USB 3.0 adoption progress

[W1zzard]

USB 3.0 has been released not too long ago and we're starting to see the first implementations of it on motherboards and devices.

But so far it hasn't really taken off. So how long do you think this will take? What makes it hard to achieve? Who are the big players driving it?

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Intel nor AMD are integrating it into their southbridge chips and both (or at least Intel) are putting that off until Light Peak debuts.

Basically SiS, Via, and everyone else that makes add-on chips are the players pushing it at the moment.

Intel can only wait so long though. If AMD starts putting out USB 3.0 chips, Intel has to too, regardless of the readiness of Light Peak.

 

[mlee49]

So how long do you think this will take?

2012 for main stream adoption

Who are the big players driving it?

HP and Dell, combined they control a third of the market(pre-built).

What makes it hard to achieve?

Proof, credit, readily available parts at a mass pricing level.

2011 will introduce many more USB 3.0 devices and on-board but will not hit the "mainstream" market for a good portion of the year.

 

[Phxprovost]

we talking mainstream adoption? i say somewhere around ~2015

 

[mosheen]

Theres not enough peripherals that need the bandwidth of usb 3.0 right now except hdd.

eSata casing are still cheaper and more readily available.

We just need more devices available.

 

[HillBeast]

My opinion: when prices stop being so ridiculously high and they stop making flash drives with the junk they use today and put the chips from SSDs in them.

 

[Yukikaze]

AMD and Intel not putting them into chipsets isn't what is stopping USB3.0. After all, motherboards for both AMD and Intel CPUs with USB3.0 are already available, even inexpensive ones. They might only have two USB3.0 ports, but you don't really need more than two because the only things that need USB3.0 are external hard drives and flash storage, for pretty much everything else USB2.0 is more than sufficient (mice, keyboards, wireless cards, and so on).

Once motherboards have, say, four USB3.0 ports via an add-on chip and prices on the various USB3.0 devices drop, then we will see more widespread adoption.

 

[Mr McC]

I think this has failed to take off at a faster rate simply because we don't have much money at the minute (we being consumers), I mean, if the choice is simply between pay more and wait less for data to transfer or pay nothing (over and above the USB 2.0 device you own) and wait longer, must people are willing to wait.

 

[mdsx1950]

I say, 2012 or later.

 

[Wile E]

I'm going with late 2011, personally. Well, at least I hope it's widespread by then. lol.

 

[95Viper]

After they dump their USB 2.0 inventories.

 

[arnoo1]

just throw away usb 2.0 and make it backwards compatible with usb 3.0 and make it mainstream

it's nice that it is faster and shit but if you ahve some crappy camera you won't need that

 

[TIGR]

Mid 2012, but depends on AMD and Intel's treatment of it. Many types of devices have no little or no need for it, but consumers will hear "3.0" and want the latest. Unlike, for example, the SSD's "road to mainstream," USB 3.0 doesn't rely on any expensive raw materials, which significantly bogs down the adoption of new tech.

 

[DonInKansas]

just throw away usb 2.0 and make it backwards compatible with usb 3.0 and make it mainstream

it's nice that it is faster and shit but if you ahve some crappy camera you won't need that

USB 3.0 IS backwards compatible.

I give it another year or so; this just isn't something people are willing to throw a whole lot of money at or switch motherboards specifically to get right now.

 

[Mr McC]

USB 3.0 IS backwards compatible.

I give it another year or so; this just isn't something people are willing to throw a whole lot of money at or switch motherboards specifically to get right now.

You don't even need to change motherboards:

http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/10/30/asus-u3s6-first-usb-3-0-sata-6-0-pci-e-card/

 

[human_error]

You don't even need to change motherboards:

http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/10/30/asus-u3s6-first-usb-3-0-sata-6-0-pci-e-card/

Because nothing is more fun that plugging a usb memory stick in the back of your computer, next your your graphics card exhaust and other cables

I think we need intel, amd AND case manufacturers to go to usb3 before we see it take off - i love my pc case and won't replace it just to get a usb3 one (especially since there are few good cases with usb3 built-in). It's not just the availability of chipsets for usb 3 that is needed, but a convenient way to plug the devices in.

 

[95Viper]

Options...

