USB4 Version 2.0 announced with up to double the standard's current top speed
The USB Promoter Group has unveiled specifications for USB4 Version 2.0, the next-gen standard for type-C ports that might increase data-transfer speeds by 2x, even through some existing cables. It is also rated as compatible with its PCIe and DisplayPort counterparts, and may improve performance for some USB 3.2 devices.
The USB4 standard was originally announced with up to 40 gigabits per second (Gb/s) of "data performance" over USB Implementers Forum- (USB-IF) certified cables. That was the first iteration, however, and now there is a second rated to bring its top speed up to no less than 80Gb/s.
This new maximal top speed is based on a new architecture of the bus' physical layer; nevertheless, the USB Promoter Group (a division of the USB-IF) asserts that it will work over existing type-C cables (with the requisite certification, of course), although there is a new "active" definition for the next generation of those accessories that will launch with the 80Gb/s spec.
There is also something in the new specs for USB 3.2 devices: data tunneling over this protocol is rated to break its normal 20Gb/s limit over USB4 Version 2.0. The standard's upgrades are also touted to deliver full compatibility with those of DisplayPort and PCIe.
Deirdre O Donnell - Senior Tech Writer - 7324 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2018
I became a professional writer and editor shortly after graduation. My degrees are in biomedical sciences; however, they led to some experience in the biotech area, which convinced me of its potential to revolutionize our health, environment and lives in general. This developed into an all-consuming interest in more aspects of tech over time: I can never write enough on the latest electronics, gadgets and innovations. My other interests include imaging, astronomy, and streaming all the things. Oh, and coffee.