By PURPLELEC | 06 December 2024 | 0 Comments
USB Type C Performance Revealed: The Truth Behind Speed
USB Type C, the splashy new port, has become widely available in laptops, tablets, phones, and more over the past year. However, until recently, we hadn't really tested its throughput performance. Although USB Type C is supposed to be a universal standard, it has caused a lot of confusion for users.
USB Type C Speed Myths
USB Type C ports can have speeds ranging from 480Mbps (USB 2.0 speed) to 10Gbps. Laptop manufacturers often label it as USB 3.1, but in reality, USB Type C can support different speed standards. To make matters more confusing, Intel's Thunderbolt 3 technology also uses the same USB Type C port and transmits over PCIe, supporting USB 3.1's 10Gbps speed.
Key Factors Affecting USB Type C Performance
USB Type C performance is affected by several factors. The first is the PC's source drive. If the drive interface can't match the maximum speed of USB Type C, then the port's speed will be limited. Another major factor is the port controller chip. Popular chips on the market today include ASmedia's ASM1142 (USB 3.1, 10Gbps chip) and Intel's expensive Thunderbolt 3 chip. Many laptops use the USB 3.0 controller built into Intel's core logic chipset, which means that any USB 3.1 Type C port can only reach the maximum speed of USB 3.0, 5Gbps.
Our testing methods
To test USB Type C performance, we used Sandisk's Extreme 900 SSD, which supports USB Type C at 10Gbps speeds. We plugged this SSD into each laptop's USB Type C port and ran the AS SSD storage benchmark.
The test results are not surprising, with most laptop manufacturers choosing the lowest-cost option, which is to use the included Intel USB 3.0 5Gbps controller connected to the USB Type C port. Laptops using ASMedia chips and Thunderbolt 3 showed higher performance.
It’s worth noting that the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro laptop takes a rather unusual approach by integrating an Intel “Alpine Ridge” Thunderbolt 3 chip but only using the USB support in it. Even though this laptop doesn’t support Thunderbolt 3, it still performs faster than a regular USB Type C port.
Conclusion
Looking through the benchmark charts, we can clearly see that having a full USB 3.1 10Gbps port on your laptop or desktop does have its advantages. Not only does it save time waiting for files to copy to your USB drive, but it also allows you to make the most of that brand new USB 3.1 10Gbps drive you just bought. As USB Type C ports appear on more machines, it will become essential to read the fine print in the specs carefully.
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