USB3 phenomenon

whs · 18 Jan 2014

As some of you may know, I am running several Windows and Linux systems in virtual using VMware Player from an external SSD.

If I attach the SSD via USB3, it takes forever to shutdoen the virtual system - and that with different caddies on different Computers. If I attach the SSD via eSata, the shutdown is quasi instant.

I have also observed that writing something to a USB3 attached disk (e.g. a 30GB image to a SSHD) takes longer than to the same disk attached via eSata - although the USB3 specs suggest that it is faster than eSata.

Something is wrong with USB3. It does not live up to it's specifications.

TVeblen · 18 Jan 2014

One problem I've noticed is that the USB3 ports on a lot of motherboards are not native to the chipset. They are an add-on controller, installed by the motherboard manufacturer.
I suspect that this means they do not really function in these systems until the operating system takes over and loads the drivers for them.

How a VM would handle this situation is beyond me, but I would suspect the VM software itself would need to handle it.

I seem to recall the Intel Haswell has native USB3 in it's chipset. Don't know too much about AMD systems.

whs · 18 Jan 2014

I am not that modern. I have a Dell Inc. 0Y2MRG A00 board on a XPS 8300.

TVeblen · 18 Jan 2014

And it has USB3 ports?

Or are you using an add-on card?

whs · 18 Jan 2014

It has USB2, USB3 and eSata ports on the board - I guess. I did not add anything.

ComputerGeek · 18 Jan 2014

A few things to check

Which version(s) of Windows are you running that you tried USB3.0?

Open Device Manager, click View->Devices by Connection (to see how hardware devices are connecting to each other)

Expand ACPI devices till you drill down to the PCI bus. Find the USB3.0 Controller
> Is the USB3.0 controller attached to a PCI device? What is it connected to?
> Is your drive attached to a 3.0 controller?
> Does the drive device name include the words Non-Functional?
> Rt click the 3.0 Controller->Properties->Driver tab. Who is the Provider? Version and date?

/* EDIT */
And also under Properties, Details tab, select Hardware IDs and post what you see

whs · 18 Jan 2014

I think this is all in good order.

Britton30 · 18 Jan 2014

Have a look here, SATA III should be faster.
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1536234

eSATA to me is like having an extension cable to a motherboard's SATA header.

ComputerGeek · 18 Jan 2014

yes, those look right. A couple other things that come to mind
> Have you checked for firmware updates for your SSD? and
> (just to double check the basics) You verified you're using a USB 3.0 cable (it has the 3.0 symbol?)

whs · 18 Jan 2014

Britton30 said:

Have a look here, SATA III should be faster.
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1536234

eSATA to me is like having an extension cable to a motherboard's SATA header.

Yeah, I saw that. Means we need new computers, LOL. Maybe there will be PCI cards.