> what in the world could "USB 3.1 Gen 2" possibly mean? Versions are free, why not simply name it "USB 3.2" and make the next one 3.3?
USB 3.1 Gen 1 is the straight rebranding of USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen 2 is the "original" 3.1, which is 3.0 updated to a 10Gbps signalling rate (from 5), and a more efficient encoding (128/132, versus 8/10).
But wait, there's worse!
USB 3.2 Gen 1 is the same thing as USB 3.1 Gen 1
USB 3.2 Gen 2 is the same thing as USB 3.1 Gen 2
USB 3.2 Gen 1x2 is 2 lanes of Gen 1 (both G1 and G2 are single-lane), so 2x5Gbps at 8/10
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 is 2 lanes of Gen 2, so 2x10Gbps at 128/132.
Don't ask me why you'd want to use 1x2, I've no idea, and apparently USB-IF doesn't either (they don't even recommend a marketing name for it).
USB 3.1 Gen 1 is the straight rebranding of USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen 2 is the "original" 3.1, which is 3.0 updated to a 10Gbps signalling rate (from 5), and a more efficient encoding (128/132, versus 8/10).
But wait, there's worse!
USB 3.2 Gen 1 is the same thing as USB 3.1 Gen 1
USB 3.2 Gen 2 is the same thing as USB 3.1 Gen 2
USB 3.2 Gen 1x2 is 2 lanes of Gen 1 (both G1 and G2 are single-lane), so 2x5Gbps at 8/10
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 is 2 lanes of Gen 2, so 2x10Gbps at 128/132.
Don't ask me why you'd want to use 1x2, I've no idea, and apparently USB-IF doesn't either (they don't even recommend a marketing name for it).