It’s been declared the top PC innovation of all time, and for good reason. You use USB every day to copy files, print information, and charge devices.
If your PC is less than five years old, chances are you’re using USB 2 (also known as USB High-Speed). It works well for moving a few of documents or a music file, but if you move large files or a lot of files, you’ve undoubtedly yearned for a faster option. USB 3.0 (also known as USB Super-Speed) came on the scene in January 2010. This new standard significantly reduces the time required to move information. Thunderbolt, developed by Intel and brought to market by Apple in early 2011, is just starting to appear in Windows PCs and offers improvements over existing USB technologies.
USB 2.0
(USB Hi-Speed)
USB 3.0
(USB Super-Speed)
Thunderbolt
(code-name Light Peak)
Advantages
Widespread adoption
Compatible with USB 2.0
2x faster data transfer
10% faster device charging
Ability to carry both HD audio & video signals
Ability to carry signal on longer cables without signal loss
Transfer Speed
480 megabits per second
5,000 megabits per second
10x faster than USB 2.0
USB 3.0 devices and ports must be used together to realize its speed potential
10,000 megabits per second
20x faster than USB 2.0 and 2x as fast as USB 3.0
Thunderbolt device but must be used with Thunderbolt port to realize its speed potential
Charging Devices
Provides 100mA
Provides 900mA
Provides 1000mA
Typical Cell Phone Charge
5 hours
35 minutes
30 minutes
Directional Transfer
Unidirectional: data moves one direction at a time like an alternating single lane bridge
Bidirectional: data moves both ways at once, like a two-lane bridge