USB 3.0 Behavior

[darkangel3182]

Hello,

i would just like to ask, how can you verify if a usb 3.0 port is working properly (or is behaving properly)?

usb 3.0 supposedly has a faster transfer rate as compared to usb 2.0..

here are some scenarios i experienced:

hardware
1 asus g73sw laptop (all stock, stock fresco usb 3.0 driver)
1 seagate expansion 1TB usb 2.0 external hard drive, 7200 rpm
1 seagate expansion 1.5TB usb 3.0 portable hard drive, 5400 rpm

(transfer rates as being shown by windows 7 during transfer)
a. transfer rate of 144 GB worth of video files to usb 3.0 drive: 13.5 mbps ave.
b. transfer rate of 177 GB worth of files (mostly disc images) to usb 2.0 drive: 20 mpbs ave.
c. transfer rate of 12 GB worth of video files to usb 3.0 drive: 14 mbps ave.
d. transfer rate of 2 GB video file to usb 3.0 drive: starts/piques at 101 mbps then declines to around 40mbps at end of transfer

are scenarios a, c and d normal behavior?
comparing scenario a and b, why does the usb 2.0 drive have a higher transfer rate as compared to the usb 3.0 drive? does the usb 3.0 drive, being portable, a factor? does a hard drive's rpm also have an effect on the file transfer rate?

any insights would be much appreciated.

thank you very much.

 

[memadmax]

Simple answer: Yes.

Why?
Because of the slowest component, which is the hard drive itself.

 

[memadmax]

Also, regarding "D", hard drives get slower as the near the end of their data stream because that is the slower outer edge of the platter. So it starts off fast when its at the beginning inner hub of the drive, then gets slower the farther and farther it gets out there.

 

[memadmax]

One more on "B", yes the 7200 rpm drive is able to maintain higher throughput.