Question SATA to USB Adapter with SSD Very Slow

[Maganda]

I bought a new a Sabrent USB 3.0 to SSD / 2.5-inch SATA Hard Drive Adapter and noticed there was something very wrong with the R/W speeds.
Edit: here is the product link: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Sabrent-...sprefix=sata+usb+adapter,aps,103&sr=8-10&th=1

As you can see below, the read/write speeds are absolutely terrible, 1/10ths of what it should be. I have been looking around to see if I am doing something wrong but I cannot identify what is the root cause. I assume it is the adapter/cable, but product reviews and specs on Amazon pretty much indicate that this adapter should be able to achieve around 500MB/s speeds with my setup.
I am working on a setup to test the SSD itself via direct internal SATA connection but that'll take some time. Still, I don't think it can be the SSD.

• I am using a USB3.1 port and have used different ports (all USB 3.1 ports, 100% sure) with the same result.
• Also tried different PCs with USB>3.0 (blue), yielding the same results.
• Also tried with two of the Sabrent adapters (I had another one which I've been using for a while), bought at different dates, yield the same results.

What I can do to improve the performance?


2TB Samsung 870QVO SSD, NTSF, brand new, using the same adapter (or another identical adapter):

Another SSD, Seagate 250GB, using the same adapter (or another identical adapter):

An old Toshiba HDD, which yielded higher sequential write speeds than both SSDs:

The info on the SSD in question, connected externally with the said adapter:

A setting I already checked:

 

[COLGeek]

Using a USB port and adapter is the root of the issue. There are just inherent limitations that will limit the performance of the connected SSD (which is far faster that the adapter can support). Sort of, just the way it is with what you are using.

 

[Maganda]

Using a USB port and adapter is the root of the issue. There are just inherent limitations that will limit the performance of the connected SSD (which is far faster that the adapter can support). Sort of, just the way it is with what you are using.

I am ready to accept that, but I don't think that is the case for 3 reasons:
1- I have seen many forum threads where people using these kinds of adapters are achieving much higher speeds.
2- I see amazon reviewers posting their own benchmarks, with this specific adapter and others, achieving much better results
3- There is a significantly large group of people who use home made Raspberry Pi media center/NAS solutions which utilize these kinds of adapters and you can see discussions all over the internet about these systems where people have "normal" R/W speeds.

 

[Bob.B]

I bought a new a Sabrent USB 3.0 to SSD / 2.5-inch SATA Hard Drive Adapter and noticed there was something very wrong with the R/W speeds.
Edit: here is the product link: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Sabrent-2-5-inch-Optimized-Supports-EC-SSHD/dp/B011M8YACM/ref=sr_1_10?crid=2V1D4S76I0V4K&keywords=sata+usb+adapter&qid=1697371522&sprefix=sata+usb+adapter,aps,103&sr=8-10&th=1

As you can see below, the read/write speeds are absolutely terrible, 1/10ths of what it should be. I have been looking around to see if I am doing something wrong but I cannot identify what is the root cause. I assume it is the adapter/cable, but product reviews and specs on Amazon pretty much indicate that this adapter should be able to achieve around 500MB/s speeds with my setup.
I am working on a setup to test the SSD itself via direct internal SATA connection but that'll take some time. Still, I don't think it can be the SSD.

• I am using a USB3.1 port and have used different ports (all USB 3.1 ports, 100% sure) with the same result.
• Also tried different PCs with USB>3.0 (blue), yielding the same results.
• Also tried with two of the Sabrent adapters (I had another one which I've been using for a while), bought at different dates, yield the same results.

What I can do to improve the performance?


2TB Samsung 870QVO SSD, NTSF, brand new, using the same adapter (or another identical adapter):

Another SSD, Seagate 250GB, using the same adapter (or another identical adapter):

An old Toshiba HDD, which yielded higher sequential write speeds than both SSDs:

The info on the SSD in question, connected externally with the said adapter:

A setting I already checked:

I have 2 of those adapters and testing on 2 different disk shows one is slightly faster than the other both are in the 500MB/s area.

Both adapters look the same but neither has a part number so the innards may not be the same not that that helps you any.

