USB 3.0 Copy Speed 30MB/sec?!?!

[AraB.]

Hello,

I currently own a Seagate Backup Plus Portable Drive 1TB USB 3.0 (Model: SRD0SP0) and using it on my Lenovo Z480 laptop which has 2 USB 3.0 ports...

While copying (just in case something goes wrong with the harddisk drive, i'll have a copy in my laptop and will delete it whenever I need free space) a 100GB backup folder (which I had created), the max copy speed which I saw was around 30MB/sec!! Is it normal? I know that USB 3.0 are super fast, and you can easily reach that speed by buying an excellent USB 2.0!

Please post your comments and let me know what can I do to speed up this drive!

Intel Core i5 3rd gen
6GB RAM
Western Drive 500GB (WD5000BPKT)
Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller
Intel USB 3.0 Root Hub
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit

Please help me!!

Thank You!
Ara

 

[Cerb]

What's the average file size?

What speeds do you get if trying it as USB 2.0?

 

[razel]

Are you sure you are plugged into the USB 3 port? I've seen a few laptops where the USB 3 port was right next to USB 2.

 

[Dahak]

As Cerb mentioned, could be due to files size, a lot of small files will slower than a few larger files.

Also is there any driver updates to the usb 3 controller in the laptop. The reason why I ask is I had a similar situation this weekend with an addon usb3 card that was slower than expected. Updated the drivers and now hums along quite fast

I see you listed the Intel Controller, here are the links for the latest drives
For intel series 7 chipset - here

For intel series 8 chipset - here

 

[AraB.]

Hello Cerb and Dahak,
My backup files contained many different sizes starting from documents going to movies (up to 4GB)...

Cerb, I didn't try connecting it to a USB 2.0!

Dahak, I'll try to update my drives... But shouldn't Windows Update do that for me?

razel, I'm 100% sure I connected it to USB 3.0 by connecting it to my blue USB port... Plus connecting the original Seagate USB 3.0 cable to this port (The USB end is also blue on Seagate's cable)...

Thank you all for your comments and opinions and just to remind you, I'm COPYING files not moving... I'll let you know of any new updates after I update my drivers and backup folder

Ara

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Try copying just the single 4GB movie file and clock that.

 

[AraB.]

Hello dave_the_nerd,
I tried to copy a 5.04GB movie and the speed started by 80-85MB/sec and continued to reach 89-92MB/sec...

I think those values are normal, right?

Thank You again guys!
Ara

 

[Cerb]

Yes, those values are right in line with what the target HDD should get. USB 3.0 can go fast, but it can't make the read head on the HDD move or stop any quicker.

 

[DesiPower]

I have i5 desktop and the speed I generally get is around 110mbps for large files (BD ISOs), that between HHDs installed in the desktop. I have 2 USB 3.0 drives one is a 2.5 and one 3.5. with the 2.5 I get close to 80 - 90 mbps with the 3.5 I get 100 - 110 mbps. So for OP, its must the multiple small files that slowing it down, as OP for more than 80 when copying large file.

 

[PliotronX]

Yes, those values are right in line with what the target HDD should get. USB 3.0 can go fast, but it can't make the read head on the HDD move or stop any quicker.

This! Particularly the portable drives that are powered off of the USB data cable are going to offer 30-40MB/sec even over USB3.0. The convenience factor of having a giant thumb drive outweighs the speed though :whiste:

Further, while USB3.0 offers mucho bandwidth, it can still stumble with high I/Os which means small file copies are going to take longer than one continuous file.

 

[AraB.]

Thank You everyone!

Ara