USB-IF Announces Publication of New USB4 Specification to Enable USB 80 Gbps Performance

TheLostSwede · Oct 18, 2022

USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), the support organization for the advancement and adoption of USB technology, today announced the publication of the USB4 Version 2.0 specification, a major update to enable USB 80 Gbps performance over the USB Type-C cable and connector. The updated USB4 specification doubles the maximum aggregate bandwidth of USB to the benefit of higher-performance displays, storage, and USB-based hubs and docks. The USB Type-C and USB Power Delivery (USB PD) specifications have also been updated to support this higher level of data performance.

"For engineers, USB4 is defined by its multi-protocol tunneling that architecturally differentiates it from its predecessors - USB 3.2 and USB 2.0," said Brad Saunders, USB-IF Board Chair and CEO. "This updated technical specification extends USB4 speed and data protocol performance, enabling manufacturers to develop products that can deliver USB 80 Gbps in addition to existing USB 40 Gbps and USB 20 Gbps to end users."

Key characteristics of the updated USB 80 Gbps solution include:

Up to 80 Gbps operation, utilizing a new physical layer architecture based on PAM3 signal encoding, over existing 40 Gbps USB Type-C passive cables and newly defined 80 Gbps USB Type-C active cables.
Optionally for certain applications, such as driving very-high performance USB4-based displays, the USB Type-C signal interface can be configured asymmetrically to deliver up to 120 Gbps in one direction while retaining 40 Gbps in the other direction.
Updates to data and display protocols to better use the increase in available bandwidth
USB data architecture updates now enable Enhanced SuperSpeed USB data tunneling to exceed 20 Gbps.
Aligns with DisplayPort Revision 2.1 and PCI Express Revision 4.
Backward compatibility with all previous versions of USB.

Guidelines for identifying certified USB 80 Gbps solutions and cables will follow the new unified USB-IF branding and marketing program. As a reminder, USB specification names and technical terminology are not intended for use when describing USB capabilities to end consumers. USB-IF certified logo and branding details are available at www.usb.org/logo-license.

USB Developer Days 2022 will include detailed technical training covering the latest updates to the USB4, USB Type-C and USB PD specifications.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

Arco · Oct 18, 2022

USB 4X2X4
USB 3.12.1
USB 3x2
USB 3 Pro
USB 4 Max Pro
USB 3 Pro Max Ultra

TheEndIsNear · Oct 18, 2022

Arco said:
USB 4X2X4
USB 3.12.1
USB 3x2
USB 3 Pro
USB 4 Max Pro
USB 3 Pro Max Ultra

Ya beat me to it!!

ZetZet · Oct 18, 2022

Arco said:
USB 4X2X4
USB 3.12.1
USB 3x2
USB 3 Pro
USB 4 Max Pro
USB 3 Pro Max Ultra

You guys keep making memes out of it, but doesn't this pretty much fix everything wrong with it?

Arco · Oct 18, 2022

ZetZet said:
You guys keep making memes out of it, but doesn't this pretty much fix everything wrong with it?

USB 4 SE
USB 4
USB 4 Pro

windwhirl · Oct 18, 2022

ZetZet said:
You guys keep making memes out of it, but doesn't this pretty much fix everything wrong with it?

In theory, yes. Going forward Type C is only connector available, and most consumers will only see one of the following (besides the 80 gbps version just announced):

Or one of these, for Power Delivery stuff:

mashie · Oct 18, 2022

I'm looking forward to have this in my work laptop in 10 years time to connect to the docking station at full speed.

TheUn4seen · Oct 18, 2022

Higher number is better, every corporate marketing drone knows that. Why not have all the numbers then? Give the consumer an encyclopedia sized book explaining which port on their laptop does what and which specific cable they need to do anything. And while they're on it, add a ¬ symbol in front of the "U" in the name. ¬U SB is what it really is at this point.

mplayerMuPDF · Oct 19, 2022

I literally do. not. care. anymore.

windwhirl · Oct 19, 2022

USB-C can hit 120Gbps with newly published USB4 Version 2.0 spec

USB-IF's new USB-C spec supports up to 120Gbps across three lanes.

arstechnica.com

... but they literally just announced the 80 gbps version and now they're announcing 120 gbps?

:eek:

LabRat 891 · Oct 19, 2022

Wonder when they'll change the entire naming scheme over to "USBexpress"? Seems that's basically what it has become.

USBe Gen1 x(#of lanes)
USBe Gen2 x(#of lanes)
USBe Gen3 x(#of lanes)
USBe Gen4 x(#of lanes)

They've already drawn ~~ire~~ aggro; might as well roll with it.

