

Marvell, another chip vendor, is often mentioned in the same breath as NEC, which might lead to confusion over who was responsible for USB 3.0 controller logic. Marvell is the company responsible for creating SATA 6Mbps controller chips found in the new motherboards and add-on cards, such as this ASUS U3S6 add-on card:

Marvell provides the SATA 6Gbps silicon for current motherboards and add-on cards

Consequently, current motherboards and add-on cards with USB 3.0 and SATA 6Mbps host adapters use controllers from both companies.

COMMENTS:12

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Good but a bit premature
Submitted by cantonman on Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:58am

Nice article but a bit too early. I don't know of many USB 3.0 devices yet nor can I find any USB 3.0 hubs. Sorry but a 2 port add-in card just won't cut it. This is really moot at this point bceause as USB 3.0 gets implemented more thoroughly, motherboards, devices and hubs will all become easier to find.

Still, it's good to know what to look for when thy become more plentiful.

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[mashes DOWN ARROW button on
Submitted by jrocknyc on Mon, 03/01/2010 - 2:16pm

[mashes DOWN ARROW button on keyboard in the deluded hope of exacting vengeance]

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USB 3.0
Submitted by YAUN on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 7:22am

...is NOT needed. SATA supplies more robust disk connectivity; USB just stay home with printers, cameras, etc. Leave serious, long running transfer requirements to the professional protocol.

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what about the extra juice
Submitted by win7fanboi on Wed, 02/17/2010 - 8:30am

what about the extra juice it supplies for faster charging times and enclosures not needing a power adapter.

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I wish
Submitted by thematejka on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 6:52pm

I wish there were good or bad comment l buttons like on youtube. Max PC you should add that!!

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Right, then if you don't
Submitted by DBsantos77 on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 11:16pm

Right, then if you don't like someone's opinion, you'll mark them down. (Like this one.) Lol

-Santos

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X58 motherboards
Submitted by georgekn3mp on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 1:18pm

There are also 5 or 6 new x58 series motherboards that support both SATA-II and USB 3.0 , from Asus and Gigabyte

It appears that X58 has better support for USB 3.0 and SATA-III drives compared to P55/H55/H57, as it is not limited to "stealing" bandwidth from existing PciE lanes. The P55 only has 16 "native lanes, so adding USB3/SATA-III to that chipset reduces the video bandwidth unless you add a bridge chip like NForce 200 to the board. And even then on some new boards you can lose that speed boost if you add an extra video card.

On X58, which has more channels, when you add USB3 and SATA-III you do not lose any native speed for multiple video cards.

On my Asus P6X58D, I can run 2 video cards at 16x/16x natively and still have USB 3.0 and SATA-III both at the standard 6GB/s. Very few P55 boards can do that, and certainly not as "true" 16x/16x.

Good article....now we just have to wait for USB3 and SATA-III devices to really deliver the performance!

Cyberpower i7-920 O/C 4Ghz
Asetek LCLC120 Liquid

Powercolor Radeon 5850
6GB A-Data 1600 RAM
1TB SATA HDD
Asus P6x58d with USB3 / SATA6G
Asus 26" VW266H LCD @1920x1200

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Good comments and input
Submitted by siramic on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 4:52pm

Good comments and input georgekn3mp :-)

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They are out there...
Submitted by JohnP on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 11:20am

I found hits for all three mobo motherboards add-ons. The ASUS looks like the bet bet Goggle ASUS U3S6 and hit shopping. Now I am just waiting for a BlacX SATA to USB 3.0 cradle and my day will be complete..

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Seriously reduddent much?
Submitted by nekollx on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 11:08am

Seriously reduddent much? You should really merge this, the USB 3.0 white paper and "USB 3.0 FAQ" into one.

------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.

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There's multiple reasons to
Submitted by QuakindudeMod on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 11:51am

There's multiple reasons to not do this. However, maybe you should merge both of your comments about this to just one of the articles? Check the other article about USB3.0 for the reasons about why they should remain separate.

*****MaximumPC Moderator. Report inappropriate/SPAM comments to
QuakindudeMod at Gmail--dot--com with a link. My personal comments do not necessarily
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I did not see where it said it was USB 3.0 week
Submitted by JuanSolid on Tue, 02/02/2010 - 11:05pm

I guess it makes sense if it is, but I did not catch anything indicating it was. If the articles started off "It's usb 3.0 week here at MPC" a lot of confusuion would be avoided. Than again they should not have to start that way if there was something on the MPC homepage saying this.

Oh well thanks for the explenation. I still think stating the same information over and over was weird, especially when I saw the same stock photos.

Sorry I started an argument.

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