 

[Maganda]

I have 2 of those adapters and testing on 2 different disk shows one is slightly faster than the other both are in the 500MB/s area.

Both adapters look the same but neither has a part number so the innards may not be the same not that that helps you any.

Thank you!

That justifies my suspicion that something must be wrong on my end. I tried a third PC with USB 3.0 ports and did another test with the same results. It is very frustrating.

I have cloned the HDD of an old laptop we have lying around, which I will replace with the new SSD just to make sure it is not a problem with the disk. I don't think the speed can be this low so it is probably a waste of time.

I am in contact with the manufacturer but I don't know if they will provide any support.

 

[stonecarver]

It's always the roll of the dice on the speed each hard drive will move data when plugged into those external USB Sata cables.

Things I know that will halt the speed is moving over is a Valve game with there ---SDK--- files. You might as well go have a BBQ while waiting. All kidding aside things we do when moving files over is to 7-zip them before transfer it really speed things up. Or move thing over in smaller chunks. Lets say your moving a 100Gb's of stuff.

When moving it will say something like it has 2hrs 42 min to complete.

If you do it in chunks say 7 Gb's at a time your done in 10-15 min.

And the caddy's or external USB to Sata devices I use all have there own power bricks and speed is always all over the map.

 

[Maganda]

It's always the roll of the dice on the speed each hard drive will move data when plugged into those external USB Sata cables.

Things I know that will halt the speed is moving over is a Valve game with there ---SDK--- files. You might as well go have a BBQ while waiting. All kidding aside things we do when moving files over is to 7-zip them before transfer it really speed things up. Or move thing over in smaller chunks. Lets say your moving a 100Gb's of stuff.

When moving it will say something like it has 2hrs 42 min to complete.

If you do it in chunks say 7 Gb's at a time your done in 10-15 min.

And the caddy's or external USB to Sata devices I use all have there own power bricks and speed is always all over the map.

To clarify, the problem is not that I am not running at the maximum specs or anything close to that, I am a full order of magnitude below what this setup is supposed to provide.

My tests with both HUGE zip files and folders with smaller files achieved results very similar to the benchmark tests I posted; around 30MBps, in contrast with the 400-500MBps which the USB 3.0, UASP and SATA 600 interfaces, my current SSD and the new SSD should all be more than capable of.

I did think it might be a power issue at first, but the adapter sheet clearly states it is not supposed to need additional power supply, and many users report fine performance.

Could it be that QVO is such an inefficient drive that it is one of the exceptions that don't work with this adapter?
Also, if power draw was the problem, wouldn't the drive simply not work instead of just being slower (at a very consistent albeit slow speed)?

 

[Bob.B]

To clarify, the problem is not that I am not running at the maximum specs or anything close to that, I am a full order of magnitude below what this setup is supposed to provide.

My tests with both HUGE zip files and folders with smaller files achieved results very similar to the benchmark tests I posted; around 30MBps, in contrast with the 400-500MBps which the USB 3.0, UASP and SATA 600 interfaces, my current SSD and the new SSD should all be more than capable of.

I did think it might be a power issue at first, but the adapter sheet clearly states it is not supposed to need additional power supply, and many users report fine performance.

Could it be that QVO is such an inefficient drive that it is one of the exceptions that don't work with this adapter?
Also, if power draw was the problem, wouldn't the drive simply not work instead of just being slower (at a very consistent albeit slow speed)?

If you have a usb 3 flash stick plug it in and run cdm see what it shows.

 

[dwd999]

I bought a new a Sabrent USB 3.0 to SSD / 2.5-inch SATA Hard Drive Adapter and noticed there was something very wrong with the R/W speeds.
Edit: here is the product link: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Sabrent-2-5-inch-Optimized-Supports-EC-SSHD/dp/B011M8YACM/ref=sr_1_10?crid=2V1D4S76I0V4K&keywords=sata+usb+adapter&qid=1697371522&sprefix=sata+usb+adapter,aps,103&sr=8-10&th=1

As you can see below, the read/write speeds are absolutely terrible, 1/10ths of what it should be. I have been looking around to see if I am doing something wrong but I cannot identify what is the root cause. I assume it is the adapter/cable, but product reviews and specs on Amazon pretty much indicate that this adapter should be able to achieve around 500MB/s speeds with my setup.
I am working on a setup to test the SSD itself via direct internal SATA connection but that'll take some time. Still, I don't think it can be the SSD.

