Will Windows 7 SP 1 add USB 3.0 support?

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I have two WD My Book Essential external hard drives both 1TB that are USB 2.0 drives. I checked with Western Digital and if I get USB 3.0 they will both utilize the higher speeds and I ‘have heard’ that Win 7 Service Pack 1 (when it comes out) will add USB 3.0 support to Windows and I was wondering if the existing USB ports will automatically be handle USB 3.0 devices and transfer data at the higher speed? Or will I have to get additional hardware?

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James,

It won’t make any difference if Win-7 SP-1 adds support for USB 3.0 unless your computer’s ports are electrically USB 3.0.
Secondly, I don’t understand how WD could tell you that a USB 2.0 Hard drive would work faster with software support for USB 3.0. To get higher speeds you need USB 3.0 ports on you computer, a USB 3.0 External Hard Drive and USB 3.0 support built into Win-7 or provided as an loadable driver by the HD manufacturer. This is of course unless I am missing something in my understanding of the problem.

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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James,

It won’t make any difference if Win-7 SP-1 adds support for USB 3.0 unless your computer’s ports are electrically USB 3.0.
Secondly, I don’t understand how WD could tell you that a USB 2.0 Hard drive would work faster with software support for USB 3.0. To get higher speeds you need USB 3.0 ports on you computer, a USB 3.0 External Hard Drive and USB 3.0 support built into Win-7 or provided as an loadable driver by the HD manufacturer. This is of course unless I am missing something in my understanding of the problem.

I don’t think you are missing anything.

@James,
When Windows 7 supports USB 3, you will still need USB 3 ports (probably you will be able to buy a PCI add-on card) but unless you buy USB 3.0 drives, you won’t be able to use the new speeds. Existing drives won’t be able to use those speeds. Here is some info on USB 3.0.

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For Retired Geek,
I read a PDF from WD that said the drives (2.0) would utilize 3.0 if plugged into a 3.0 slot. As for “unless your computer’s ports are electrically USB 3.0” could that be accomplished by flashing the BIOS on the MB?

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For Retired Geek,
I read a PDF from WD that said the drives (2.0) would utilize 3.0 if plugged into a 3.0 slot. As for “unless your computer’s ports are electrically USB 3.0” could that be accomplished by flashing the BIOS on the MB?

James,

Utilize = Work. However, no increase in speed. Most new standards are backward compatible, i.e. old equipment will work but at the old speeds. As to upgrading to USB 3.0 via a BIOS flash, sorry but I’m not an Electrical Engineer so I can’t comment on weather or not that is possible.

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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I have USB 3 on one XP system, built into the mobo. Its not standard yet so requires drivers wether on board or add on card. USB 3 is compatible with USB 2 but you will not get any more speed out of a USB 2 device. That means you can run your USB 2.0 external drives off of the USB 3 port but you do not realize any speed gains, no matter what you do. Get a USB 3 drive and cable to go with the USB 3 port and everything starts a hoppin!
I max out my slow internal spinners,or maybe I’m maxing out the external drive but the USB 3 connection itself is ready for more. I can only imagine how fast the transfer speed would be between 2 SSDs.

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RetiredGeek,
This is copied from a WD pdf;
Dual USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 connectivity
A single drive with universal compatibility today and next-generation speed for tomorrow. Use it with USB 2.0 now and step up to USB 3.0 speed when you’re ready.
Up to 3x faster transfer rates
When connected to a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port this drive lets you access and save files up to three times faster than USB 2.0. Transfer a 2-hour HD movie in just three and a half minutes instead of 13 minutes.*
*Performance may vary based on user’s hardware and system configuration.

I found it in their FAQ sheets Item #14: Specifications for the My Book Essential USB 3.0 & 2.0 External Hard Drives
Found on this page; http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_cats=&p_pv=3.316&p_prods=228%2C209%2C316&p_search_text=&p_new_search=1

It sounds like the drives can be for both 2.0 and 3.0 if the computer is capable. If I am reading it correctly..

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RetiredGeek,
This is copied from a WD pdf;
Dual USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 connectivity
A single drive with universal compatibility today and next-generation speed for tomorrow. Use it with USB 2.0 now and step up to USB 3.0 speed when you’re ready.
Up to 3x faster transfer rates
When connected to a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port this drive lets you access and save files up to three times faster than USB 2.0. Transfer a 2-hour HD movie in just three and a half minutes instead of 13 minutes.*
*Performance may vary based on user’s hardware and system configuration.

I found it in their FAQ sheets Item #14: Specifications for the My Book Essential USB 3.0 & 2.0 External Hard Drives
Found on this page; http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_cats=&p_pv=3.316&p_prods=228%2C209%2C316&p_search_text=&p_new_search=1

It sounds like the drives can be for both 2.0 and 3.0 if the computer is capable. If I am reading it correctly..

I think this applies to very latest drives with USB 3.0. Supposedly, drives that support SuperSpeed (the highest possible transfer speed, specific of USB 3.0), should have the SuperSpeed logo:

If yours have it, the USB 3.0 speed should be supported.

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In order to take full advantage of USB 3.0’s speed and bandwidth, ones’ motherboard has to have a USB 3.0 supported hardware controller.
…Otherwise any peripheral USB 3.0 device you have will be limited to USB 2.0 bandwidth functionality.

