Video jumping when playing from USB drive

michty_me · 23 Apr 2012 at 02:08

I have noticed that when watching a video on my laptop (playing from a USB Samsung S2 portable 500GB)
Every short while the video seems to skip/jump and go pixelated for a few seconds then continues as normal. This process then repeats every 30 seconds to a minute but sometimes it is hardly noticeable.
This drive has always done it since new but my other drive doesn't do it. The other is a WD essential 320GB though.

What could cause this? Could the read speeds from the USB drive be poor?

The videos play perfectly when running from my main computer or laptop hard drive. Once the video is on the Samsung drive, It skips on all computers so it isn't a bogus video.

I'm half tempted to get another portable drive and just use this one for a windows restore drive/PS3 backup etc.

Razor-BladE · 23 Apr 2012 at 02:44

Use software to find out the read speeds of the hard drive.

Sin_Chase · 23 Apr 2012 at 02:46

Probably poor drive performance over USB on this particular model.

While in theory the drive SHOULD provide more than enough bandwidth for even high bitrate video USB can be a pita at the best of times. Overall/Average throughput is one thing sustained reliable throughput is another, poor performance on the latter will be demonstrated quite obviously on something real time like a video but be totally transparent on a simple file copy.

michty_me · 23 Apr 2012 at 02:51

Razor-BladE said:
Use software to find out the read speeds of the hard drive.

Any software you would recommend?

Sin_Chase said:
Probably poor drive performance over USB on this particular model.

While in theory the drive SHOULD provide more than enough bandwidth for even high bitrate video USB can be a pita at the best of times. Overall/Average throughput is one thing sustained reliable throughput is another, poor performance on the latter while be demonstrated quite obviously on something real time like a video but be totally transparent on a simple file copy.

That is what my initial thought was seeing as I have never seen any issues like this in my WD drive. It just failed instantly

Any portable HDD that are known for good read/Write speeds and also maintain reliability? Probably something with 500GB - 750GB would be fine.

Sin_Chase · 23 Apr 2012 at 02:54

michty_me said:
Any software you would recommend?

I think ATTO can test a USB drive.

michty_me · 23 Apr 2012 at 03:12

Sin_Chase said:
I think ATTO can test a USB drive.

Thanks. I've just downloaded it and run a quick test before heading to bed.

This is the results it came back with

Sin_Chase · 23 Apr 2012 at 03:17

About right.

Is the drive fragmented at all?

michty_me · 23 Apr 2012 at 10:46

Sin_Chase said:
About right.

Is the drive fragmented at all?

TBH, I haven't even checked. I shall take the drive to work and post back with findings soon.

michty_me · 23 Apr 2012 at 11:04

It shows as 0% fragmented. I may try moving all data to another drive, Re-format it then move the data back.

michty_me · 26 Apr 2012 at 01:31

I've just been comparing drive specs and noticed that the samsung drive is a 4,200 rpm drive whilst the WD one is a 5,400rpm drive. Could this be the cause? I'm hoping to do some testing with my other drive over the next few days when I get home.