NEC creates first USB 3.0 hardware

A bit ahead of the Super Speed USB Developers conference, NEC has presented its first USB3.0 hardware based on the company's own μPD720200 controllerchip. Both an ExpressCard for notebooks and a PCI-Express expansion card for desktops has been shown. NEC's first USB3.0 controller reaches speeds of up to 5 Gbit/s and is backwards compatible with USB2.0 and USB1.1.

Een USB3.0 ExpressCard en PCI-Express insteekkaart van NEC

NEC's claim seems to be in agreement with the final specifications of the USB3.0 standard, which were set almost six months ago. With 5 Gbit/s, the new standard brings speeds that are theoretically up to ten times as fast as USB2.0, which has a 480 Mbit/s specification. In November of last year, we already saw USB3.0 presentations that reached speeds of 317 MByte/s.

To reach these higher speeds, the connectors of USB3.0 devices have been slightly altered. The new standard is able to handle a greater output current, making it possible to connect more devices on a single connector, as well as make USB-recharging a lot faster.

The new USB3.0 connectors (in blue)

The first samples of NEC's μPD720200 USB3.0 controller will be shipped next month and cost US $15 each. The company expects to increase to mass production later this year, in September. ComputerBase however reports that it may take as long as up to 2011 until USB3.0 is truly integrated by most manufacturers.

Tags: usb

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