Ultra SCSI is the next major performance advancement to the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) after Fast SCSI-2. Ultra SCSI boosts data transfer rates from the Fast SCSI-2 limit of 10 Mbytes per second to 20 Mbytes per second. It also doubles the Fast Wide SCSI-2 data transfer rate from 20 Mbytes per second  to 40 Mbytes per second. These performance improvements create the bandwidth necessary to support the data intensive applications to be used in the Ultra SCSI generation of servers, workstations and high-end personal computers.

The increased data transfer rates are attributable to the faster cycle times for data transfer and the arbitration of SCSI commands. Host systems and devices using Ultra SCSI will be able to negotiate optimal parameters for speed, width, offset, etc. These improvements in cycle times are primarily fueled by the higher speed of new semiconductor technologies employed in SCSI chipsets.

Easing the migration from the huge investment in other SCSI versions, Ultra SCSI is backward-compatible with previous generations of SCSI and uses the same physical environment. Cables, connectors and terminators that support SCSI can support Ultra SCSI. More importantly, Ultra SCSI can be integrated without having to modify or change operating systems.

Strategically, Ultra SCSI is the logical migration of SCSI to accommodate system-level technology improvements and ever-increasing demand by users for higher performance. Until the infrastructure to support the Fibre Channel serial interface is fully developed, Ultra SCSI is the cost-effective solution for servers and workstations. Over time, Ultra SCSI will appear in personal computers as integration costs decline.