Here goes, my 2p:
- Having Windows installed might make the drive slower due to more files and more fragmentation.
- If a drive has 3 platters the files can be spread on different platters meaning the head can travel faster from file to file than a single platter?
- Not all drives are equal, the firmware can be different
- Maybe S.M.A.R.T. is enabled on one drive and not the other?
- Maybe acoustic management is enabled making the drive a little slower but a little quieter?
Actually it was more 30p than 2p