USB 3.0 Speed?

undies1993 · Jun 15, 2012, 08:13 PM

I have a Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Ultra Portable with USB 3.0. I am only get the speed that I have attached in the picture. Thought it would be faster than this.

Dane D. · Jun 15, 2012, 08:29 PM

You do know Mac doesn't support USB3. It defaults to USB2.

undies1993 · Jun 15, 2012, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dane D.

You do know Mac doesn't support USB3. It defaults to USB2.

I have a new Retina MacBook Pro, you do know it has USB 3.0?

blueroom · Jun 15, 2012, 08:32 PM

The new MBPR supports USB 3.0

undies1993 · Jun 15, 2012, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueroom

The new MBPR supports USB 3.0

Right, I don't know much about USB 3.0, but those speeds seemed slow.

Chundles · Jun 15, 2012, 08:49 PM

Is this transferring from a USB 3.0 device as well? (Yes, yes it is. Probably a good idea to read the first line before looking at the pretty pictures...)

I did a 35GB data transfer from a USB 3.0 external portable drive, took ~6 minutes. Waaay faster than USB 2.0.

That ends up being just shy of 100MB/s. Transferring from a 5400rpm laptop drive I'd say that was about right. Would probably be higher from an SSD.

USB has a max theoretical transfer speed of 4.8Gb/s = 600MB/s but due to overheads etc you'll never see that sort of speed. But considering USB 2.0 theoretically delivered only 60MB/s at most it's significantly faster.

undies1993 · Jun 15, 2012, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chundles

Is this transferring from a USB 3.0 device as well? (Yes, yes it is. Probably a good idea to read the first line before looking at the pretty pictures...)

I did a 35GB data transfer from a USB 3.0 external portable drive, took ~6 minutes. Waaay faster than USB 2.0.

That ends up being just shy of 100MB/s. Transferring from a 5400rpm laptop drive I'd say that was about right. Would probably be higher from an SSD.

USB has a max theoretical transfer speed of 4.8Gb/s = 600MB/s but due to overheads etc you'll never see that sort of speed. But considering USB 2.0 theoretically delivered only 60MB/s at most it's significantly faster.

It is transferring from the HD of the rMBP. It is flash storage, basically SSD. I used Black Magic Disk Speed Test. It is free from the Mac App Store. I get speeds in the 400mbs with the Flash Storage on the rMBP.

charlieroberts · Jun 15, 2012, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by undies1993

It is transferring from the HD of the rMBP. It is flash storage, basically SSD. I used Black Magic Disk Speed Test. It is free from the Mac App Store. I get speeds in the 400mbs with the Flash Storage on the rMBP.

It doesn't seem that low. You have a 5400rpm hard drive on USB 3.0... portable hard drives are not much faster than that.

undies1993 · Jun 15, 2012, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlieroberts

It doesn't seem that low. You have a 5400rpm hard drive on USB 3.0... portable hard drives are not much faster than that.

Okay, I didn't know. I appreciate your input.

waloshin · Jun 15, 2012, 08:58 PM

If the harddrive is slow USB 3.0 is not going to magically make it faster. 70 Mb/s sound about normal for any harddrive that is not ssd.

undies1993 · Jun 15, 2012, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waloshin

If the harddrive is slow USB 3.0 is not going to magically make it faster. 70 Mb/s sound about normal for any harddrive that is not ssd.

Didn't know. Thank you.

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by waloshin

If the harddrive is slow USB 3.0 is not going to magically make it faster. 70 Mb/s sound about normal for any harddrive that is not ssd.

So even if I had the Thunderbolt Adapter, it wouldn't be much faster?

Chundles · Jun 15, 2012, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by undies1993

Didn't know. Thank you.

----------

So even if I had the Thunderbolt Adapter, it wouldn't be much faster?

Nope. A 5400rpm drive isn't able to go much faster than that as others have pointed out. It's not so much the speed the connection can handle but the speed the device can cope with. If you had a new, fast SSD on the end of that USB 3.0 cable you'd see much faster speeds.

Even with your current setup the speed you're seeing is at least double what you'd see in a real-world situation with USB 3.0.

undies1993 · Jun 15, 2012, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chundles

Nope. A 5400rpm drive isn't able to go much faster than that as others have pointed out. It's not so much the speed the connection can handle but the speed the device can cope with. If you had a new, fast SSD on the end of that USB 3.0 cable you'd see much faster speeds.

Even with your current setup the speed you're seeing is at least double what you'd see in a real-world situation with USB 3.0.

Possibly. It transferred around 200 gigs in 30 something minutes.

dank414 · Jun 15, 2012, 09:10 PM

That some fast speed write. Something I've been looking forward to for some time. Can't wait to see the read/write boost when I get my new MBP~

undies1993 · Jun 15, 2012, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dank414

That some fast speed write. Something I've been looking forward to for some time. Can't wait to see the read/write boost when I get my new MBP~

The MBP times are amazing, to say the least.

charlieroberts · Jun 15, 2012, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by undies1993

The MBP times are amazing, to say the least.

if you want to spend money to get faster transfers, look for external hard rives that are 7200rpm (still doesn't matter if USB 3 or ThunderBolt) Or ever external SSD drives. Elgato makes an external Thunderbolt SSD thats wicked fast.

undies1993 · Jun 15, 2012, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlieroberts

if you want to spend money to get faster transfers, look for external hard rives that are 7200rpm (still doesn't matter if USB 3 or ThunderBolt) Or ever external SSD drives. Elgato makes an external Thunderbolt SSD thats wicked fast.