• I am using a USB3.1 port and have used different ports (all USB 3.1 ports, 100% sure) with the same result.
• Also tried different PCs with USB>3.0 (blue), yielding the same results.
• Also tried with two of the Sabrent adapters (I had another one which I've been using for a while), bought at different dates, yield the same results.

What I can do to improve the performance?

If you want to try an alternative I've used the following adapter with sequential speeds in the mid-400s on a Samsung 850 Pro with good results:

Amazon.de

 

[Maganda]

If you have a usb 3 flash stick plug it in and run cdm see what it shows.

That's a good idea, unfortunately I don't have any. I will try to find and borrow one from somewhere.

If you want to try an alternative I've used the following adapter with sequential speeds in the mid-400s on a Samsung 850 Pro with good results:

Amazon.de

Thanks! If I end up being convinced that it is the adapter's fault, I'll give that one a try.


I still feel like I could be missing something. My USB ports are all blue (as well as the other 2 PCs I have tried this on) and HWinfo64 lists them under Ports > USB as USB 3.1 ports (3.2 on another PC I tried). The SSD itself is most likely not the problem, and my own disk is much faster so it cannot be the bottle neck either.

I feel like if I spend yet another €20 I will just end up in the same place.

 

[Bob.B]

That's a good idea, unfortunately I don't have any. I will try to find and borrow one from somewhere.


Thanks! If I end up being convinced that it is the adapter's fault, I'll give that one a try.


I still feel like I could be missing something. My USB ports are all blue (as well as the other 2 PCs I have tried this on) and HWinfo64 lists them under Ports > USB as USB 3.1 ports (3.2 on another PC I tried). The SSD itself is most likely not the problem, and my own disk is much faster so it cannot be the bottle neck either.

I feel like if I spend yet another €20 I will just end up in the same place.

It might be a good idea to connect the ssd via sata and see what cdm has to say about it.

 

[Misgar]

I use Inateck USB3 housings for 2.5in SATA SSDs and laptop drives, because they support UASP which improves performance if your OS is correctly configured.

I suggest you ditch the Sabrent adapter and buy a quality enclosure instead.

 

[Maganda]

Final update on this:

Cloned my old OS to the SSD, put it back in the laptop, ran crystaldiskmark and the result is as expected:

So the SSD is fine. The interface is the source of the problem and seeing as how I've tried multiple PCs and ports which all should be USB3.1 or 3.2, I see this as a problem with the adapter.

I cannot comprehend what else I might be missing, and I cannot reconcile my experience with the fact that the Amazon reviews for this are so positive.

Sabrent support was quite responsive but ended up not helping much; they asked for my address and upon giving it told me I should take it up with Amazon, but I cannot since I got rid of the packaging.

All this for a measly €13 adapter, but it was more about trying to get to the bottom of the issue.

A warning to anyone who might buy a Sabrent adapter in the future.

 

[Misgar]

If the adapter does not perform as claimed, I'd return it to Amazon even if you don't have the packaging. At that price, I doubt if they'd try to "refurbish" it and sell to someone else.

 

[Maganda]

Okay final final update:
On hwinfo, I noticed that under Ports > USB > AMD USB 3.10 > Root Hub > Port x, the device in question was running on USB 2.0.
After switching the USB around multiple USB ports back to back, the device started functioning correctly with USB 3.0 and is now at the expected speeds.

Now let me emphasize one thing: I am NOT an idiot.
I am not smart, but I am smart enough that people around me think I'm smart-ish.

And when I mentioned trying this on multiple PCs, on multiple ports, all of which where USB 3 and above, I was not exaggerating. As I am typing this, I am running a speed test on the same port I did 50% of my previous tests on, for almost a week. Something was definitely not working as intended.

The adapter only started working on USB 3.0 after I left a bad Amazon review (which I deleted now). So either Sabrent people are watching me and updating my devices remotely or the adapter somehow got stuck in USB 2.0 mode for some reason and had to be switched between different ports back to back to start working correctly.

NOT an idiot.