MX7515 USB2 news --> go Firewire

Hi, I hope you remember my hundreds of posts (not that much really) regarding MX7515 and USB2 performance....
Well, I just gave up and decided to move forward and change my external enclosures for Firewire (1394a) capable ones.
Well, the result is VERY good and I can do backups and DVD ripping at respectable speed again.....it's really annoying to get poor performance with this power machine...
Now the facts:
Seagate 120GB 8MB buffer in external enclosure, Firewire: Max 32MB/s, average of 30MB/s (HDTune)
Plextor PX716A DVD burner, Firewire: DVD ripping at 12X-14X max.
So if your external devices support Firewire, don't even think about it and put them to work as they deserve...cheap Firewire cables are available in ebay for less that 5USD.

The BAD thing is that new generation Ipods (video) do not support Firewire transfers....Apple going cheapo?? So my music still goes turtle fast from laptop to Ipod device. Steve: WHY????

 

This is not technicaly true
you can still charge your iPod with Firewire but not transfer data
And they did it to save space in the new iPods
They found that USB 2.0 was more commonly used than Firewire (though it maybe slower--the USB that is) and they only had room inside the new iPods for a piece supporting one of the two of them
so for maximum compatability with what people have/use they went with USB 2.0
I have not found USB 2.0 to be extrmemly slow but I just got a PC that supports 2.0 just a month ago and I hae never tried Firewire though my PC does support it...
Just some info.,
-TBird

 

That's why I specified Firewire transfers....I know charging does work but only over 6pin 1394, MX7515 has 4pin 1394 so not even charging is feasable.
The space might need that cut, but from Firewire "pusher" (Apple) I did not expect lack of 1394 support for transfers/sync.
Just for others to keep in mind and notice that some 5th Gen Ipod gadgets are sold as "compatible" and do not work 100% (why buy a 1394 cable just for charging if you already have USB....)
This is getting off topic though, main thing was sharing MX7515 Firewire experience for those who suffer poor USB2 performance.

 

I read the 'slow USB' discussions last year, right after I bought my MX7515. At that point the only external storage I had was a Firewire DVD burner, so it wasn't an issue.

I just got a LaCie d2 250GB USB2/Firewire drive, so I thought I'd do some tests, using HD Tune.

Firewire/1394:
Transfer Rate (avg): 35.6 MB/sec
Access Time: 13.5 ms
CPU Usage: 6.1%

USB port:
Transfer Rate (avg): 11.5 MB/sec
Access Time: 13.8 ms
CPU Usage: 19.2%

USB port via USB2 hub:
Transfer Rate (avg): 6.7 MB/sec
Access Time: 13.8 ms
CPU Usage: 27.0%

USB port via USB1 hub: (just for fun!)
Transfer Rate (avg): 0.8 MB/sec
Access Time: 15.5 ms
CPU Usage: 19.5%

USB port, with externally powered USB2 hub connected
to *another* port, but with *nothing* attached to the hub:
Transfer Rate (avg): 9.2 MB/sec
Access Time: 13.8 ms
CPU Usage: 19.2%

In summary, connecting by Firewire instead of USB port gives 3x improvement in transfer speed, and 1/3rd the CPU usage, which is surprising; LaCie's documentation says the two should be 'relatively similar'.

What's more surprising is that connecting a USB2 hub to *another* port drops the transfer rate by 20%. It seems to suggest that Gateway's USB2 implementation isn't very good. It is, however, definately better than USB1.0

 

Yep, that's true...the problem is suposed to be related to USB power (voltage) not being enough for good USB2 performance. In fact when you connect more than one device performance drops dramatically...as you already noticed. I am receiving my 7515 back from repairs tomorrow, it was sent mostly because of a cracked hinge but I also mentioned the USB problems...will check if they did something about it and let you know.