14 DAY TRIAL // Native chipset support for the Super Speed USB 3.0 standard won't arrive until next year, and this has been a reason for discontent among both motherboard makers and end-users, especially with all the USB 3.0 flash drives, hard drives and other electronics that have debuted over the past months. Fortunately, there is a workaround for this problem, known as controller chips, and Fresco Logic has just entered the spotlight to show off its newest such creation.
The new host controller goes by the name of FL1009 and is the successor to the FL1000. It is compliant with xHCI Rev 1.0 and USB 3.0 Rev 1.0 specifications and makes use of the PCI Express Gen II x1 interface. What is even more important, however, is the GoXtream xHCI Accelerator engine. This technology does not only reduce power consumption, but it does so without preventing the chip from reaching top performance.
“Following successful mass production of our first host controller FL1000 this year, Fresco Logic demonstrated excellent execution again by rolling out a new two-port USB 3.0 host controller chip, FL1009, to meet customer requirements for different market segments,” Bob McVay, CTO of Fresco Logic, said. “Customers will benefit greatly by targeting specific products for their application, and will achieve time-to market advantage with a solution that offers the best cost vs. performance ratio available.”
As it would be expected from a technology slightly ahead of its time, the FL1009 is backwards compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1, to ensure universal compatibility. The controller itself can power two ports and should make its way to a variety of notebooks, add-in cards and, of course, mainboards. An actual demonstration will be made at Computex, at the start of June.
“The total worldwide market for SuperSpeed USB 3.0 is expected to reach over 1 billion units in 2013, the availability of USB 3.0 Host is essential to the successful deployment and broad market adoption of SuperSpeed USB,” Brian O’Rourke, principal analyst at In-Stat, stated. “Fresco logic is at the forefront of USB 3.0, the introduction of Fresco Logic’ FL1000 last year and FL1009 now makes them well positioned to help satisfy market demand.”