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    Slow USB2 Hard Disk

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Jeffsteez, Apr 14, 2009.

  1. Jeffsteez

    Jeffsteez Notebook Consultant

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    I've got a few external enclosures for hard disks which I connect to my Lenovo T61p with a 7200rpm internal disk.

    The enclosures are different brands/unbranded and all of the disks are 3.5" 7200rpm models ranging in size from 200gb to 1.5tb.

    I can't recall ever seeing transfer speeds above 15mb/s when I'm transferring data. In fact, the typical speeds seems to be closer to 10mb/s. As I type I am transferring some mp3 files to one of my externals and it is going around 8.5mb/s.

    I've been reading posts tonight suggesting that speeds around 25mb/s should be expected from usb2 hardware.

    Is there anything I can do to increase the speed on my system?

    Thanks
     
    Jeffsteez, Apr 14, 2009
    #1
  2. Dragunov-21

    Dragunov-21 Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm not entirely sure, but it *may* be that you'll only get those Xfer speeds on solid state devices like flash drives, even on USB2.
     
    Dragunov-21, Apr 14, 2009
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  3. jackluo923

    jackluo923 Notebook Virtuoso

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    It's probably the limitation of your HDD enclosure's USB to SATA bridge. Try testing the hdd with HD tune and see what's the maximum speed the HDD can achieve.
     
    jackluo923, Apr 14, 2009
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  4. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Try it on another computer. It should be faster than that. Also, what enclosures are you using? Since it is multiple enclosures, it might be the T61p, USB controller.
     
    sgogeta4, Apr 15, 2009
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  5. jisaac

    jisaac Notebook Deity

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    yup most likely...... if you really need the speed and your laptop supports it go for esata or firewire :)
     
    jisaac, Apr 15, 2009
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  6. Jeffsteez

    Jeffsteez Notebook Consultant

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    I'll look into getting updated drivers for the usb controllers.

    I've got one in a 'Sumvision' enclosure, the others are all unbranded but of differing variety so I think it owuld be unusual for all the enclosures to be rubbish. I'll report back on changing the drivers.

    Thanks
     
    Jeffsteez, Apr 15, 2009
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  7. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    You dont have an AMD chipset do you, I had a PUMA chipset and i could only get around 15mb/s , but with my new INTEL PM45 i get around 30mb/s
     
    Tinderbox (UK), Apr 15, 2009
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  8. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    T61p uses PM965 chipset, but Lenovo has some weird crippling with these laptops (ie. SATA controller cap is noticeable for SSDs)
     
    sgogeta4, Apr 15, 2009
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  9. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    You can check in Device Manager the policy setting for the drive is set to Optimize for best performance.

    Once that policy is set then I suspect the speed you see is a function of the file size. files get transferred one at a time and the overhead means that small files give a slower transfer rate than big ones.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Apr 15, 2009
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  10. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    There is something else too - MP3s will be small files, small files transfer slower than large files (large meaning 100+ MB or even GB)

    Then, are disks running of a USB hub, or directly via the laptops USB?

    A few addittional variables to the ones mentioned by other members.
     
    DetlevCM, Apr 15, 2009
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  11. Dragunov-21

    Dragunov-21 Notebook Evangelist

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    Only just noticed the lots of small files vs one big file difference a couple weeks back...

    Took me three quarters of an hour to xfer ~1000 tiny files onto my usb drive... took me 3 minutes to zip them and overwrite...

    Lesson learned.
     
    Dragunov-21, Apr 15, 2009
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  12. stevezachtech

    stevezachtech Notebook Evangelist

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    Small files can be very taxing with USB file transfer. Or it could be a driver issue, I agree you should check your USB controller at the device manager and see to it that it's working well.
     
    stevezachtech, Apr 15, 2009
    #12