I just bought this one a couple months ago so I'm not ready to get a new one yet, but I will keep that in mind. Thank you.

dmk1974 · 08:11 AM

I just ran the BlackMagic speed test on my 2012 11" base MBA with my new 1.5 TB Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex on a USB 3.0 connection and got about 80-85 on both read and write.

For comparison, when I ran the same test but with my Toshiba Canvio USB 2.0 drive, I only got 19-23 write and 27-31 read.

undies1993 · Jun 16, 2012, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmk1974

I just ran the BlackMagic speed test on my 2012 11" base MBA with my new 1.5 TB Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex on a USB 3.0 connection and got about 80-85 on both read and write.

Okay. So that seems about right then.

Mr. Retrofire · Jun 16, 2012, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by undies1993

I have a Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Ultra Portable with USB 3.0. I am only get the speed that I have attached in the picture. Thought it would be faster than this.

FW800 is obviously faster (click to enlarge):

undies1993 · Jun 16, 2012, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Retrofire

FW800 is obviously faster (click to enlarge):

I have to run to the store and get the FW adapter now!!! lol jk

rookpsu · Jun 21, 2012, 12:08 AM

I just picked up the latest offering from Seagate (3TB Backup Plus) to leverage my new MBA's USB 3.0 port. Apparently it's the successor to the GoFlex line. Anyhow.. I ran quick test a moment ago and it was exhibiting some impressive speeds.

throAU · Jun 21, 2012, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Retrofire

FW800 is obviously faster (click to enlarge):

You jest, but for drives only capable of that sort of speed, your computer will be faster, because FW800 offloads work from the CPU. USB doesn't.

undies1993 · Jun 21, 2012, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rookpsu

I just picked up the latest offering from Seagate (3TB Backup Plus) to leverage my new MBA's USB 3.0 port. Apparently it's the successor to the GoFlex line. Anyhow.. I ran quick test a moment ago and it was exhibiting some impressive speeds.

Image

Wow, fast speeds. What kind of drives do they have in it?

rookpsu · Jun 21, 2012, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by undies1993

Wow, fast speeds. What kind of drives do they have in it?

I'm not exactly sure although I saw a review on Amazon where the manufacturer - replying to one disgruntled owner - said that they do exclusively use 7200 RPM drives in the desktop externals.

Jun 15, 2012, 08:13 PM	#1
undies1993 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Tampa, Florida	USB 3.0 Speed? I have a Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Ultra Portable with USB 3.0. I am only get the speed that I have attached in the picture. Thought it would be faster than this. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Mid 2012 15" MacBook Pro with Retina Display; iPhone 5, AT&T, 16 gb, Black; new iPad, 32gb, WiFi, Black; Tv 3rd Gen
	0

Jun 15, 2012, 08:29 PM	#2
Dane D. macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: ohio	You do know Mac doesn't support USB3. It defaults to USB2. __________________ B/WG3/1.1GHzRevB,OS9.2.2,OS10.4.6 iMacG3/600,OS9.2.2,OS10.2.8 eMacG4/USB2.0,OS10.4.11 MacBookPro 13",OS10.5.8
	-10

Jun 15, 2012, 08:32 PM	#4
blueroom macrumors 601 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada	The new MBPR supports USB 3.0 __________________ My iOS devices are not jailbroken. Bill My Blog
	1

Jun 15, 2012, 08:49 PM	#6
Chundles macrumors G4 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The Gong, Australia	Is this transferring from a USB 3.0 device as well? (Yes, yes it is. Probably a good idea to read the first line before looking at the pretty pictures...) I did a 35GB data transfer from a USB 3.0 external portable drive, took ~6 minutes. Waaay faster than USB 2.0. That ends up being just shy of 100MB/s. Transferring from a 5400rpm laptop drive I'd say that was about right. Would probably be higher from an SSD. USB has a max theoretical transfer speed of 4.8Gb/s = 600MB/s but due to overheads etc you'll never see that sort of speed. But considering USB 2.0 theoretically delivered only 60MB/s at most it's significantly faster. __________________ This is going straight to the Pool Room
	0

Jun 15, 2012, 08:58 PM	#10
waloshin macrumors 68030 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: in my world.	If the harddrive is slow USB 3.0 is not going to magically make it faster. 70 Mb/s sound about normal for any harddrive that is not ssd. __________________ My Site Come Check It Out! 2011 Macbook Air 13 1.7" i5
	1

Jun 15, 2012, 09:10 PM	#14
dank414 macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2011	That some fast speed write. Something I've been looking forward to for some time. Can't wait to see the read/write boost when I get my new MBP~
	0

Jun 15, 2012, 10:35 PM	#18
dmk1974 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2008	I just ran the BlackMagic speed test on my 2012 11" base MBA with my new 1.5 TB Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex on a USB 3.0 connection and got about 80-85 on both read and write. For comparison, when I ran the same test but with my Toshiba Canvio USB 2.0 drive, I only got 19-23 write and 27-31 read. __________________ 2012 13" MacBook Air i5 1.8 MD231LL/A \| iPad Mini Wi-Fi 16GB Black \| iPhone 5 64GB Black \| Apple TV3 Last edited by dmk1974; Jun 16, 2012 at 08:11 AM. Reason: Added USB 2.0 test data
	0

Jun 21, 2012, 12:08 AM	#22
rookpsu macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Philadelphia	I just picked up the latest offering from Seagate (3TB Backup Plus) to leverage my new MBA's USB 3.0 port. Apparently it's the successor to the GoFlex line. Anyhow.. I ran quick test a moment ago and it was exhibiting some impressive speeds.
	0

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