Data interfaces can be divided by physical media that transmit data between the host and the connected device into several categories. The most used categories are:
Each of the above mentioned interface types has its advantages and disadvantages, which limit the predominant method of their utilization. In general, the main parameters for the selection of interface type are the cost (benefit of metallic interfaces), speed (advantage of optical interfaces) and mobility (advantage of wireless interface).
USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface is ranked among metallic interfaces and it is the most popular mainly due to its low cost and reachable high speed. Its main competitor, Firewire interface, has never reached such an extension, mainly due to the higher price at a similar speed.
Today, as the most serious competitor for USB 3.0 appears Thunderbolt interface in the current metallic version which offer higher transmission speeds with less overhead capacity and improved development capabilities for the future (optical version is being prepared). Thunderbolt interface is essentially a variant of an external PCI Express and it is already used in several Apple products (e.g. for connecting of monitors).
Advantages of Bluetooth consist mainly in the mobility of connected subscribers and in the speed of its implementation. Since it is a wireless interface, they are often mentioned just these two benefits in comparison with conventional "fixed" interfaces.
Name |
Transfer Rate |
Reachable Distance |
Type |
USB 3.0 |
Up to 5 Gbit/s |
circa 3 m |
Metallic |
USB 2.0 |
Up to 480 Mbit/s |
5 m |
Metallic |
Firewire 800 |
Up to 3,2 Gbit/s |
10 m |
Metallic |
Thunderbolt |
Up to 10 Gbit/s |
3 m |
Metallic/Optical |
Bluetooth 2.0 |
Up to 3 Mbit/s |
10 m (base) |
Wireless |
HDMI 1.4 |
Up to 10,2 Gbit/s video |
circa 10m |
Metallic |
Wi-Fi (802.11n) |
Up to 600 Mbit/s |
hundreds m |
Wireless |
PCI Express 3.0 |
Up to 256 Gbit/s for 16×link |
- |
Metallic |
eSATA |
Up to 3 Gbit/s |
2 m |
Metallic |