What do I need to make my file transferring speeds faster?

[TechSeven]

How do I get the fastest data transfer speeds when transferring big and small files?

From a little research I found that the latest types of usbs are usb 3.2 Gen 1 and gen 2 and maybe Gen 2×2 (roughly).

Maybe buying one of those M.2 ssds or nvme ssds might also make the data transfer speeds faster (i have no idea).

I feel like my data transfer speeds aint really that fast. Maybe we can check this by running crystal disk mark (i would need help with walk through though).

I do have some old equipment and I believe this is the culprit for not the fastest data transfer speeds.

I have a HAF 922 mid tower and been using this since like 2010 and I think it has USB 2.0 at best.

I have a two seagate externals and a Samsung ssd with Windows 7 on it.

I installed crystal disk mark but not really sure how to use.

I would like you to check my speeds and guide me to whatever will get me faster data transfer speeds.

So maybe I'm thinking maybe I need a new pc case with USB 3.2 gen 2?

I also want to buy a new hard drive as I need more space for media, but I'm not sure which to get as I want faster transfer speeds.

 

[Alejandro85]

First of all let's define the problem.
Transfer from where to where? External hard disk? Over the LAN? Over internet?
How much data and number of files are we talking about? What are your current speeds and how much improvement do you expect/need?

 

[TechSeven]

Thanks for your reply.

Good point i should have added all of that.

Let me run a few transfers and i will let you know what i get.

I transfer files maybe external to external hard drive. Maybe desktop to external. Something like that.

 

[samuria]

It depends how you copy using built in robocopy is the fastest if you use explorer there is GUI lag it also depends on file type if you have antivirus as that will scan on read and write

 

[TechSeven]

So i transfered a movie back and fourth between two Seagate external drives.

The movie is called the last samurai and is 1.86 GB.

When transferring this movie file it would start at speeds around 224 MB/second (for the first two seconds roughly) and then drop to about 150 MB/second and maybe go upto about 160 MB/second or 170 MB/second then back down again to 150 MB/second.

This took 20 seconds.

It's not too bad but im sure it could be faster.

 

[samuria]

The top speed you see is filling the cache once full it then slows down as there is none left

 

[Marie SWE]

So i transfered a movie back and fourth between two Seagate external drives.

The movie is called the last samurai and is 1.86 GB.

When transferring this movie file it would start at speeds around 224 MB/second (for the first two seconds roughly) and then drop to about 150 MB/second and maybe go upto about 160 MB/second or 170 MB/second then back down again to 150 MB/second.

This took 20 seconds.

It's not too bad but im sure it could be faster.

Just a curious question.
How many TB of data do you copy each day? as you see that speed as a major problem?

 

[file3456]

I already gave you a suggestion on a hard drive option in your last thread. But seen as how this is more about external hard drives and speed capability, right off the bat you'll want a SSD. Now with a SSD of course the price goes through the proverbial roof with more storage being needed.

No, you don't need a new computer at all. What you want is a PCI-e USB 3.1 card. This PCI-e card fits in the back of your computer and will give you USB 3.2 speed. Or you could opt for a front panel 5.25 USB 3.0 solution. Something like this. But that will require your motherboard to have an onboard USB 3.0 20 pin connector. Read your motherboard manual to find out.

If you want the fastest in the USB interface you'll want USB 3.1 and that would be achieved by a PCI-e board in the back of your PC. Then you could buy USB 3.1 cables to be able to use it from the front.

This is the PCI-e USB 3.1 card I'm talking about. I link to this one because I think Vantec makes some decent stuff. I don't own this card, but I do own their USB to SATA adapter and its performed well. VANTEC 2-Port USB 3.1 Gen II Type A/C PCIe Host Card Model UGT-PC371AC - Newegg.com

Note that USB 3.2 is a completely different connector than the USB connector you're now used to. This is the future of USB. And I think it doesn't matter if the connector is upright or down.

Edit -

Yeah, USB 3.2 uses a type C connector which is reversible.

USB 3.2 that uses this type of C connector can be USB 3.2, 2 or USB 3.2, 2x2. But not all type C connectors are USB 3.2. I think Mac uses type C and that wouldn't be USB 3.2. At least the older versions. USB 3.2 is the newest standard.

 

[RolandJS]

I recommend copying folders and files in "clumps", rather than moving. Safer that way. You used the word transferred earlier, does mean you did a copyNpaste or a moveNpaste?

 

[Snick]

I purchased a Vantec PCIe 3.0 2 rear 2 cable front port a while back. Very happy with price and performance. It was before PCIe 3.1 was out.
Make sure you read the instructions to find the drivers that come on the CD. There are a plethora of them, & you need the correct folder with installer.

