DigiTimes has seen evidence that non-Apple fanatics will have a chance to get their hands on USB 3.1 Type C connectors in the near future. Dell will be releasing a Windows 10 powered, 11" LCD Venue 11 Pro in the fall which will sport Type-C connectors for the new USB standard. ASUS will also be releasing gaming laptops with Type-C connectors this year as well although we do not have a specific date nor do we know when they will be included on less expensive models. If you are wondering when we will start to see USB 3.1 devices on the market you can check the list that ASUS provided The Tech Report here.
"After Apple's adoption of the USB Type-C port on its 12-inch MacBook, Dell also recently announced to use the technology for its 11-inch tablet and Asustek Computer is planning to launch gaming notebooks with USB Type-C support in the second half at the earliest, according to a Chinese-language Apply Daily report."
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Having a USB type-C plug does
Having a USB type-C plug does not guarantee a USB 3.1 controller is on the motherboard or chipset! Just look at Apple’s new MacBook with a single USB type-C plug attached to a USB 3.0 controller(most likely in Intel’s integrated chipset). So do not expect to see many Ultrabooks having the USB 3.1 bandwidth until Intel provides the integrated support for USB 3.1. And even using the USB Type-C name in the same sentence with USB 3.1 is a bit of a misnomer. As the USB Type-C is just the plug’s form factor, and electrical standard, and that standard is backwards compatible with USB 3.0 controllers. Apple uses a USB Type-C Generation 1(which is what the standard calls a USB type-c plug connected to a USB 3.0 controller chip), the USB Type-C Generation 2 will be the one that is connected to the USB 3.1 controller chip and give the 10Gbs speeds.
Do not look for many laptop OEMs to be providing the 3.1 connectivity, at least not while Intel does not provide the native hardware support in their chipsets/integrated. There will be the same thing that happened for USB 3.0, when it was new, very few OEMs will provide the controller, and those that did charged a premium, and that is what will happen with USB 3.1 regardless of the connector’s standard(USB Type-c or other USB plug standard).
It’s the controller that always provides the bandwidth and the plug standards for USB are numerous. Type-C’s one advantage over the previous plug standards is the power supplied, so even if the USB controller is only USB 3.0 there will be some advantage, but I’m waiting for the USB 3.1 controllers to become standard equipment, and Intel will most likely drag its feet on integrated USB 3.1 support like it did with integrated 3.0 support. It’s Hurry Up and Wait all over again!
I’m sad they didn’t require
I’m sad they didn’t require all USB Type-C connectors to implement USB 3.1. It probably will be a while now before we finally see USB 3.1 Type-C (and thus get the total bandwidth of 4x10GB/s) and have enough bandwidth for DP1.3.
The VESA standards body calls
The VESA standards body calls it USB Type-C ‘Alternate Mode’ to enable DisplayPort Capabilities over the New, Slim, Reversible USB Type-C Connector. And the proper VESA definition for a USB Typc-C connector paired with a USB 3.1 controller chip is called “USB Type-C generation 2” and not “USB 3.1 Type-C”. Putting that “3.1” in front of the Type-C is what is leading to the false assumption that users will always be getting USB 3.1 controller chip connectivity with a USB Type-C plug/standard, and that is not the case. It’s confusing and the “Technical press” is just adding to the confusion by not making this clear.
I honestly can’t wait for
I honestly can’t wait for Type-C to become more common. The sooner we get rid of Micro USB ports on phones and tablets the better we will all be.
1) there is something wrong
1) there is something wrong with this sentence, “Dell will be a Windows 10 powered, 11″ Venue 11 Pro in the fall which will sport Type-C connectors for the new USB standard” I understand what you were going for, but the English gots warbled in the type words.
but seriously, I love the new conection type, but as far as usb 3.1 goes, is there any use for the extra bandwith other than for mobile storage? I know that most phones and tablets are still on usb 2.0, most non-pro cameras too, so is there enough bandwith for a usb monitor? I’m just wondering, I know more bandwith is always more better-er but is it enough to do anything radically different?
Ya, I forgot to release
Ya, I forgot to release apparently.
If it is USB 3.1 then yes but … problem with rumours is you don't know exactly what will be released.
The worst thign they (the
The worst thign they (the USB-IF) could have done is reclassify USB 3.0 as USB 3.1 Gen1, which is why they Macbook technically does has USB 3.1, though only operating at a max throughput of 5gbps, USB 3.1 Gen2 is the 10gbps “USB 3.1” everyonw knows about.
whereas before you had USB cables that charged, and then you had USB cables that could charge and handle Data, now you have:
-Can do power
-can do power and data
-can do power and data and video
and then for those three cables, its sectioned off again ebcause USB Typce can be implemented with either USB 2.0, USB 3.1 Gen1 or USB 3.1 Gen2.
this is going to be great, but at the begining, i expect its going to be a bit of a clusterfuck
Since it supports both ends
Since it supports both ends being the same, what happens if someone does something like connecting 2 desktops or laptops to each other using USB-c? What happens if someone tries using apples new charger with their USB-c smartphone, or does something stupid and tries it with a desktop PC?
The older USB standards avoided having the same ends, because they knew that someone would try something stupid with it. If the ends are not the same, then we need to know what stupidity protection circuits are being used.