Asus Lays Claim to First USB 3.1 Gen 2 Certified Motherboard

Asus is in full brag mode over the claim that its TUF Sabertooth Z97 Mark 2/USB 3.1 is the world's first motherboard to achieve SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps certification for USB 3.1 Gen 2 data transfer speeds.
According to Asus, its Z97 Sabertooth board had to pass a series of tests set forth by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). It's not just a raw speed thing -- the certification process also includes signal quality checks, stress tests, and sustained transmission capabilities.
"USB-IF certification is a proven testing and evaluation process that is absolutely necessary for product interoperability and reliability," said Jeff Ravencraft, USB-IF President and COO. "As the next generation of USB technology hits the market, we strongly encourage consumers to look for USB-IF-certified products, such as the ASUS TUF Sabertooth Z97 Mark 2/USB 3.1 motherboard, to ensure the best possible user experience."
It's a Generational thing
When shopping a motherboard or system with USB 3.1 listed on the spec sheet, be sure that it's a Gen 2 spec if you want the fastest speed available. It's an important distinction, and somewhat confusing, as USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 Gen 1 are basically the same thing. Or in USB-IF's words (PDF), "USB 3.1 Gen 1 and USB 3.0 terms are synonymous" -- both top out at 5Gbps. That's still a huge gain over USB 2.0 (480Mbps), but only half of USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps), which is what many people think of when they see USB 3.1.

• USB 2.0: 480Mbps (60MB/s)
• USB 3.0: 5Gbps (625MB/s)
• USB 3.1 Gen 1: 5Gbps (625MB/s)
• USB 3.1 Gen 2: 10Gbps (1,250MB/s)

A real world example of this is Apple's Retina Macbook, the one with a single USB 3.1 Type-C connector and no other ports. Even though it sports a fancy Type-C connector and is labeled as USB 3.1, it's a Gen 1 spec, so really it's USB 3.0 in a pretty dress or spiffy suit.

 

Asus TUF Sabertooth Z97 Mark 2/USB 3.1
USB shenanigans aside, the Sabertooth Z97 is a "military grade" motherboard for socket LGA 1150 processors. It has four DIMM slots supporting up to 32GB of DDR3-1866 memory, two PCI-E 3.1 x16 slots, a single PCI-E 2.0 x16 slot, three PCI-E x1 slots, half a dozen SATA 6Gbps ports, two rear USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, two rear USB 3.0 ports, four rear USB 2.0 ports, and a host of other features.
The board is available now for $175(Kshs.19,000)