Windows 10: USB3 HDD slower than ext laptop HDD USB2==>SATA cable

Hi there

WD passport (small self powered 2 TB USB3 drive) has appalling performance compared with an OLD laptop HDD that I connect via a USB2==>SATA cable to USB2 port.

Same file (2GB mp4 video) copied to a directory on the SSD.

External laptop HDD connected via USB2==>SATA cable to a USB2 port -- 41 Mb / sec on average -- Ok for a USB2 device of this type

USB3 device connected to the laptops USB3 port = 31 Mb / sec on average. Same file !!!

So obviously there are USB3 devices that don't perform at anything like the rated USB3 speed -- so don't buy a USB3 self powered portable drive and assume it will give you much better speed than USB2 - it won't.

Some might do but a lot of the smaller self powered "passport" types will leave you less than impressed - especially as Laptop HDD's aren't renowned for their speed anyway !!!!. So a USB3 drive performing worse than a laptop HDD -connected externalyy via a USB==>sata connector ??.

Is USB3 really that good or are we just being conned to buy "newer hardware"

Cheers
jimbo

:)

 

USB3 problem with 3 TB external hard drive.

After doing a good bit of research I've created this table of results.

Device `````` `` Win 7 ` Win 10

2TB HDD in USB2 `` Yes `` Yes

2TB HDD in USB3 `` Yes `` Yes

3 TB HDD in USB2 `` Yes `` Yes

3 TB HDD in USB3 `` Yes `` No <----

Edit: OK, as of today Sept. 20 my problem is resolved. I bought a new Inland enclosure, removed the Toshiba 3 TB drive from the old Inland enclosure, put it in the new one, and bingo, it works. It's strange that it worked in the old enclosure with Windows
7 on USB3 and Windows 10 on USB2, but maybe there was a microcode change in the enclosure I bought yesterday. Both enclosures look identical, so that's all I can think of to try to explain it. Whatever, the problem was with the old enclosure and not Windows
10.

I'll just add that now that re my OP post I don't know about the grits, eggs, and Mona Lisa!


I've seen things with USB3 and Bluetooth both that I can only say sure seem strange to me.

 

Can the Windows corrupt the Bios after blue screen?

Hi,

If the Bios is not showing a HDD, there is a problem with the HDD, it's power plug, or the SATA cable\connection...

Is this an actual HDD, or a "Partition" on the same HDD ?

 

I have an older WD Passport with USB 2 and it runs on large files around 40 Mb. I also have a new WD Ultra Passport with USB 3 and it runs over 110 Mb.

Jim *Cool

 

Yes, USB 3 on my PC runs very well. Transfer speeds are only slightly slower than on the internal SATA III connections.

 

Hi there

The newer drives might be OK but the two WD pocket size self powered passport 2TB USB3 drives I have are Terrible for transfer times !!!! - I'll have a go with a USB3 thumb drive and see what happens,

On USB3 I should be expecting at least an average of 90 mb/s - especially when my OS is running on an SSD.

Cheers
jimbo

 

I use a USB 3 HDD dock to connect older SATA HDD's to my system. It works great.

 

USB 3.0 transfer speed is one thing. A hard drive write speed is another and that's probably where the bottle neck is.

 

Have you got the correct USB3 drivers installed, otherwise I suspect it will default to USB2 speeds ?

 

Try this program and it will show you your USB ports and what speed your drive is connected.

USB Device Tree Viewer

Jim *Cool

 

Hi there

What do I need to do to get the program --looks like I need a Doctorate in Computer science to work through that lot your link referred me to -- I can't deal with all that Visual Studio stuff etc -- I'm not a developer. !!!

Cheers
jimbo

 

Jimbo,

Not sure if it will do what you need but NirSoft - freeware utilities: password recovery, system utilities, desktop utilities has View any installed/connected USB device on your system which may help.

Note - A lot of AV suites don't like the Nirsoft stuff but I've been using them for years without issue *Wink

 

Thanks - will try those later -- off to O2 though today to watch the Tennis Final (ATP finals London O2 arena).

Cheers
jimbo

 

Anything here of use ? If I look in device manager without the USB3 drive attached I still USB3 related entries.

How to determine whether a USB 3.0 device is operating at SuperSpeed? - Microsoft Windows USB Core Team Blog - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

 

On my link click on [download] and it will take you to bottom of page which have the download links.







Jim *Cool