my new SFF case has a removable 2.5" drive that connects via a USB port. i have an intel 80gb g2 SSD and a 7200rpm western digital 2.5" HDD. i assume the SSD would be very limited in some way if i put it in there. would i be ok putting the HDD in there with Steam and other apps or would that be pretty slow too? i can fit them in the case somewhere too, just not sure where yet and wondering about the performance hit. so in what way (read? write? something else?) would both these drives be limited and to what degree? thanks!
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how does USB limit drive speed?
- Thread starter ekuest
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USB2 increases latency significantly and also has a bandwidth cap of about ~30MB/s of actual transferred data. USB3 is roughly 10 times faster; but still slower than eSATA or normal SATA.
Transferring over USB is best done with large files; not running applications and other random I/O stuff. I surely wouldn't sacrifice one of my intels on USB.
Transferring over USB is best done with large files; not running applications and other random I/O stuff. I surely wouldn't sacrifice one of my intels on USB.
USB 2.0 is limited to net ~30 MB/s.
So indeed you will be limited!
Don't put either in there. Your HDD has a speed somwhere around 60 MB/s and the SSD round about 250 MB/s.
Use a USB connection only for backup reasons! Not for productive work. It's too slow. Otherwise if you need an external drive go with eSATA. That you will have the same speed that internal drives have.
So indeed you will be limited!
Don't put either in there. Your HDD has a speed somwhere around 60 MB/s and the SSD round about 250 MB/s.
Use a USB connection only for backup reasons! Not for productive work. It's too slow. Otherwise if you need an external drive go with eSATA. That you will have the same speed that internal drives have.
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