TheLostSwede · Oct 19, 2022

windwhirl said:
USB-C can hit 120Gbps with newly published USB4 Version 2.0 spec

USB-IF's new USB-C spec supports up to 120Gbps across three lanes.

arstechnica.com

... but they literally just announced the 80 gbps version and now they're announcing 120 gbps?

Did you not read the press release?
The 120 Gbps options is actually 120/40 Gbps, so 120 Gbps to a display, with DP tunneling and 40 Gbps to the PC from the display (acting as a hub).
It's all part of the 80 Gbps spec. They just take an extra pair of lanes for upstreams data and use a single pair for downstreams data. The other way around is admittedly also possible, but less likely.

First Strike · Oct 19, 2022

LabRat 891 said:
Wonder when they'll change the entire naming scheme over to "USBexpress"? Seems that's basically what it has become.

Actually they have already done this. And from my perspective, it is most outrageous they abandoned this scheme in USB4 after so much pain USB3 has went through.

Contrary to popular belief, Gen[Y]x[Z] is a great naming scheme. A shame they decided to bend to pressure from the public.

windwhirl · Oct 19, 2022

First Strike said:
Actually they have already done this. And from my perspective, it is most outrageous they abandoned this scheme in USB4 after so much pain USB3 has went through.

View attachment 266198

Contrary to popular belief, Gen[Y]x[Z] is a great naming scheme. A shame they decided to bend to pressure from the public.

... I swear I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic to the point of breaking my sarcasm detector or if you're being serious.

TheLostSwede said:
Did you not read the press release?

I had a brain-fart moment :oops:

First Strike · Oct 19, 2022

windwhirl said:
... I swear I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic to the point of breaking my sarcasm detector or if you're being serious.

The evolution of bleeding-edge high speed serial port has its own logic. No matter how you try to hide it with marketing names, the underlying pattern will always show up as a PCIe-like nomenclature. Otherwise, try explain why USB4 120Gbps is the same thing as USB4 80Gbps.

If the versioning of something is so harmonious to human mind, then it is either too outdated to have uncertainty, or as restrictive as a private product from a company.

LabRat 891 · Oct 20, 2022

The 4 instead of a lowercase e, makes the brain pick it up as gobblygook.
It'd be like when AGP left us we called PCIe:

PCI2 gen1 1x16
PCI3 gen1 2x16
PCI2 gen1 1x8
PCI3 gen1 2x8
PCI2 gen1 1x4
PCI3 gen1 2x2
PCI2 gen1 1x1

System Name	Overlord Mk MLI
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard	Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master
Cooling	Noctua NH-D15 SE with offsets
Memory	32GB Team T-Create Expert DDR5 6000 MHz @ CL30-34-34-68
Video Card(s)	Gainward GeForce RTX 4080 Phantom GS
Storage	1TB Solidigm P44 Pro, 2 TB Corsair MP600 Pro, 2TB Kingston KC3000
Display(s)	Acer XV272K LVbmiipruzx 4K@160Hz
Case	Fractal Design Torrent Compact
Audio Device(s)	Corsair Virtuoso SE
Power Supply	be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 850 W
Mouse	Logitech G502 Lightspeed
Keyboard	Corsair K70 Max
Software	Windows 10 Pro
Benchmark Scores	https://valid.x86.fr/yfsd9w

System Name	Firestarter
Processor	7950X
Motherboard	X670E Steel Legend
Cooling	LF 2 420
Memory	4x16 G.Skill X5 6000@CL36
Video Card(s)	RTX Gigabutt 4090 Gaming OC
Storage	OS: 2TB P41 Plat, 2TB SN770, 1TB SN770
Display(s)	FO48U, some dinky TN 10.1 inch display.
Case	Fractal Torrent
Audio Device(s)	PC38X
Power Supply	GF3 TT Premium 850W
Mouse	Razer Basilisk V3 Pro
Keyboard	OG Razer Black Widow

System Name	Firestarter
Processor	7950X
Motherboard	X670E Steel Legend
Cooling	LF 2 420
Memory	4x16 G.Skill X5 6000@CL36
Video Card(s)	RTX Gigabutt 4090 Gaming OC
Storage	OS: 2TB P41 Plat, 2TB SN770, 1TB SN770
Display(s)	FO48U, some dinky TN 10.1 inch display.
Case	Fractal Torrent
Audio Device(s)	PC38X
Power Supply	GF3 TT Premium 850W
Mouse	Razer Basilisk V3 Pro
Keyboard	OG Razer Black Widow

