Contrary to what the rapid popularity rise of USB 3.0 would have one believe, the USB 2.0 interface had not managed to reach the apex of its capability when its successor gained traction.
USB 2.0 supposedly has a maximum bandwidth of 480 Mbps, which is about the same as 60 MB/s.
Unfortunately, when plugging any USB stick or other sort of storage drive in a 2.0 port, the best rates rarely go above 30/40 MB/s.
That goes for USB 3.0-compatible devices as well: when connected to a previous-generation port, they don't really work as well as they should.
VIA
decided it was time it did something about this limitation.
The company may no longer be relevant on the chipset and motherboard markets, or even the CPU industry, but its reach in other areas extends far.
USB hub controllers are one of its most extensive branches.
Many motherboards and laptops have USB 3.0 hub controllers from VIA.
Now, those controllers will include the “USB2Expressway Dedicated Bandwidth Technology,” which provides full bandwidth per port for every USB 2.0 device that is connected.
In other words, not only will Hi-Speed-compatible drives operate at their best, but they can do it in tandem.
Thus, even copying from one USB 2.0 device to another will go at 60 MB/s instead of the theoretical bandwidth being shared between the two.
“VIA Labs unveiled the world’s first USB 3.0 Hub at CES in 2010, introduced the VL811 second-generation USB 3.0 Hub controller with USB Battery Charging support in 2011, and for 2012, we are bringing true innovation in the form of USB2Expressway” said Terrance Shih, product manager, VIA Labs, Inc.
“Even when copying files between two USB 2.0 drives, USB2Expressway can cut transfer times by 5x or more since we support simultaneous reading and writing of data. It breathes life back into your existing USB devices. ”
Unfortunately, the company chose not to say exactly which of its USB 3.0 hub chips supports the new feature. Hopefully, a list will be made public soon.
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