USB ports - file transfer speed question

Forums › Desktop computing › USB ports - file transfer speed question

simon14

1889 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 44

Trusted

#60449 26-Apr-2010 15:10

How fast should files transfer on USB 2.0?

When i plug in my Flip HD, the file transfer rate stays around 4.5 MB/second. This seems quite slow to me... shouldn't it be going faster than this? I know the Flip HD camcorder is usb 2.0 compatible...

simon14

1889 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 44

Trusted

#323075 26-Apr-2010 15:13

Just looked it up.

USB 2.0 should run at 480 Mbps which equals to 60 MBps.

( http://www.everythingusb.com/usb2/faq.htm#4 )

Why is mine going to slow???

hellonearthisman

1819 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 52

Trusted

#323142 26-Apr-2010 17:52

Is it directly connected to the usb port, no extension cable.
My slowest USB keys reads at 7MB/s so you should be getting better.

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14313 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4834

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#323155 26-Apr-2010 18:25

Plugging into my front USB seem to run slower than the rear "on board" ports. Try the rear ports if you havent already.

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

XMusic Module Player

Ragnor

8294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 598

Trusted

#323308 26-Apr-2010 23:56

I suspect the read/write speed of the storage medium in the Flip HD will be the limiting factor at play here.

Most flash based storage is not very speedy (apart from the stuff used in modern SSD hard drives).

simon14

1889 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 44

Trusted

#323327 27-Apr-2010 01:07

Tried plugging into the back USB ports, no difference in speed.

No difference in speed with read or write.

What could be causing this? Any ideas???

Batman

Mad Scientist
30124 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6312

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#323335 27-Apr-2010 01:49

the more files, the slower it goes.
max if FAT32 on my system is 10MBps.
max if i reformat usb key to NTFS can go up to 70MBps.

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

simon14

1889 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 44

Trusted

#323461 27-Apr-2010 10:57

Interesting... i'll try formatting a usb stick when i'm home and see what happens :)

Ragnor

8294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 598

Trusted

#323968 28-Apr-2010 01:55

Performance of flash memory varies by quality of the flash and the controller.

Basically cheap (and nasty) USB flash memory devices have poor read/write (especially write) performance.

See here
http://usbspeed.nirsoft.net/usb_drive_speed_summary.html
http://usbspeed.nirsoft.net/

bazzer

3438 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 267

Trusted

#324005 28-Apr-2010 08:33

I wouldn't have thought the Flip HD would be bad quality though? Interestingly, when I plugged a cheapo MP3 player into my front USBs the other day, a message popped up saying transfer would be faster on USB 2.0, which I thought they were. Maybe it was a mistake, or maybe only the back ports are (as someone else already pointed out).