A reference sheet mapping USB generations, speeds, connector types, and naming conventions across the full USB standard history.
Key Takeaways
USB 3.2 Gen naming uses generation for speed tier and “by” for lane width, roughly paralleling PCIe naming conventions.
USB 3, USB 3.1, and USB 3.2 refer to overlapping spec revisions, making chipset speed claims (5-20 Gbps) ambiguous without Gen/lane qualifiers.
USB4v2 introduces PAM3 11b/7t line encoding, a significant shift from earlier USB signaling schemes.
Power Delivery generations and profiles are part of the USB ecosystem but often omitted from quick-reference materials.
Hacker News Comment Review
The 3.2 Gen x By x naming draws split reactions: technically defensible (parallels PCIe), but vendor abuse means “supports 3.1 or 3.2” still leaves a 5-20 Gbps ambiguity in practice.
Commenters flag gaps: no female/male Type-C pinouts, no PD profile breakdown, no PAM3 signaling detail for USB4v2, and no placement of Thunderbolt 5 in the hierarchy.
Notable Comments
@15155: Flags missing PAM3 11b/7t encoding detail for USB4v2 and calls for PD generations/profiles coverage.
@brcmthrowaway: Raises where Thunderbolt 5 fits into the sheet’s taxonomy.