System Name	System V
Processor	AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Motherboard	Asus Prime X570-P
Cooling	Cooler Master Hyper 212 // a bunch of 120 mm Xigmatek 1500 RPM fans (2 ins, 3 outs)
Memory	2x8GB Ballistix Sport LT 3200 MHz (BLS8G4D32AESCK.M8FE) (CL16-18-18-36)
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte AORUS Radeon RX 580 8 GB
Storage	SHFS37A240G / DT01ACA200 / WD20EZRX / ST10000VN0008 / SA400S37960G / SNV21000G / NM620 2TB
Display(s)	LG 22MP55 IPS Display
Case	NZXT Source 210
Audio Device(s)	Logitech G430 Headset
Power Supply	Corsair CX650M
Mouse	Microsoft Trackball Optical 1.0
Keyboard	HP Vectra VE keyboard (Part # D4950-63004)
Software	Whatever build of Windows 11 is being served in Dev channel at the time.
Benchmark Scores	Corona 1.3: 3120620 r/s Cinebench R20: 3355 FireStrike: 12490 TimeSpy: 4624

System Name	IONE
Processor	AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Motherboard	ASUS STRIX B550-A Gaming
Cooling	Noctua NH-U12S SE-AM4
Memory	128GB (4x32GB) Corsair DDR4 Vengeance LPX Black, PC4-25600 (3200), CMK128GX4M4E3200C16
Video Card(s)	PNY GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
Storage	Samsung 980 1TB NVMe (system), WD Black 1TB NVMe (temp), 16x Seagate IronWolf 10TB (RAID6 storage)
Display(s)	Dell UP3017
Case	Lian-Li PC-777B
Audio Device(s)	Blue Sadie headphones
Power Supply	Corsair AX1200
Mouse	Logitech M510
Keyboard	Keychron Q8, brass plate, Kailh Box Summer switches and PBT Cherry keycaps
Software	Xubuntu 22.04
Benchmark Scores	N/A

USB-IF Announces Publication of New USB4 Specification to Enable USB 80 Gbps Performance

TheLostSwede

News Editor

Arco

TheEndIsNear

ZetZet

Arco

windwhirl

mashie

TheUn4seen

mplayerMuPDF

windwhirl

USB-C can hit 120Gbps with newly published USB4 Version 2.0 spec

LabRat 891

TheLostSwede

News Editor

USB-C can hit 120Gbps with newly published USB4 Version 2.0 spec

First Strike

windwhirl

First Strike

LabRat 891

Processor	9600k
Motherboard	MSI Z390I Gaming EDGE AC
Cooling	Scythe Mugen 5
Memory	32GB of G.Skill Ripjaws V 3600MHz CL16
Video Card(s)	MSI 3080 Ventus OC
Storage	2x Intel 660p 1TB
Display(s)	Acer CG437KP
Case	Streacom BC1 mini
Audio Device(s)	Topping MX3
Power Supply	Corsair RM750
Mouse	R.A.T. DWS
Keyboard	HAVIT KB487L / AKKO 3098 / Logitech G19
VR HMD	HTC Vive
Benchmark Scores	What's a "benchmark"?

System Name	HP EliteBook 725 G3
Processor	AMD PRO A10-8700B (1.8 GHz CMT dual module with 3.2 GHz boost)
Motherboard	HP proprietary
Cooling	pretty good
Memory	8 GB SK Hynix DDR3 SODIMM
Video Card(s)	Radeon R6 (Carrizo/GCNv3)
Storage	internal Kioxia XG6 1 TB NVMe SSD (aftermarket)
Display(s)	HP P22h G4 21.5" 1080p (& 768p internal LCD)
Case	HP proprietary metal case
Audio Device(s)	built-in Conexant CX20724 HDA chipset -> Roland RH-200S
Power Supply	HP-branded AC adapter
Mouse	Steelseries Rival 310
Keyboard	Cherry G84-5200
Software	Alma Linux 9.1
Benchmark Scores	Broadcom BCM94356 11ac M.2 WiFi card (aftermarket)

System Name	Sleepy Painter
Processor	AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Motherboard	Asus TuF Gaming X570-PLUS/WIFI
Cooling	FSP Windale 6 - Passive
Memory	2x16GB F4-3600C16-16GVKC @ 16-19-21-36-58-1T
Video Card(s)	MSI RX580 8GB
Storage	2x Samsung PM963 960GB nVME RAID0, Crucial BX500 1TB SATA, WD Blue 3D 2TB SATA
Display(s)	Microboard 32" Curved 1080P 144hz VA w/ Freesync
Case	NZXT Gamma Classic Black
Audio Device(s)	Asus Xonar D1
Power Supply	Rosewill 1KW on 240V@60hz
Mouse	Logitech MX518 Legend
Keyboard	Red Dragon K552
Software	Windows 10 Enterprise 2019 LTSC 1809 17763.1757