USB Version History

Developed in the 1990s,  USB  has become the most successful computing interface yet. The throughput has improved from 1.5Mbps to 40Gbps through standards evolution.

What is USB 3.1

“USB” stands for Universal Serial Bus and “3.1” is the released standard which indicates the technology and specifications it is compliant to.
USB Type C  is not he same as USB3.1–USBType C is just a connector shape and the underlying technology could just be USB 2.0 , 3.x. Furthermore there are different USB Type-C 3.1 versions the “Gen1” and “Gen2”.
USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 1  means that the USB technology used is like USB3.0 (5Gbps).
USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 2  means that the technology used is USB 3.1 over 2-lanes(10Gbps).To be able to send Video signals over USB 3.1 Type-C (Gen2) the source device (PC/Laptop) will need to have displayport Alternate Mode Support. Although Thunderbolt 3 is also coming out with a USB Type C connector, it is not the same as USB 3.1 Type C Gen2.

USB TYPE C

USB Type C is a specification for a reversible plug connector for USB Devices and Cabling.  An important benefit of the USB Type C is that it supports USB4, USB 3.2, 3.1, USB 3.0, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt Technology.  USB Type C ports can support a variety of different protocols using “ AlternateModes ”, which allows you to output Power, Data and Video Signals and use of adapters that can output HDMI, VGA, DisplayPort or other types of connections from that Single USB port.This allows for future devices to streamline their design to offer multiple output solutions through one singular output.

Most common USB ports

 What type of USB C port does my Windows laptop have?

Next to the ports of a Windows laptop are symbols / logos, which indicate what you can do with the port.

• Is there a symbol of a lightning (Thunderbolt 3) next to the USB C port? Then you can charge via this port and pass on a video signal and thus connect a monitor. This port supports DisplayPort alt mode.
• Is there a symbol of a D (DisplayPort) next to the USB-C port? Then you can pass on a video signal via this port and thus connect a monitor. This port supports DisplayPort alt mode.
• Is there a symbol of a battery next to the USB C port? Then you can charge your laptop via this port. This port does not support DisplayPort alt mode.

What about: Drivers and firmware updates

What about: Drivers and firmware updates To get the most out of the connection. You may need to do some driver and/or firmware updating. So the best screen resolution and data speed will be available.

• It is advisable to update the driver or firmware of your device to fix device issues and to take advantage of enhancements that are not available in previous versions.
• NOTE:   Update and Firmware processes may vary depending on your device’s manufacturer and its operating system (OS) off the device. See their READ-ME files and installation instructions before execution. 
• IMPORTANT:   Read the user manual of your devices to find out where and how to find the current system/firmware version of your devices.

About USB4

The NEW Generation of USB4™ Technology is providing faster data performance, a better charging experience, the convenience of interoperability and certified reliability.Key characteristics of the USB4™ solution include two-lane operation and up to 40Gbps operation over 40Gbps-certified cables. Multiple data and display protocols efficiently share the total available bandwidth over the bus. The USB4™ architecture defines a method to share a single high-speed link with multiple end device types dynamically that best serves the transfer of data by type and application. 

Summary - Bandwidth vs Speed

Difference Between Bandwidth and Speed

You might come across bandwidth and data transfer rate being used synonymously. While they are related, they refer to two very different measurements. Here is the explanation of differences. The key difference between bandwidth and speed is that the bandwidth is the capacity available for use in data transmission while the speed is the data transferring rate.

Bandwidth  Bandwidth is the maximum potential data that can be transferred within a given time. The bandwidth is shared among all users of the bandwidth.

Data Transfer Rate  The data transfer rate is the actual amount of data that is passed from one location to another over a given period of time. The most common example is a Link Aggregation where a number of Ethernet connection are bonded into a single interface. The bandwidth is the sum of the total connections but the speed is determined by the physical network connection.

USB Types and Naming

 USB4 Features

• Bandwidth up to  40Gbps
  
• Power Delivery up to  240W
• E-mark IC
• Support more protocols, DisplayPort™ and PCI express
• Type-C cable ONLY
• Backwards compatible with USB3.2, USB2.0 and Thunderbolt™ 3 (the resulting connection scales to the best mutual capability of the devices being connected.)
• USB-IF Certified