Testing Speed of USB2 External Harddrive

  • Thread starter Thread starter Charliec
  • Start date Start date
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Charliec

Is there a way (method) to test the actual speed of an external USB2.0
harddrive. I just installed a Western Digital external USB2.0
harddrive and, at times, it appears to be a bit slow. Are there tests
that can be run to determine the actual speed? I have it connected to
a USB2 port and am running WinXP SP3.

Thanks
Charliec
******************************************************
Charliec
 
Previously Charliec said:
Is there a way (method) to test the actual speed of an external USB2.0
harddrive. I just installed a Western Digital external USB2.0
harddrive and, at times, it appears to be a bit slow. Are there tests
that can be run to determine the actual speed? I have it connected to
a USB2 port and am running WinXP SP3.
Click to expand...
Thanks
Charliec
******************************************************
Charliec
Click to expand...

There is no "s[eed" of a HDD. There are different parameters,
like access time, thoughput, latency, etc.. Use any standard
HDD benchmark tool to determine them. For a very rough
thorighput estimatin you can also copy a large file to or
from the drive. BTW, throughputs around 25MB/s are quite
normal for USB2.0 HDDs.

Arno
 
Previously Charliec said:
Is there a way (method) to test the actual speed of an external USB2.0
harddrive. I just installed a Western Digital external USB2.0
harddrive and, at times, it appears to be a bit slow. Are there tests
that can be run to determine the actual speed? I have it connected to
a USB2 port and am running WinXP SP3.
Click to expand...
Thanks
Charliec
******************************************************
Charliec
Click to expand...

There is no "s[eed" of a HDD. There are different parameters,
like access time, thoughput, latency, etc.. Use any standard
HDD benchmark tool to determine them. For a very rough
thorighput estimatin you can also copy a large file to or
from the drive. BTW, throughputs around 25MB/s are quite
normal for USB2.0 HDDs.

Arno
Click to expand...

Arno/Victor,

I ran HD Tune as Victor suggested and the results are below:

HD Tune: WD 3200AVJ External Benchmark

Transfer Rate Minimum : 30.1 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Maximum : 30.8 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Average : 30.6 MB/sec
Access Time : 13.2 ms
Burst Rate : 24.9 MB/sec
CPU Usage : 19.6%

HD Tune: ST3120026AS Benchmark

Transfer Rate Minimum : 29.0 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Maximum : 55.9 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Average : 44.0 MB/sec
Access Time : 12.7 ms
Burst Rate : 68.8 MB/sec
CPU Usage : 4.2%

The transfer rate for the internal drive (2nd one) got progressively
worst as the test went on, finishing at about 29MB/sec, averaging out
to about 44 MB/sec - is that normal for an internal harddrive - seemed
a bit slow to me?

The external harddrive's speed appear to meet your expectations.

Any thoughts on the internal harddrive?

Thanks
Charlie
******************************************************
Charliec
 
Charliec said:
The transfer rate for the internal drive (2nd one) got progressively
worst as the test went on, finishing at about 29MB/sec, averaging out
to about 44 MB/sec - is that normal for an internal harddrive - seemed
a bit slow to me?
Click to expand...

It starts at the outside where the speed past the head is fastest, and
works to the inside where it is slowest. Due to constant rpm.
--
Ed Light

Better World News TV Channel:
http://realnews.com

Bring the Troops Home:
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http://couragetoresist.org

Send spam to the FTC at
(e-mail address removed)
Thanks, robots.
 
Previously Charliec said:
Is there a way (method) to test the actual speed of an external USB2.0
harddrive. I just installed a Western Digital external USB2.0
harddrive and, at times, it appears to be a bit slow. Are there tests
that can be run to determine the actual speed? I have it connected to
a USB2 port and am running WinXP SP3.
Click to expand...
Thanks
Charliec
******************************************************
Charliec
Click to expand...

There is no "s[eed" of a HDD. There are different parameters,
like access time, thoughput, latency, etc.. Use any standard
HDD benchmark tool to determine them. For a very rough
thorighput estimatin you can also copy a large file to or
from the drive. BTW, throughputs around 25MB/s are quite
normal for USB2.0 HDDs.

Arno
Click to expand...
Arno/Victor,
Click to expand...

I ran HD Tune as Victor suggested and the results are below:
Click to expand...
HD Tune: WD 3200AVJ External Benchmark
Click to expand...
Transfer Rate Minimum : 30.1 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Maximum : 30.8 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Average : 30.6 MB/sec
Access Time : 13.2 ms
Burst Rate : 24.9 MB/sec
CPU Usage : 19.6%
Click to expand...

Looks normal/
HD Tune: ST3120026AS Benchmark
Click to expand...
Transfer Rate Minimum : 29.0 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Maximum : 55.9 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Average : 44.0 MB/sec
Access Time : 12.7 ms
Burst Rate : 68.8 MB/sec
CPU Usage : 4.2%
Click to expand...

Also looks normal.
The transfer rate for the internal drive (2nd one) got progressively
worst as the test went on, finishing at about 29MB/sec, averaging out
to about 44 MB/sec - is that normal for an internal harddrive - seemed
a bit slow to me?
Click to expand...

The slow-down is a result of ZBR (Zone Bit Recording), that
packs less bits into the shorter tracks closer to the center of
the disk.
The external harddrive's speed appear to meet your expectations.
Click to expand...
Any thoughts on the internal harddrive?
Click to expand...

