Speedy file transfer between two PCs

[davidbk]

I have two workstations at home (desktop and laptop, using Windows 7 and 10 respectively) and I'd like to routinely transfer files back and forth between them. I'm trying to find a solution that allows for fastest transfer speed. I have explored the following:

Wireless Connection
The two workstations are connected to my home network. I've done some bandwidth tests transferring files between the two via shared folders. My average transfer speed is around 8-10 Mbps. My current wireless gateway is the following: SmartRG SR505n ADSL/VDSL2 802.11n.
What wireless transfer speeds can I expect if I purchase a high-end router? For example,
ASUS AC2900.

USB Data Link Cable
The two workstations are physically quite close to each other and one solution could be to use a USB Data Link cable to transfer files from PC to PC.
USB 2.0 Data Link
USB 3.0 Data Link
Actual transfer speeds for USB 2.0 Data Link = 25-30 Mbps.
Speeds for USB 3.0 are not listed, although some reviews indicate 30-40 Mbps:

Ethernet Cable
The laptop has a USB 3.0 port and an option would be to use a USB hub with Ethernet port to connect the two workstations. This hub supports Gigabit Ethernet and it looks like Gigabit Ethernet cables can allow for actual speeds of up to 100 Mbps. If this is true, is it necessary to use Cat5e or Cat6 cables (over Cat5) to make use of full speed? And will it allow for faster speeds to connect PC to PC (crossover cable)? Or through the gateway (straight cable)?

Any other suggestions for fast file transfer between two workstations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[anotherdrew]

There is another consideration ... the size of your files. Just for fun, I did a handful of transfers. This is on all gigabit Ethernet.
Files 50 MB and more transferred at 100-110 MBps
Files around 5 MB each transferred at 70-80 MBps
Files around 1 MB each transferred at 10-20 MBps

This was just using what Windows was reporting. Each transfer had to go through 2 switches and a router (same network, so really another switch).

** Edit ** just to be clear, MBps is Mega Bytes per second ... a 300 MB file got transferred in about 3 seconds. I just want to clarify because you were talking about Mbps (Mega bit per second). They are not the same.

 

[davidbk]

Thanks for the ideas anotherdrew.

I did a test over my current Wireless Setup with both very large and small files. Both seem to cap at 10 MB/s.

Regarding MBps vs Mbps, when I copy a file in Windows it says:
Speed: 8.65 MB/s

Is this Mega Bytes per second?

I just ordered a USB 3 to Gigabit Ethernet hub. I will test the wired connection speeds when it arrives.

I have one question:
Do you anticipate a significant speed difference between A) a direct (cross-over cable) connection between the two computers and B) connection passing through the network gateway (straight cable)? My network gateway is listed in the OP.

Thanks!

 

[USAFRet]

Network performance depends on the speed of the slowest device in the chain.

WiFi, USB, ethernet.
Ethernet is by far the fastest.

PC->Cat5e->router (or switch)->Cat5e->PC would be the fastest, and easiest, way to transfer this data.
Your systems are already connected to the router via Cat5e. No need for any other direct connections between them.

 

[davidbk]

How do I determine if my cables are Cat5 or Cat5e? Is it worth upgrading to Cat6 or is that overkill?

 

[anotherdrew]

MB = MegaBytes
Mb = Megabits

The direct link (it use to require a crossover cable, but most modern Ethernet ports have crossover detection, so a regular cable "should" work) will connect at 1 Gbit (assuming both computers have Gigabit adapters). Going through your gateway will limit you to 100 Mbit because your gateway only has 1 Gbit port and the rest are FastEthernet (100/10). The good news is a 4-5 port Gbit switch costs less than $40 (some under $20).

 

[anotherdrew]

How do I determine if my cables are Cat5 or Cat5e? Is it worth upgrading to Cat6 or is that overkill?

It will be printed on the side of the cable. Upgrading to Cat6 is overkill.

 

[USAFRet]

How do I determine if my cables are Cat5 or Cat5e? Is it worth upgrading to Cat6 or is that overkill?

No need to rewire for Cat6. Zero difference in a residential situation.
Cat5e? Might be printed on the insulation. But if it was bought in the last few years, it is almost certainly Cat5e.

I just did a test of a single 3.7GB ISO file. Reading from an SSD:

Copying to a USB 3.0 connected HDD - 1 min 38sec
Copying to my NAS box (across 2 switches and the router, all gigabit devices) - 36 secs