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Topic: 100W USB Spec, more options for devices such as bitcoin miners (Read 1016 times)

legendary
Activity: 1456
Merit: 1000
I think the biggest market for a "100W USBx port" will be for device charging (e.g. phone, tablet, etc). While a higher power port would be great for USB stick miners, it won't drive the adoption.

Most devices will not handle near that though.  There are some that the quicker charging stations with more power but I don't think it's near 100w.

I think it will be years if they even do release something like this.  I mean usb 2.0 hangs around on a lot of devices still even with 3.0 out there.  It's hard to get people to move to next gen.   Takes time for them to get enough devices to do it.
alh
legendary
Activity: 1846
Merit: 1052
I think the biggest market for a "100W USBx port" will be for device charging (e.g. phone, tablet, etc). While a higher power port would be great for USB stick miners, it won't drive the adoption.
legendary
Activity: 1456
Merit: 1000
The spec, as described in what's linked above, first tests the connection to see what kind of current the cabling can handle. The peak current delivered is 5A, which I find pretty high for USB since most jacks I've seen are rated for 2A or less. The voltage increase (from 5V up to 12 or 20) gives you a substantial power transfer increase without a substantial increase in resistive losses (which would be based more on current throughput). Sure you'd need a solid cable to run 100W but a "typical" cable could probably handle the 18W through 60W profiles without a lot of trouble. A fully-USB 60W pod miner would be pretty smexy.

I don't disagree about that.   A pod that had power specs around that would be very nice.  Espically if you could do lets say 10 of them on a hub.  Would be a great thing for miners (assuming price is not horrible for hubs, and new gear that are up to spec to handle it).

I don't see this moving fast though.  Consumer gear just does not need near this in most cases.  Most people will be using keyboards, mice, usb drives, etc.   Us miners sadly make up a small section of market.
legendary
Activity: 3374
Merit: 1859
Curmudgeonly hardware guy
The spec, as described in what's linked above, first tests the connection to see what kind of current the cabling can handle. The peak current delivered is 5A, which I find pretty high for USB since most jacks I've seen are rated for 2A or less. The voltage increase (from 5V up to 12 or 20) gives you a substantial power transfer increase without a substantial increase in resistive losses (which would be based more on current throughput). Sure you'd need a solid cable to run 100W but a "typical" cable could probably handle the 18W through 60W profiles without a lot of trouble. A fully-USB 60W pod miner would be pretty smexy.
legendary
Activity: 1456
Merit: 1000
Yeah, you could even build a Rockerbox stickminer. It'd still be stupid, but at least it'd be possible.

Also, every stick you just mentioned would catch fire unless the hub regulated input power down to 5V. Spec says full power comes at 20Vin which would smoke pretty much every USB device ever made.

I would agree going to 100 watt vs the amount on usb 2/3 is just crazy.  All old usb cords would also not be up to par to do 100 w.  So devices and cords not made for it.

I don't see it being adapted.  Yes a miner might use it but most consumers just don't need it.  I would rather stick with a PSU on that many watts anyways.
legendary
Activity: 3374
Merit: 1859
Curmudgeonly hardware guy
Yeah, you could even build a Rockerbox stickminer. It'd still be stupid, but at least it'd be possible.

Also, every stick you just mentioned would catch fire unless the hub regulated input power down to 5V. Spec says full power comes at 20Vin which would smoke pretty much every USB device ever made.
hero member
Activity: 896
Merit: 1006
think about the amount of U2's, sidehack sticks and avalon micro's you would be able to power from one USB port  Grin
alh
legendary
Activity: 1846
Merit: 1052
Might be a while until my PC has that kind of port in it, and the corresponding coffee warmer.

While I think a better USB spec for power delivery is great, there may not be a lot of folks that implement it for maximum delivery. Particularly anytime soon.
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