Looks fine. The disk is a bit older after all.

Arno
 
The HD is faster but is limited by USB.
Click to expand...

I don't understand this? What do you mean? What does this have to do
with the internal harddrive, or am I mis-relating your answer?
******************************************************
Charliec
 
Charliec said:
I don't understand this? What do you mean? What does this have to do
with the internal harddrive, or am I mis-relating your answer?
******************************************************
Charliec
Click to expand...

Let's say the HD does 50 MB/sec at the outside (beginning) and 35 at the
inside. But the USB connection is doing 31 MB/sec. Then all you can get
is 31 MB/sec. because all the data is going through the USB. The HD
never gets up to its full speed.

--
Ed Light

Better World News TV Channel:
http://realnews.com

Bring the Troops Home:
http://bringthemhomenow.org
http://antiwar.com

Iraq Veterans Against the War:
http://ivaw.org
http://couragetoresist.org

Send spam to the FTC at
(e-mail address removed)
Thanks, robots.
 
Let's say the HD does 50 MB/sec at the outside (beginning) and 35 at the
inside. But the USB connection is doing 31 MB/sec. Then all you can get
is 31 MB/sec. because all the data is going through the USB. The HD
never gets up to its full speed.
Click to expand...

When the tests are run via HD Tune, the external USB drive is run
through the program by itself. After that has finished, I run the
program again on the internal harddrive. I don't understand how the
limitations of the external USB drive could impact the through-put on
the internal harddrive on these tests.

What am I missing?
******************************************************
Charliec
 
When the tests are run via HD Tune, the external USB drive is run
through the program by itself. After that has finished, I run the
program again on the internal harddrive. I don't understand how the
limitations of the external USB drive could impact the through-put on
the internal harddrive on these tests.
Click to expand...
What am I missing?
******************************************************
Charliec
Click to expand...

Ed is just explaining that the limiting factors for the external
and the internal drive are different. No connection between the
performance of the two.

Arno
 
Charliec said:
When the tests are run via HD Tune, the external USB drive is run
through the program by itself. After that has finished, I run the
program again on the internal harddrive. I don't understand how the
limitations of the external USB drive could impact the through-put on
the internal harddrive on these tests.

What am I missing?
Click to expand...

Sorry, I meant the HD within the USB enclosure has more speed than the
USB connection can use.

--
Ed Light

Better World News TV Channel:
http://realnews.com

Bring the Troops Home:
http://bringthemhomenow.org
http://antiwar.com

Iraq Veterans Against the War:
http://ivaw.org
http://couragetoresist.org

Send spam to the FTC at
(e-mail address removed)
Thanks, robots.
 
Sorry, I meant the HD within the USB enclosure has more speed than the
USB connection can use.

--
Ed Light

Better World News TV Channel:http://realnews.com

Bring the Troops Home:http://bringthemhomenow.orghttp://antiwar.com

Iraq Veterans Against the War:http://ivaw.orghttp://couragetoresist.org

Send spam to the FTC at
(e-mail address removed)
Thanks, robots.
Click to expand...

Have you set the drive for Performance, rather than Quick removal.
(Under drive properties)

For a FAT formatted drive, this difference is significant, less so for
NTFS

Michael
www.cnwrecovery.com
 
Charliec wrote in news:[email protected]
Is there a way (method) to test the actual speed of an external USB2.0
harddrive. I just installed a Western Digital external USB2.0
harddrive and, at times, it appears to be a bit slow. Are there tests
that can be run to determine the actual speed? I have it connected to
a USB2 port and am running WinXP SP3.
Click to expand...
Thanks
Charliec
Click to expand...

There is no "s[eed" of a HDD. There are different parameters,
like access time, thoughput, latency, etc.. Use any standard
HDD benchmark tool to determine them. For a very rough
thorighput estimatin you can also copy a large file to or
from the drive. BTW, throughputs around 25MB/s are quite
normal for USB2.0 HDDs.

Arno
Arno/Victor,
Click to expand...

I ran HD Tune as Victor
Click to expand...

Who is Victor.
suggested and the results are below:

HD Tune: WD 3200AVJ External Benchmark

Transfer Rate Minimum : 30.1 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Maximum : 30.8 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Average : 30.6 MB/sec
Access Time : 13.2 ms
Burst Rate : 24.9 MB/sec
CPU Usage : 19.6%

HD Tune: ST3120026AS Benchmark

Transfer Rate Minimum : 29.0 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Maximum : 55.9 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Average : 44.0 MB/sec
Access Time : 12.7 ms
Burst Rate : 68.8 MB/sec
CPU Usage : 4.2%

The transfer rate for the internal drive (2nd one) got progressively
worst as the test went on, finishing at about 29MB/sec, averaging out
to about 44 MB/sec - is that normal for an internal harddrive -
Click to expand...
seemed a bit slow to me?
Click to expand...

Why is that exactly.
What should it be and how doesn't that meet your expectation.
 
Have you set the drive for Performance, rather than Quick removal.
(Under drive properties)

For a FAT formatted drive, this difference is significant, less so for
NTFS

Michael
www.cnwrecovery.com
Click to expand...

Ok, Michael,
I set it for Performance, it was set for Quick Removal. Let's see
what happens.

Thanks
Charliec
******************************************************
Charliec
 
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