USB 3.0 SATA 3 and 5400 or 7200RPM drives


  1. Posts : 2,036
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       #1

    USB 3.0 SATA 3 and 5400 or 7200RPM drives


    Does anyone have some good numbers to report with a SATA3 connection with a normal 3.5" 7200RPM hard drive? How about USB3 with a 5400RPM 2.5" USB3 enabled external hard drive connected via USB3?

    I am wondering how much difference one will be able to get with SATA3 and USB3 not using SATA3 or USB3 enabled SSDs.

    If you know of any good articles please let me know. I don't think it would be worth connecting a "normal 7200RPM or 5400 RPM drive to USB3 or SATA3. I think the HD would be a bottleneck. I am planning to do some testing now that I have a SATA3 / USB3 motherboard, but it's going to be expensive to get SSDs to test with. All my SSDs are being used for boot drives. I am planning to geta 5400RPM 2.5" external USB3 enabled drive to test the USB3 but I would love to know what you know about this.

    The board I have for testing is a Gigabyte 880GMA-UD2H

    GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket AM3 - GA-880GMA-UD2H (rev. 2.1)

    So the SATA3 is provided by the AMD SB850 southbridge and the USB3 is via the NEC D720200F1 controller on the board. (There is also an eSATA port on the back that is SATA3 enabled via the southbridge)

    Thanks for any info. Lots of smart people here!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 11,424
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
       #2

    You are correct, USB 3 and Sata III are backwards compatible there is no advantage hanging a USB 2.0 or Sata II drive off them and expecting more speed. But stay tuned as the flood gates are opening on Sata III drives and USB 3 drives so wait if you can or pick up the old styles for cheap and live with it!
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2,036
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    linnemeyerhere said:
    You are correct, USB 3 and Sata III are backwards compatible there is no advantage hanging a USB 2.0 or Sata II drive off them and expecting more speed. But stay tuned as the flood gates are opening on Sata III drives and USB 3 drives so wait if you can or pick up the old styles for cheap and live with it!
    But what if the interface IS USB3 on an external 2.5" 5400RPM drive. We should so some speed increase. OR will the 5400RPM drive be too slow? Can a 5400RPM drive generate 6GB speeds (or anything over 3GB) That's my main question put simply. I don't think so.

    BUT

    SSDs should though. A little expensive, but for some it might be cool.

    And how about USB3 flash drives? They will be freaking nice it seems.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 11,424
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
       #4

    I just added an adapter card to convert mobo to Sata III and USB3 and I hung a Sata III SSD of it, problem solved.
    Maybe someone will have some calculations for me but what I've read no gains to be had with any older hard drive formats with new high speed headers. But I've been wrong before and I'm sure soon I'll be wrong again.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 2,036
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    linnemeyerhere said:
    I just added an adapter card to convert mobo to Sata III and USB3 and I hung a Sata III SSD of it, problem solved.
    Maybe someone will have some calculations for me but what I've read no gains to be had with any older hard drive formats with new high speed headers. But I've been wrong before and I'm sure soon I'll be wrong again.
    Well....thanks for thinking about it. I plan to do some testing. I just built this system for testing software, overclocking, and general messing around.

    YouTube - AMD Phenom II X6 1055T - Gigabyte 880GMA-UD2H system

    I'll see what I can find out. If anyone else knows, let us know.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 6,349
    Windows7 Pro 64bit SP-1; Windows XP Pro 32bit
       #6

    I think where you will see improvements is the SATA6 with the SSD's with Crucial now and soon I'm sure with the Vertex.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2,036
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Hopalong X said:
    I think where you will see improvements is the SATA6 with the SSD's with Crucial now and soon I'm sure with the Vertex.
    Yep, the Crucial looks good and the controller seems to be VERY good. Most SSDs will be going to 6GB slowly. The prices of the SATA2 ones will go down for everyone else. The PCI ones are looking pretty cool also.

    Here's one

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-349-_-Product
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 409
    win7 Ult 64
       #8

    USB 3.0 is fast.

    Here is a review I just published on a 3.5" USB 3.0 enclosure which I mounted a Samsung 1TB HD103UJ 7200 drive in.

    MUKii HDD enclosure
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2,036
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Kipper said:
    USB 3.0 is fast.

    Here is a review I just published on a 3.5" USB 3.0 enclosure which I mounted a Samsung 1TB HD103UJ 7200 drive in.

    MUKii HDD enclosure
    Thanks, I will read it when I wake up.....can't keep my eyes open. Thanks again for the data.

    Looks like a good enclosure
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 409
    win7 Ult 64
       #10

    nate42nd said:
    Kipper said:
    USB 3.0 is fast.

    Here is a review I just published on a 3.5" USB 3.0 enclosure which I mounted a Samsung 1TB HD103UJ 7200 drive in.

    MUKii HDD enclosure
    Thanks, I will read it when I wake up.....can't keep my eyes open. Thanks again for the data.

    Looks like a good enclosure

    You are welcome
      My Computer


 

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