They ain't real cheap, but they are there.
Ex.
SIIG JU-H40312-S1 4-port USB 3.0 SuperSpeed USB Hub Put it in front or mod it into a case or velcro it somewhere, for front access.
KINGWIN Dockmaster DM-2535U3 2.5" & 3.5" Black USB 3.0 Hard Drive Docking Station
SunbeamTech HDDPAL 2.5" & 3.5" Black USB 3.0 Docking Station
LIAN LI PC-A77F Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case Front Ports: USB 3.0 x 4 / e-SATA x1 / HD+AC97 Audio
Antec DF-85 Black Computer Case Front Ports: 1 x USB 3.0 / 3 x USB 2.0 / Audio (AC' 97 and HDA compatible) In and Out


This is in no way an endorsement of the products, but you have a choice, if you wish to be an early adopter.

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

This is what really bugs me. I'm going to eventually need a new case. I got this stacker hoping for it to be my last case ever. For now I can just use the two USB3 slots on the back of the mobo.

 

[BazookaJoe]

I'm already using USB3.0 cards ( GA-USB3.0 ) And so are most of the ppl I know.

Although there aren't many USB3 devices as of yet - the external drive enclosures have been available for quite a while already - and even when using older USB2 external cases on the USB3.0 card, the performance of the USB2 external drives is noticeably improved.

And when using a proper USB3.0 case, the drivers performance in some conditions is actually BETTER on the USB3.0 port than on an over subscribed internal SATA controller that's being shared by a few other drives.

So it's quite fantastic for external drives in my experience.

 

[DonInKansas]

You don't even need to change motherboards:

http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/10/30/asus-u3s6-first-usb-3-0-sata-6-0-pci-e-card/

That's why I said throw money at OR switch motherboards.

 

[mlee49]

I'd like to see this poll re-ran a year from now with the option of "I'm running USB 3.0" and see how many people/enthusiasts are actually using it.

 

[TheLaughingMan]

2011. Companies will then start advertising it as "so much faster than USB 2.0" on digital cameras, wi-fi receivers, mice and keyboards, and a bunch of other devices where the additional speed means nothing. Once they trick the general population that USB 2.0 is "like so out of date" we will get wide spread adoption. I honestly thing USB 3.0, SATA 3 (6.0 Gbps) will be the new hot button for selling new PC's and laptops starting next year for normal people.

Most of us here, who most stay in the know, either don't care because eSATA is just as good, though no one truly supported it. And I feel bad that eSATA will be dying out in the next 2 years of so and the industry will just pretend it didn't happen.

 

[wiak]

lulz at those that voted "USB 3.0 is useless"
USB 3.0 gives you max harddrive speed and a option to fall back to USB 2.0 on computers that dont have USB 3.0 ports, so much better than anything else

btw i dont think eSATA will die, they just gonna coexist with USB 3.0, eSATA will just be upgraded to 6Gbps aka SATA 6Gbps down the road

 

[Eva01Master]

Options...

They ain't real cheap, but they are there.
Ex.
SIIG JU-H40312-S1 4-port USB 3.0 SuperSpeed USB Hub Put it in front or mod it into a case or velcro it somewhere, for front access.
KINGWIN Dockmaster DM-2535U3 2.5" & 3.5" Black USB 3.0 Hard Drive Docking Station
SunbeamTech HDDPAL 2.5" & 3.5" Black USB 3.0 Docking Station
LIAN LI PC-A77F Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case Front Ports: USB 3.0 x 4 / e-SATA x1 / HD+AC97 Audio
Antec DF-85 Black Computer Case Front Ports: 1 x USB 3.0 / 3 x USB 2.0 / Audio (AC' 97 and HDA compatible) In and Out


This is in no way an endorsement of the products, but you have a choice, if you wish to be an early adopter.

You forgot the king of them all, Cooler Master HAF X

 

[Mussels]

once intel supports it.

why? because all the cheap OEM and prebuilt systems as well as intel atom based nettops will need it before the mass consumer base cares - and once THEY care, it'll be a sudden boom in interest.

edit:

i use USB 3.0 already - my USB 2.0 device are upto 1/3 faster when using it. seriously.
as for front ports, its easy to just use a hub. sit it on top of the PC, near your monitor, wherever - its not THAT inconvenient.