USB 3.2 Gen 2 x 2 Header as found on ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Extreme. These are quite rare and only a select few top of the line motherboards feature this at the moment. However, they have dual channels are specifically labelled as USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 on the specifications. These are similar to the USB 3.1 Gen 2 headers above.
If you have a PC case with a relevant port, then it will come with the following cable. In the recent motherboards, this is known as the USB 3.2 Gen 2 header. It does not have pins sticking out like the rest of the USB headers. USB 3.1 Gen 2 Header – aka USB 3.2 Gen 2 HeaderĪ USB 3.1 Gen 2 header has a very unique form factor. If you have a PC case with USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen 1 / 3.2 Gen 2 ports, then it will come with a cable similar to the one shown below: USB 3.0 Header Cable 3. So basically as the USB standard changes the nomenclature, so do the motherboard manufacturers.
The older motherboards may have the other names. The latest motherboards label this header as USB 3.2 Gen 1 header. This header has been called by many different names includingīasically the name that you find for this header on a motherboard specsheet depends upon WHEN the motherboard was manufactured. USB 3.0 Header – aka USB 3.1 Gen 1, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Header USB 3.0 HeaderĪ USB 3.0 header has 19 pins arranged in a 2 x 10 array. If you have a PC case with USB 2.0 ports, it will be accompanied with this plug: USB 2.0 Header Cable 2. The 10th missing pin from the array serves as the key for aligning the plug correctly. They are small and their pins are arranged in a 5×2 grid.
So USB 2.0 ports will go into the USB 2.0 header, USB 3.0 ports will go into USB 3.0 headers and so on. Therefore, depending upon what USB ports you have on your PC case, you will connect them to the corresponding header. There are essentially four types of USB headers: In other words, a USB 2.0 header is different from a USB 3.0 header. And 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type C) port – which is the same as USB 3.1 gen 2.ĭifferent USB versions have different USB headers on the motherboard. This case has 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type A) ports – which are same as USB 3.0 essentially. If your PC case has USB ports, then it will also come with plugs that need to be connected to the correct headers. USB headers are basically connectors on the motherboards for connecting the USB ports found on the PC Case. With that out of the way, now let us now look at what are USB headers. Hopefully, with the USB 4.0 around the corner, the naming convention will get a bit simpler. USB 3.1 Gen 2 = 10.0 Gbps (aka USB 3.2 Gen 2) – SuperSpeed+.USB 3.0 = 5.0 Gbps (aka USB 3.1 Gen 1, USB 3.2 Gen 2) – SuperSpeed.The only important USB versions you need to take note of are as follows as they brought a change in speed. Even the most adept PC builders often do. If you are confused on the first glance, its ok. USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 uses the specifications of USB 3.2 Gen 2 ( SuperpSpeed+) and doubles it (i.e 10 x 2 = 20 Gbps) and thus conveniently calling itself SuperSpeed++.USB 3.2 Gen 1×2 uses the specifications of Gen 3.0 (aka SuperSpeed) and doubles it over two channels (i.e 5.0 x 2 = 10 Gbps).This specification is called SuperSpeed++ and can reach 20 Mbps. It is thus named as USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (indicating dual channel). They double the transfer rate of the older specifications. The only new specifications USB 3.2 introduces are dual channels usable only over Type C ports.USB 3.2 Gen 2 has the same specifications as the USB 3.1 Gen 2 which is called SuperSpeed+.Often when we talk about USB 3.1 speeds, we are actually referring to USB 3.1 Gen 2 speeds (10 Gbps) NOT Gen 1 since USB 3.1 Gen 1 is the same as USB 3.0 (5.0 Gbps).They all use the specifications called SuperSpeed. USB 3.0, 3.1 Gen 1 and USB 3.2 Gen 1 are all the SAME, just different names revised over and over with different versions.
You can see how confusing the names for the USB can be.