Extremely Fast USB Transfer Rate System

Von Munchy

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Dec 7, 2013
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Hello there,

I would like to build system to do the below mentioned things.

Firstly I want 2-3 system specific for copying data to USB and External Hard Drives. Since i plan on using many UBS's's and hard drive at once, I want these systems to have a very high transfer rate.

Secondly all systems will have to be connected to a small sever so that i can access data from all the computers.

Though the motherboard has USB 3.0 ports, when copying around 5-10 GB to 5 to 6 USB 2.0 it takes a lot of time. So these systems need to have a super fast transfer rate. That is the only thing i want from these systems.

So what can i do to get a pc with a super fast transfer rate and what factors should i consider ?

I hope you understand what im trying to explain.

Thank You
 
Solution
Thunderbolt 1.0 operates at 10Gbit\s or 1280 MB\s. Thunderbolt 2.0 operates at 20Gbit\s or 2560MB\s.

Either interface is fast enough to max out a few HDD's.

As for using multiple USB 2.0 devices on USB 3.0. Well, I was curious to see what would happen. I transferred a 5.5GB file to two external HDD's, both USB 2.0.

With a single drive connected via USB 2.0, I was able to get an average of around 25MB\s. With both connected to USB 2.0, I averaged 8.7MB\s.

Connecting to USB 3.0, both drives ran at around 25MB\s.

The USB 3.0 enclosure I have with one of these drives transfers around 100MB\s (WD 1TB Black 7200 Rpm).

So, apparently a USB 3.0 controller has the capability of maintaining a faster speed using multiple USB 2.0 devices in...

ish416

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Jul 5, 2012
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USB bandwidth is shared. The more devices you connect, the slower each device will become.

Also, even with USB 3.0 which is capable of real world 3.2 Gbit\s (about 400MB\s) you need a device capable of that. So if you are using a USB 2.0 device in a USB 3.0 slot, you still are only capable of what a USB 2.0 device can do (theoretical maximum 60 MB\s, realistically 25-30MB\s).

When it comes to moving data to and from HDD's, USB is rather slow, especially USB 2.0.

From what it sounds like you are wanting to do, I would recommend going with Thunderbolt or E-Sata.
 

Von Munchy

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Dec 7, 2013
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Alright a another way of putting this would be like for example...

I have a lot of movies and i let my friends copy movies from me, but they usually brings USB sticks 2.0 and the transfer rate is extremely slow when i try copying to 4 UBS's at once. i get around 20 MB when im using one USB and when i use multiple its very slow...

so what can i do increase the transfer rate?

ish416: what is the transfer rate of thunderbolt, im not very familiar with it
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


Yes, that is exactly what will happen. Given a nominal 20Mbps speed with a single device....4 of them will do at best 5Mbps each. That's just the way it works.

How to make it faster? Don't use USB 2.0 devices.
 

Von Munchy

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Dec 7, 2013
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So just to make this clear..

Assuming i have 2 USB 3.0 ports. I use a USB hub for both ports and connect 2 USB 2.0 per hub, making a total of 4 USBs.

Will i get 20 MB for all usbs ?
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


What are the hubs rated at? 2.0 or 3.0?
 

ish416

Honorable
Jul 5, 2012
771
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11,360
Thunderbolt 1.0 operates at 10Gbit\s or 1280 MB\s. Thunderbolt 2.0 operates at 20Gbit\s or 2560MB\s.

Either interface is fast enough to max out a few HDD's.

As for using multiple USB 2.0 devices on USB 3.0. Well, I was curious to see what would happen. I transferred a 5.5GB file to two external HDD's, both USB 2.0.

With a single drive connected via USB 2.0, I was able to get an average of around 25MB\s. With both connected to USB 2.0, I averaged 8.7MB\s.

Connecting to USB 3.0, both drives ran at around 25MB\s.

The USB 3.0 enclosure I have with one of these drives transfers around 100MB\s (WD 1TB Black 7200 Rpm).

So, apparently a USB 3.0 controller has the capability of maintaining a faster speed using multiple USB 2.0 devices in USB 3.0 ports. Keep in mind, these were directly connected to the 2 USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports on the front of my system. So no USB hub was involved.
 
Solution