Snick

 

[Megahertz07]

When you transfer data from one device to another, the transfer speed is limited by the weakest device on the chain and normally it isn't the communication device (USB).
USB 2.0 has a transfer speed of 480M b/s or 60M B/s
USB 3.0 Has a transfer speed of 4800M b/s or 600M B/s

USB flash disk that I have:
- Kingston 16G (USB 2.0) = 8M B/s
- Polaroid 32G (USB 3.0) = 45M B/s (the transfer speed is below USB 2.0)

USB 3.0 HDD caddy
- WD 2.5" HDD = 75M B/s

SATA 600 to SATA 600
- HDD to HDD = Best is 170M B/s

If you are able to transfer data to or from an external drive at 150M B/s (Bytes/s not bits/s) don't expect better speeds only if you're transferring from a SSD to another SSD.

 

[TechSeven]

I recommend copying folders and files in "clumps", rather than moving. Safer that way. You used the word transferred earlier, does mean you did a copyNpaste or a moveNpaste?

During that time i right clicked on the folder and held the button down, i then dragged it to the other drive and then i let go of the click and chose the move here option.

 

[TechSeven]

Megahertz07 - "When you transfer data from one device to another, the transfer speed is limited by the weakest device on the chain"


Yes im aware of this and that is good point too.

 

[TechSeven]

F22 Simpilot - "I already gave you a suggestion on a hard drive option in your last thread."


I am trying to find one similar but have not found one yet.




F22 Simpilot - "What you want is a PCI-e USB 3.1 card"


Good idea tbh, but i want to change my pc case. I just have not found one that i want yet.

 

[file3456]

During that time i right clicked on the folder and held the button down, i then dragged it to the other drive and then i let go of the click and chose the move here option.

I would refrain from using the move option when you transfer data from an internal source to an external source like a USB stick or hard drive. The reason is because if something happens during transfer your data on both the computer and USB drive will be corrupted.

When you transfer data from a computer to a USB stick or external hard drive attached via USB or firewire, etc, use the copy/paste option to mitigate any possible corruption. Then you can delete the source on the computer if you want. While most times you may not get any coruption during the transfer, the threat does exist. Especially if you suddenly lose power and have no UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)

 

[file3456]

If you want to move data from withen you computer and only from withen you computer, that should be fine and you can accomplish this with an addition of a right click context menu via a registry hack shown here: Add Copy To / Move To on Windows 7 or Vista Right-Click Menu

F22 Simpilot - "What you want is a PCI-e USB 3.1 card"


Good idea tbh, but i want to change my pc case. I just have not found one that i want yet.

Computer case has nothing to do with it. It depends on your motherboard and if it supports PCI-e slots. New motherboards of today do.

Unless you're mistakenly calling your "computer case" a computer as it pertains to the motherboard and all of its internals...

 

[RolandJS]

It bears repeating only once more: copyNpaste is more safe than moveNpaste, proven by the experience of others and myself.

 

[Barman58]

Roland,

When you do a copy, Windows copy's the file, however when you do a Move operation, the system is exactly the same, the file is copied to the location required for the move and then checked, when the check is passed only then is the original file deleted.

So technically a move should be as reliable as a copy

 

[cornemuse]

I often move large quantities of data. Like this:
1st image:
sata 1 = c:\ swappable - same drive tray as sata 4
sata 2 = cdrom
sata 3 = swappable tray bare accepts both 3½" & 2½" hdds
sata 4 = swappable tray uses a tray can accept bare hdds

2nd image:
2½" usb case Held together with that elastic band!
I can go from 2½" usb and plugged in to sata 3 in 10-15-20 seconds!

Power button "on" on sata 3, walla! plug hdd in sata 4, power on, walla!" Transfer data at sata speeds between all hdds.
I have a bunch of old IDE hdds with a lot of stored data I can access at 'higher than usb3x+ speeds)
sata 4 tray is same as sata 1 tray, both intended for internal use, but used outside, + seperate 5+12 v power supply, keeps the heat down inside computer!

 

[RolandJS]

Roland, When you do a copy, Windows copy's the file, however when you do a Move operation, the system is exactly the same, the file is copied to the location required for the move and then checked, when the check is passed only then is the original file deleted. So technically a move should be as reliable as a copy.

Barman, you are right as rain, however, also rare, experience, for me anyhow, has now and then shown a Move and Paste has somehow, somewhere, for some reason, gone wrong. A little more so if one is also doing another task which involves reading/writing to the hard-drive.