M4600 Performance of USB 3.0

Original post was deleted for wrong info, sorry for that.

It seems the labeling is right, I am the one who did the wrong test initially.
However, my USB 3.0 stick is not working at expected speed on the USB 3.0 ports. Speed is about the same at both version ports.

USB 3.0 = 30mb/s read, write. sequential
USB 2.0 = 25mb/s read, write. sequential

Result on my Desktop USB 3.0 port is much higher than this, (110 read, 70 write sequential) Not sure why this happened on m4600.

Installed Renesas latest driver and still the same. Restart laptop, AC plugged in won't change anything. I don't have other USB 3.0 device for test.

Update 30/09/2011
New stick back from warranty now working at USB3 speed on M4600. The earlier stick was proven to have problem but reason remained unknown since it worked in some other environment.

 

Really? When did you test this and what were the speed results? Seems like a pretty big goof on Dell's part if this is actually the case!

 

Have you tested the USB 3.0 flash drive in another computer to be sure that it will run faster than 30MB/s? What benchmark did you use? I have measured ~70MB/s with an A-data USB 3.0 flash drive on my Lenovo T420s which uses the same Renesas USB 3.0 controller.

Your other test would be to get a USB 3.0 enclosure and use a spare HDD / SSD.

John

PS: I've also changed the thread title

 

OP did say it was tested on desktop...

 

Just tested again on desktop that the hdtune result is read 119 mb/s. Can't get it work on m4600, it seems the usb stick is treated as 2.0 and read speed at 29-30 mb/s.

Tested using USB 3.0 expresscard on m4600, same Renesas controller, and i am getting USB 3.0 result.



Is that because the pins do not fit properly between the header and port on m4600?

 

Just checking: 1. You are using the USB port(s) with a Blue tab? 2. Device Manager lists the USB 3.0 and shows that it is working.

John

 

No blue tab this year. The silk screen is orange and the ports are on the right hand side.

 

As per the specs the USB 3.0 ports are on the right side. I thought it was standard practice to provide a blue plastic insert within USB 3.0 connectors - that's what I have for my single USB 3.0 port (on Lenovo T420s) and on a cable and my flash drive.

John

 

More update on the USB 3.0 issue.

I tried again on both USB 3.0 ports on m4600 with my Patriot USB 3.0 stick.
Both ports are giving read speed about 30 Mb/s, which is USB 2.0 speed. The USB 3.0 stick is treated as USB 2.0 obviously
Plug in and out many times, restart notebook etc still the same. Below is the hdtune result.


I get a USB 3.0 hub, connect it to m4600 USB 3.0 port, and plug in my USB 3.0 stick to the hub.
Guess what, I am now getting USB 3.0 speed at >120 Mb/s
Plug in and out at different ports several times and still getting good speed. Below is the hdtune result.



What kind of funny problem is this ??? :confused2:

So lets now see the logic:-

1) The USB 3.0 stick works on Desktop USB 3.0 ports.
2) The USB 3.0 stick works on USB 3.0 Hub on Desktop USB 3.0 ports.
3) The USB 3.0 stick doesn't work on m4600 USB 3.0 ports (works at USB 2.0 speed)
4) The USB 3.0 stick works on USB 3.0 Hub on m4600 USB 3.0 ports.

This is confusing... Can I say m4600 doesn't like my USB 3.0 stick, but willing to accept it when an agent is used ?

 

Could it be something to do with the power? I noticed that the hub in the picture is plugged in to a power supply. Maybe try running the test again without the hub plugged in (if it still runs).

Edit: Or maybe the laptop is supplying less power through the USB ports when it's not plugged in?