USB 3 question

CSA

CSA

CSA

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20 Apr 2006
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Im looking at getting a USB 3 portable HDD , does my pc need to be USB 3 compliant to get the best speeds out of this ? im sure the pc is only USB 2 , will that make a big or any difference ?
 
Maximum speed for HDDs over USB 2 is about 40 MB/s. Most HDDs can do 100-120 MB/s (sequential) when not restricted by this bottleneck (e.g. over USB 3 or SATA) so it's quite a big difference. You have 3 options really:

- You could buy it and then if its slowness annoys you, get a USB 3 PCI-E card at some point in the future.
- You could buy it along with a USB 3 PCI-E card (like the one linked to above).
- You could buy an external HDD that supports eSATA (assuming you have an available eSATA port somewhere on your motherboard or case).
 
well if truth be told the HDD is for my lilttle girls new laptop which i think is usb 2, i just wanted some added staorage for all her films and music

so that removes the choice of having an add in card or esata

so you saying a usb3 hdd on a usb2 laptop will be slower than a usb2 hdd ?
 
Are you sure there's no eSATA port? If it's a new laptop it's likely to have one. If it does, just get a drive with an eSATA connector and you'll be running at full speed.
 
As you mention - if it i just for films and music then a USB2 connection will not be a bottleneck for playing. However, for loading with content a faster connection (like eSATA or USB3) would be preferable.

Would you be able to tell us the make and model number of the laptop? It may already have an eSATA port or it may have a ExpressCard port which will allow you to connect an eSATA or USB3 add-in card. (I bought a 2 port eSATA ExpressCard recently for £17).
 
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