You motherboard has to have built in USB support either via the chipset, or from a PCIE slot with a USB 3.0 supported addon card and driver.
Built in USB 3.0 support on the mainboard is the preferred way to go.

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Seagate is doing something kind of interesting, though it should have perhaps been done several years ago in anticipation, but thier GoFlex drives are componentized so that the bridge and cable can be exchanged for whatever kind of connection is needed or comes along, such as USB 3.0. Seems a bit pointless now since one would presumably just buy a USB 3.0 external to begin with.

I thought maybe I would get more of the nominal performance (up to 60 MB/s) out of a USB 2.0 drive on a USB 3.0 connection seeing as there was more carry capacity and query protocol was not the same, but alas, it was still in the 25 MB/s range as usual.

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James,

This {Dual USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 connectivity} sounds like a bit of marketing mumbo jumbo for the general consumer who may not know that drives are backward compatible. So what you have is a USB 3.0 drive that is backward compatible with USB 2.0. connections on your computer. Those marketing types are really good at saying something the hard way. Dilbert Lives!

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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Both of my drives specify “USB 2.0” and my MB is over 2 years old so unfortunately it seems the only solution for me is to be happy with usb 2.0 or get a new card or a new computer. Thanks for the discussion and insight. Thanks everyone!!

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Hello all,
I have not noticed, in this thread, anyone addressing some of what I consider to be the most important aspects of the exact differences between USB 2.0 and 3.0.

USB 2.0 has 4 wires, 2 for a very low power 5VDC (usually less than .5 A per port as listed in Device Manager) and 2 for data.

USB 3.0 has an additional 4 or 5 wires, for full-duplex data, and much more hardy DC Power wiring.

The 4 wires in USB 2.0 are in the identical location as the new USB 3.0. So any 2.0 component in the line, whether the cable, the device, or the port: lacks the additional wires of 3.0, lacks the additional power capacity of 3.0, and so of course, only 2.0 capabilities are enabled.

When the device, cable, and port are all 3.0, then the extra wiring of 3.0 runs the full distance, and the 3.0 operation is enabled.

In a sense, the controller is irrelevant: if your port is 3.0, you HAVE a 3.0 controller. Nobody puts a 3.0 port on a card or motherboard, and leaves out the 3.0 controller.

On the other hand, I have heard of 3.0 ports/controllers that did not properly identify certain 2.0 devices. So maybe some bugs need to be ironed out after all. Or maybe the person reporting the problem, had “Full-Speed” (old USB 1.1) or “Low-Speed” (old USB 1.0) devices.

According to IEEE, the spec. NOT the “DRAFT” spec, the FINAL spec for “Hi-Speed USB 2.0” cables was identical to USB 1.1 “Full-Speed”. So when a certain cable co. started marketing Hi-Speed 2.0 cables, the only difference from the previously labeled “USB no-speed-mentioned” cables, was the ink on the package. Just like spending $100.00 on a six-foot HDMI cable, as if that will perform at all better than a $3.00 six-foot cable (it won’t, unless you kink the cheap one).

Anyway: 5 extra wires. Full-Duplex, not Half-Duplex. More current/power output for the device.

USB 3.0 ports and cables seem to be standardizing on using a blue connector to differentiate from USB 2.0.

Hope this clarifies. If the extra wires are there and run the total signal length, it is USB 3.0.

If not, it will work at USB 2.0 rates, with USB 2.0 power limitations.

DrWattsOn

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DrWattsOn ,
That was some ‘very good’ information and yes that was just what I needed to hear and what I was originally asking. Thank you so much. There are so many smart people on this forum.

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So the answer to your original question is NO.
If you don’t have a USB 3.0 compatible motherboard your USB 3.0 devices will not transfer data at the higher speed. PERIOD

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I would think that fortunately any new purchase of a good PC will incorporate USB 3 compatible hardware, but in spec. these new PCs you probably have to specify this as I’m sure hardware manufacturers will charge more for USB 3 compatibility until it becomes the default. I believe that Win 7 (with proper drivers installed for your hardware) is fully compliant with USB 3. I guess the bottom line is that in buying new hardware look for this capability, but expect to pay the price.

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Seems like Intel chipsets won’t support USB 3.0 until 2012, which is something some people were predicting back in 2009. Maybe you can get that from Intel’s competitors, but the fact that Intel won’t support it, it’s likely USB 3.0 won’t go mainstream till then.

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There are plenty of Intel chipset boards that support USB 3.0 & SATA 6Gb/s right now.

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There are plenty of Intel chipset boards that support USB 3.0 & SATA 6Gb/s right now.

I guess they have their own discrete controllers integrated into the mobos, which is less efficient. Likely no big difference from adding your own add-on PCIe card.

There is a lot of discussion about Intel’s decision not to support USB 3.0 until their Chief River platform:

Long delay expected for Intel Support of USB 3.0

Native Intel support for USB 3.0 not far off

But Chief River seems to be coming only on 2012:

Chief River on 2012 only

And the reason for Intel dragging its feet is likely their own interest in a different platform:

Intel’s Light Peak may be available in 2011

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