Usb 3.0

[WMS Kronus]

I recently purchased a USB 3.0 portable hard drive.

The transfer speed is about 100 MB/s when connected directly to the 3.0 USB port on my Surface Pro.

When I connect it to a 2.0 USB hub, it transfers at about 40 MB/s.

I was expecting a transfer rate more like along the lines of 500+ MB/s.

Is the 100 MB/s speed a typical transfer rate for USB 3.0 connections?

Am I expecting too much from a USB 3.0 connection?

Is there a setting that is limiting my 3.0 port?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[kundas1]

here is a little info from wikipedia
USB - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[gangolfus]

Most mechanical hard disks have transfer speeds around 100 MB/s. You are limited by the speed of the drive inside, not the interface.

 

[WMS Kronus]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. It appears, after reading up on it, that no one actually gets the transfer rates that USB 3.0 boasts. It's still better than the USB 2 transfer rates though.

 

[demandarin]

yeah, its more so it supports up to that much but the computer hardware, other than the usb 3.0, hasn't reached those speeds yet.

 

[WMS Kronus]

I guess it's not the fault of the USB 3.0, but rather the peripherals that are attached to it. The portable hard drive I purchased says it is capable of transfer speeds of up to 5 gigibits (700MBs) per second. It appears they may have exaggerated just a little bit.