Intel denies USB 3.0 abuse, dangles controller spec from window

Nothing captures the public's attention faster than a sensational accusation. Pit industry heavyweights like AMD and NVIDIA against Intel and you've got yourself an LA-style courtroom drama. On one side of the bench we see AMD and NVIDIA, stamping their feet and insisting that Intel is keeping the USB 3.0 spec under wraps in order to lock vendors into Intel chipsets. On the other, Intel, tonguing a bittersweet no we're not raspberry right back at the pair. In a lengthy retort, Intel claims, (1) it's not its spec to hide -- it's owned by the USB 3.0 Promoter Group consisting of HP, Intel, Microsoft, NEC, NXP, and TI; and (2) the "gazillions of dollars and bazillions of man hours" Intel has spent developing the royalty-free USB 3.0 controller spec (a 3.0 "dummies guide") is meant to ensure that the industry can start building the USB 3.0 spec into their silicon as quickly as possible after its release later this year. Of course, Intel offers plenty of verbiage to support its claims. But in a case of he-said, she-said, the truth may never be known to the titillated outsiders who've likely made up their minds anyway.

[Via PCWorld]

[Oinquer @ Jun 12th 2008 5:42AM]

yeah right.. Intel not using low methods to get ahead in market...righttttttttttttt...........

[Paul @ Jun 12th 2008 4:41AM]

Who freaking cares? I just want faster USB ASAP!

[Chuckles McGee @ Jun 12th 2008 7:24AM]

AMD and NVIDIA should just... Beat It.

[Bob @ Jun 12th 2008 10:26AM]

Just Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, Beat It
No One Wants To Be Defeated
Showin' How Funky Strong Is Your Fight
It Doesn't Matter Who's Wrong Or Right

[Phoenix @ Aug 14th 2008 1:34PM]

Hell, yes! I'd love a faster interface too, but the problem comes with systems that aren't upgraded yet so you go from blazing fast to DEAR GOD WHEN WILL THIS THING BE DONE?!?!?!? ^_^

[gijs @ Jun 12th 2008 4:41AM]

That's intresting. If so, why are Nvid and AMD doing so? I know it : They need that DUMMY guide ! They don't have the skills :) (I'm NOT an Intel Fanboy)

[Juaquin @ Jun 12th 2008 12:47PM]

Then what are you?

[Jonathan Worrel @ Jun 12th 2008 1:30PM]

Intel is being the same bully by not allowing Nvidia to make Nehalem chipsets. Looks like they're going down the toilet and they're trying to profit as much as they can..

http://www.fudzilla.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7713&Itemid=1

[Jon Doe. @ Jun 12th 2008 6:21PM]

I don't see the problem here. NVidia refuses to give Intel SLI so Intel counters by telling Nvidia to go frack themselves when they ask for Nehalem chipsets. There is a give and take relationship. If Nvidia wants to play they need to pay up with SLI. Instead of complaining they should give it to Intel, get Nehalem, and then make the NEXT version of SLI whatever that would be.

[Carl M @ Jun 12th 2008 4:47AM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Host_controller_interface

The truth shall not be known by people who do not wish to learn.

[Richard Lai @ Jun 12th 2008 5:05AM]

How about more Wireless-USB first?

[Jon Doe. @ Jun 12th 2008 6:24PM]

Yah because wireless USB would solve throughput issues on high cap hard drives via USB.....USB 2 sucks ass for anything other then flash drives. In the age of multiGB disk images and video USB 2 should have been replaced by FW800 2 years ago...at least. Pitty FW800 is so damn expensive.

[Haikibutsu @ Jun 12th 2008 5:21AM]

How about increasing speeds on the devices themselves first?

[601210 @ Jun 12th 2008 5:34AM]

You need a faster bus for that..

[Awax @ Jun 12th 2008 5:38AM]

1st - because with a bigger bus, you can also fit more of currently existing devices.
2nd - because many devices are not limited by the bus but by their inner technology and those devices should not slow down the development of those who might be able to go even faster

[Kurian @ Jun 12th 2008 5:46AM]

My Corsair Flash Voyager GT gives me 32MBps. My USB HDD gives 38MBps, the theoretical maximum data transfer from USB 2.0 after protocol overheads.

[ahdok @ Jun 12th 2008 5:49AM]

Sorry, but Nilay seems to have beaten you to this story...

http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/11/amd-and-nvidia-accuse-intel-of-withholding-usb-3-0-specs/

[bk7 @ Jun 12th 2008 6:04AM]

did you even read the article? or even the title at all?
The first article which YOU link to is AMD and Nvidia ARE ACCUSING Intel of withholding info.
This article is Intel IS DENYING acusations..

[alf @ Jun 12th 2008 6:36AM]

bk7 - actually I think you need to re-read it... it's a typical weasel-like answer from Intel... while they deny withholding the spec, they then go on to say that they are not releasing it until after Intel's own products are launched with the functionality integrated!!!

That gives them many months headstart over the competition on a supposedly "open" standard. Not cool.

This is exactly what they did with USB 1.0 and they're doing it again - AMD and NVIDIA's only choice, if they don't want to be behind Intel in the market, is to form their own spec and make sure everybody who isn't Intel conforms with that instead of the unreleased Intel spec.

[John @ Jun 12th 2008 8:25AM]

alf,

I think you're missing the point of bk7's comment. Two different articles, each had unique information. There was never a question of semantics.

[ahdok @ Jun 13th 2008 4:31PM]

Erm... you're saying these are different because one says "intel denies AMD accusation" and the other says "AMD accuse, intel deny"? I mean the two articles do both provide some unique information the other does not, but they do both cover exactly the same story.

[Ethan @ Jun 12th 2008 6:54AM]

Can they just call it SB 3.0 if it's not universal then? Open standards FTW etc.

[Richard Lai @ Jun 12th 2008 7:12PM]

It wouldn't be 3.0 then, would it? ;)

[Danakin @ Jun 12th 2008 8:42AM]

As longs as it doesn't slow anything up for the release of 3.0, i don't care what company does what.

[Gr1zz @ Jun 12th 2008 10:21AM]

The title to this article is just....wow.

[dan2600 @ Jun 12th 2008 9:35AM]

We all know what happens when a "Standardized" product spec gets released before the Dummies guy gets released, you get 12 different, incompatible with one another, versions that take years to finally get working right. I'll take intel's side with this one, and just say release it once its done and ready and not a second earlier.

[aard @ Jun 12th 2008 9:57AM]

Judging by how well AMD is doing against intel, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they didn't exist by the time USB 3.0 comes 'round in 2010-ish...

[Derwin @ Jun 12th 2008 11:10AM]

That title made me laugh this morning, thanks for that.

[AppleDude @ Jun 12th 2008 3:58PM]

It's not like Intel told AMD and Nvidia to wait while they spend their own R&D budget on working out this Dummies guide. I would expect A & N would have access to the open spec from the USB group no different than Intel. If they are unhappy waiting for someone else to do all the work, maybe they should pony up their own cash and get to work on the spec themselves.