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Why aren't motherboards mostly USB-C by now? (2021)

philip.greenspun.com

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Re: Why aren't motherboards mostly USB-C by now? (2021)

#351

Post by TrueSlacker0 »

hulitu wrote: post #298
userbinator wrote: post #154

My experience has shown that USB C connectors are far more fragile than A, and every time I plug one in, for some reason the fit just feels vague and unsatisfying. An A plug, when you get it the right way, slides in solidly. As others have mentioned, C seems to have been designed to be the smallest possible, which makes sense for mobile devices, but not for a desktop and its peripherals.

I have the same experience. The USB-C on my phone is dyin. Charging the phone has become a challenge. Yet on my 12 years old computer, the front USB A ports are a bit loose, but still working properly.

100% agree with this. My 2.5yr old phone will not longer register the usb-c port and I have to charge it wirelessly. My PC still has a few USB connection ports from 2009 that still work. (Although most are newer than that)

Re: Why aren't motherboards mostly USB-C by now? (2021)

#352

Post by GuB-42 »

All of the devices I have plugged in or use regularly on my desktop now are USB-A:

Only USB-A, no plug on the other side: keyboard, USB stick, Oculus Rift (CV1)

B/mini/micro on the other side: scanner, digitizer tablet, sound card

USB-C but shipped with USB-A to C cable: mouse

USB-C, shipped with both USB-A and C cable: HDMI capture card

Many of my devices that use USB for charging are still micro-USB

So yeah, many of these devices are quite old, but from a practical standpoint, I actually need zero USB-C sockets on my motherboard, and many USB-A. I guess it will change in the future, and it is good I have a USB-C (unused) port on my motherboard, but for now USB-A is simply more useful.

Re: Why aren't motherboards mostly USB-C by now? (2021)

#353

Post by ericpauley »

mavamaarten wrote: post #347
atoav wrote: post #226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As the goto electronics guy I have swen broken USB A but not broken USB-C (yet). USB-C is sturdy, the weakness is either going to be the cable or the bonding of the copper with the PCB. Both is basically a matter of go much money the manufacturers are willing to spend.

My experiences differ. I've had plenty of USB-C devices of which the port becomes very loose after a while of normal use. I'm glad my current phone has wireless charging, not because of its convenience but because that way I don't wear out the USB-C port. USB-A is so simple, two holes and some leaf springs make for a satisfying clunk that doesn't wear out so quickly.

Are you sure there isn’t just dirt in the port? Or a bad cable? I’ve consistently had luck cleaning gunk out of USB C ports and having them work like new.

Re: Why aren't motherboards mostly USB-C by now? (2021)

#354

Post by arghwhat »

onetimeuse92304 wrote: post #250
arcticbull wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interestingly enough, they're specced the opposite way. > Standard USB has a minimum rated lifetime of 1,500 cycles of insertion and removal, the Mini-USB receptacle increased this to 5,000 cycles, and the newer Micro-USB and USB-C receptacles are both designed for a minimum rated lifetime of 10,000 cycles of insertion and removal. [1] > To accomplish this, a locking device was added and the leaf-spring was moved fro…

The insertion cycles are only for proper insertion. Like when you are looking at it and doing it at a correct angle. Also, rated lifetime does not take into account things like tugging the cable to the side of your PC because your foot got tangled in it. USB C is extremely fragile due to its size and not much can be done to help it. USB C might be created to withstand more insertion cycles. After all it is meant to b…

Funny you say that, I can tell from family experience that USB type A ports are quite fragile to a vertical tug as it breaks the internal plastic bar at its base so you're left with a hole full of floating copper pins. It of course requires more than a light tug, but less than you'd think.

The USB-C housing is much more rigid than that of type A, so it should handle this much better. The thinner bar might also handle deflection better by virtue of flexibility.

Also, hardware engineers know that ports are operated by drunk gorillas. Incorrect usage and odd forces are considered when designing a physical interface.

Re: Why aren't motherboards mostly USB-C by now? (2021)

#355

Post by IYasha »

GuB-42 wrote: post #352

All of the devices I have plugged in or use regularly on my desktop now are USB-A: Only USB-A, no plug on the other side: keyboard, USB stick, Oculus Rift (CV1) B/mini/micro on the other side: scanner, digitizer tablet, sound card USB-C but shipped with USB-A to C cable: mouse USB-C, shipped with both USB-A and C cable: HDMI capture card Many of my devices that use USB for charging are still micro-USB So yeah, many o…

USB-A is only unsuitable for small handheld devices, but is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO less confusing than all others!

Re: Why aren't motherboards mostly USB-C by now? (2021)

#356

Post by IYasha »

wilsonnb3 wrote: post #152
dbtc wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What phone would you buy right now if needed one?

Asus and Sony are still holdouts in the premium price range, Motorola and OnePlus in the budget range, and also a number of Chinese manufacturers I think

Sony, AFAIK, still gurantees boot unlocking, so, they're cool. But the price...

Re: Why aren't motherboards mostly USB-C by now? (2021)

#357

Post by m463 »

GuB-42 wrote: post #352

All of the devices I have plugged in or use regularly on my desktop now are USB-A: Only USB-A, no plug on the other side: keyboard, USB stick, Oculus Rift (CV1) B/mini/micro on the other side: scanner, digitizer tablet, sound card USB-C but shipped with USB-A to C cable: mouse USB-C, shipped with both USB-A and C cable: HDMI capture card Many of my devices that use USB for charging are still micro-USB So yeah, many o…

I hate the trend to remove USB-A from laptops. Put as many or as few USB-C ports as you want, but there should be at least two USB-A ports.

Re: Why aren't motherboards mostly USB-C by now? (2021)

#359

Post by arghwhat »

GuB-42 wrote: post #352

All of the devices I have plugged in or use regularly on my desktop now are USB-A: Only USB-A, no plug on the other side: keyboard, USB stick, Oculus Rift (CV1) B/mini/micro on the other side: scanner, digitizer tablet, sound card USB-C but shipped with USB-A to C cable: mouse USB-C, shipped with both USB-A and C cable: HDMI capture card Many of my devices that use USB for charging are still micro-USB So yeah, many o…

At this point, the only type A cables I use are bundled cables that have type C at the other end because I don't have enough type C ports for all C-C cables. In other words, I actually need zero USB type A ports - I'm just without choice.

There's still the oddball micro-B (or mini-B, which is an awful connector) device out there, but that does not require a type A port.

Re: Why aren't motherboards mostly USB-C by now? (2021)

#360

Post by IYasha »

kalium-xyz wrote: post #341
xvilka wrote: post #335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And other half of the time you tighten another?

Yes :P. I’m a coward and never put it in without tightening at least one or both

I drilled two holes in my laptop as it had no room for VGA cable screws :D (about 2y ago)
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