USB 3.0

tidusjar · 30 Jun 2011 at 13:50

Hey guys, I'm going to get a external HDD for college and i want it to be a decent size for storing all of my media as well.

I'm looking into getting a USB 3.0 device. The problem is that my mobo don't support USB 3.0. So then i was looking at USB 3.0 PCI cards.

So my question is, is it worth getting USB 3.0 HDD and USB 3.0 PCI card for the extra speed? Will i notice the difference?

I see the logic of always progressing with technology.

paradisiac · 30 Jun 2011 at 13:51

there isnt a huge speed increase and most people have been disapointed. it depends on the filesizes as to whether the speed is different from usb 2.0.

tidusjar · 30 Jun 2011 at 13:54

So you think it's worth paying more for USB 3.0?

Surveyor · 30 Jun 2011 at 13:55

My previous test results from another thread:

Surveyor said:
I've just done my own tests.

2.5" 5400rpm drive in a bus powered external enclosure:

USB 2.0 read and write 30MB/s

USB 3.0 read 75MB/s, write 60MB/s

3.5" 5400rpm drive in an external dock:

USB 2.0 read and write 30MB/s

USB 3.0 read 90MB/s, write 60MB/s

paradisiac · 30 Jun 2011 at 13:57

tidusjar said:
So you think it's worth paying more for USB 3.0?

if the price difference is minimal then yes, but if you have to pay a fair bit more and dont do a lot of file transfers (cant remember is it was large or small files that gave better speed gains, think it was large) then its probably not.

Jordan97 · 30 Jun 2011 at 14:03

Personally, I have not noticed any difference between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0

tidusjar · 30 Jun 2011 at 14:59

Alright thanks guys, I'll get the USB 3.0 one as there's not much of a price difference. I just wont bother with a USB controller card.

EDIT: it is compatible with 2.0 isn't it? Will i need a certain cable?

Jordan97 · 30 Jun 2011 at 15:20

It is compatible with USB 2.0, you won't need anything extra to make it work.