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    m14x USB 3.0

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by or1onz, Aug 30, 2011.

  1. or1onz

    or1onz Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi,

    I am not sure whether this topic has been posted (most probably yes), and I am sorry to recreate a similar topic. Couldn't find the previous one, or I have missed it.

    Well, I believe the m14x at 2 USB 3.0 at the right side of the laptop. I plug-in-ed a USB 3.0 WD exteralHDD but the speed doesn't seems to be very fast. Sort of like USB 2.0.

    Is there anyway I can check the speed, or confirm that both USB on the right are of 3.0?
     
    or1onz, Aug 30, 2011
    #1
  2. Croatoan

    Croatoan Notebook Consultant

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    They are both usb 3.0. Problem is you need a device that can saturate the interface. An old fashioned spinning magnectic disk unfortunately is so 90's.

    A very fast SSD obiwan, is possibly your only hope :)
     
    Croatoan, Aug 30, 2011
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  3. CGSDR

    CGSDR Alien Master Race

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    As far as I heard, USB 3 HDD still need more work and sometime it need an external software like your M14x, something called "USB 3 Controller" to enable the capability. Though I'm not sure if it really any app out there that can do that, my best guess is you should contact WD's tech support, they might be able to help you than in here.
     
    CGSDR, Aug 30, 2011
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  4. Croatoan

    Croatoan Notebook Consultant

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    If the device is a USB 3.0 Hard drive then it will run at the speed of the mechanical disk. Its impossible to run faster.
    I suggest that you benchmark the drive using both the left hand side usb 2.0 then the right hand side 3.0 port.

    Then you will know if you have an issue. Obvioulsy is you have a usb 2.0 drive then the controller in the hard drive will be the limiting factor.

    It has nothing to do with software. You will only be able to transfer data as fast as the slowest component.

    If for example you have a 5400rpm hard drive in your external device, even moving it to a usb 3.0 caddy would be pretty pointless.

    USB 3.0 is designed for faster devices, merely pluggin in a slow old device wont make it work any faster :)
     
    Croatoan, Aug 30, 2011
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  5. TitanGod

    TitanGod Notebook Evangelist

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    With USB 3.0 HDD connected to the USB 3.0 port i've seen speed vary greatly from 20MB/s - 130 MB/s. I know it's a big difference between 20 and 130 but it's what I've seen. It's almost like it decides when it wants to go fast and when it wants to slow down.
     
    TitanGod, Aug 30, 2011
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  6. mrbee33

    mrbee33 Notebook Evangelist

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    i see the same thing on my usb 3.0 external HD
     
    mrbee33, Aug 30, 2011
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  7. Croatoan

    Croatoan Notebook Consultant

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    Is there any difference to the type of files you are copying, ie large / small mix etc. Just considering what to do with my internal drive when the ssd turns up.

    Not going to waste money on an external caddy for my original drive if it will perform better in my optical bay ?
     
    Croatoan, Aug 31, 2011
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  8. jeremyshaw

    jeremyshaw Big time Idiot

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    Spinners suffer when lots of small files get copied. It doesn't even have to get to 4K size. Just smaller files alone will make a HDD mudpit slow. SSDs are orders of maginitude faster than HDDs in this reguard (which is why they feel faster - reguardless of the fact that their large file copy speed is much faster, too).
     
    jeremyshaw, Aug 31, 2011
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  9. or1onz

    or1onz Notebook Enthusiast

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    I am pretty sure my external HDD is a 3.0 version, having the blue color at the usb port.
    Might try to benchmark. But how do I do that? Never done it before..
    Google-ing now..
     
    or1onz, Aug 31, 2011
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  10. eats7

    eats7 Notebook Evangelist

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    You also need to be using a usb 3.0 cable i'm pretty sure.
     
    eats7, Aug 31, 2011
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  11. or1onz

    or1onz Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yeap. I believe USB 3.0 cable have blue color at the head there.
    It's feel strange from the speed. Will do a benchmark test later. If speeds is just like 2.0, might look into software before I proceed with others
     
    or1onz, Aug 31, 2011
    #11