USB4 2.0 Double the Speed, the Future is Here
As PC motherboard manufacturers implement 40 Gbps USB4, people can't help but wonder what the next target of this universal connection standard will be? It turns out to be USB4 2.0, which provides 80 Gbps data bandwidth in each direction and 60W power delivery (PD) for the connector. The power delivery of USB4 2.0 can reach up to 240 W (48 V, 5 A). There have always been many versions of USB, which can be described as diverse. However, with the gradual unification of interfaces, the number of USB versions has significantly decreased. By the time of USB4, only the USB-C interface remains. Why is there still a 2.0 version? The biggest version update of USB4 2.0 is its support for a data transfer rate of up to 80 Gbps, completely surpassing the Thunderbolt 4 interface. Let's delve into the details.
Previously, the USB4 1.0 standard was developed based on Thunderbolt 3 technology, with a maximum data transfer rate of 40 Gbps. The 2.0 version was developed based on a brand-new physical layer architecture, increasing the data transfer rate from a peak of 40 Gbps to 80 Gbps, setting a new performance ceiling for the USB-C ecosystem. It should be noted that the new 80 Gbps rate requires active cables and may only be supported by some high-end products in the future. The USB4 2.0 data architecture has also been updated. Thanks to the new physical layer architecture based on the PAM3 signal encoding mechanism and the newly defined 80 Gbps active data cable, devices can make full and reasonable use of the bandwidth. This update further affects USB 3.2, DisplayPort video transmission, and PCI Express data channels. Previously, the maximum transfer rate of USB 3.2 was 20 Gbps (USB3.2 Gen2x2). Under the new data architecture, the rate of USB 3.2 will exceed 20 Gbps and reach a higher specification.
In terms of compatibility, USB4 2.0 will be backward compatible with USB4 1.0, USB 3.2, and Thunderbolt 3, so there is no need to worry about compatibility issues. Additionally, to enjoy a data transfer rate of 80Gbps, a brand-new active and active USB-C to USB-C data cable is required to achieve this speed. Passive and inductive USB-C to USB-C data cables still have a maximum bandwidth of 40Gbps. To better clarify the current categories of USB, the USB interface has begun to be unified by naming it based on the transmission bandwidth. For example, USB4 v2.0 corresponds to USB 80Gbps, USB4 corresponds to USB 40Gbps, USB 3.2 Gen2x2 corresponds to 20Gbps, USB 3.2 Gen2 corresponds to USB 10Gbps, and USB 3.2 Gen1 corresponds to USB 5Gbps, etc. The packaging labels, interface labels, and data cable labels can be seen in the following figure.
In October 2022, USB-IF had already released the USB4 version 2.0 specification, which can achieve a transmission performance of 80 Gbps. The related USB Type-C and USB Power Delivery (USB PD) specifications have also been updated. Under the USB4 version 2.0 specification, the USB Type-C signal interface can also be configured asymmetrically, providing a maximum speed of up to 120 Gbps in one direction while maintaining a speed of 40 Gbps in the other direction. Currently, many high-end 4K monitors choose to support USB-C one-line connection for laptops. After the launch of the 80 Gbps USB4 2.0 solution, some 4K 144Hz monitors or 6K, 8K monitors can easily connect to laptops via USB-C. The 80 Gbps USB interface retains the USB Type-C port to ensure compatibility with existing USB 4 Version 1.0, USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3. Additionally, the "80 Gbps USB Type-C Data Cable" released at the end of this year supports a full-speed version of 80 Gbps rate while also supporting a charging power of 240W 48V/5A (USB PD EPR). New-generation laptops expected to be launched by the end of this year or next year are expected to begin to support USB 80 Gbps. On the one hand, high-power gaming PCs and monitors will be able to better utilize the graphics card performance; on the other hand, external solid-state PCIe can also run to full capacity.
Post time: Sep-19-2025
