USB3 phenomenon

[whs]

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]

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]

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

 

[TVeblen]

And it has USB3 ports?

Or are you using an add-on card?

 

[whs]

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

 

[ComputerGeek]

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]

I think this is all in good order.

 

[Britton30]

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]

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]

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.

 

[whs]

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?)

I have 7 SSDs. Used a few different ones with the same effect. The last one is a brand new 256GB Mushkin.

I don't think it is the SSDs. They work perfectly on eSata.

 

[madcratebuilder]

USB 3.0 seldom lives up to the published specs. USB3 is susceptible to RFI (wifi router) that can slow transfer speeds. As stated above using a incorrect cable can slow things to near 2.0 speeds.

Chip set and drivers play a big part in effective speeds. How is the USB3 integrated to your mobo? 19 pin header on mobo or pcie card. If tied to the pcie is it pcie 2.0 spec and is it a a x4 or faster lane.

I have a Seagate 2TB USB3 external drive, it performs pretty good connected to the USB3 port on a GA990FXA I/O panel. Changing the connection to a RocketU 1142A in a PCIe x4 lane speeds doubled to near the USB3 spec.

I have experienced problems with VIA USB3 drivers with W7 shutdown, very slow and sometimes it hangs.