External SSDs not suitable for large file transfers?

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  1. Posts : 565
    Windows 10 Professional 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #11

    Thanks for all replies. Anibor and muchomurka replies both support what is happening in my case. It seems to be a combination of both SSD and CPU thermal throttling. External SSDs, being compact, cannot dissipate the heat efficiently. The bottom line is that, in my case, using an external HDD is better than using an external SSD for copying 60GB image files to. The HDD speed is slower, but it is maintained with no drop-off in speed, resulting in faster task completion overall. This does not apply as much to internal SSDs since they have better heat dissipation.

    I'll call this "Solved" and thank you all again.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #12

    muchomurka said:
    Rather CPU thermal throttling than SSD one... or other CPU/mobo problem. Copying 100+ GB file between SSDs without problems.
    Attachment 263506
    Hi there

    @wiganken

    regularly copying 80 - 100GB files to external SSD -- never a problem --even boot up some Linux OS'es on them running Virtual Machines with 2 Windows versions -- all via a USB3-->Sata adapter.

    Never heard of SSD's being a problem for file transfers of any kind -- also no moving parts and low power so I'm not sure how much heat should be generated.

    I/O also isn't an activity that causes much load on the CPU -- in any case I/O is done at times when the CPU isn't busy on other tasks.

    I suspect there's probably something wrong with how you've attached the external SSD --it's also unnecssary if you use usb3-->sata adapter to have a powered USB slot although that won't do any harm.

    If your I/O drops as low as 24Mbs you've definitely either got defective hardware or the OS is going bonkers.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 565
    Windows 10 Professional 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #13

    Thanks jimbo. Yes the PNY could have been defective. As "Helmut" says the PNY is at the cheap end of the market so I may try another, better quality, 500GB SSD. I could always return it if it is also defective. I don't need an SSD. It's just that I wanted one because they are supposed to be a lot faster and I reckon I have had a bad experience with the PNY.

    You say you are "regularly copying 80 - 100GB files to external SSD - never a problem" so can you say which external SSD you are using and is it connected via USB 3.0? Thanks.
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  4. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #14

    wiganken said:
    Thanks jimbo. Yes the PNY could have been defective. As "Helmut" says the PNY is at the cheap end of the market so I may try another, better quality, 500GB SSD. I could always return it if it is also defective. I don't need an SSD. It's just that I wanted one because they are supposed to be a lot faster and I reckon I have had a bad experience with the PNY.

    You say you are "regularly copying 80 - 100GB files to external SSD - never a problem" so can you say which external SSD you are using and is it connected via USB 3.0? Thanks.
    Hi there @wiganken

    I'm using some quite old "surplus to requirements" SSD's , the older samsung 850 evo (still a decent performer) and the real "el cheapo's" Kingston ones. (Even these perform OK for USB3 connection).

    Connection is via a sabrent USB3-->Sata adapter but any will do -- you don't need to enclose the SSD's --just "leave them hanging" just like say a USB stick. USB3 used on the computer of course.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 565
    Windows 10 Professional 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #15

    The samsung 850 evo is an internal SSD isn't it? I am talking about external SSDs so do you mean you are using the samsung 850 evo in an enclosure connected via USB 3.0?
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  6. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #16

    wiganken said:
    The samsung 850 evo is an internal SSD isn't it? I am talking about external SSDs so do you mean you are using the samsung 850 evo in an enclosure connected via USB 3.0?
    Hi there

    @wiganken

    that's what the SATA->USB3 connector does --just plug the SSD into the SATA end and the USB3 into the USB3 port on the computer !!!!! No enclosures needed !! (BTW you can use these also for old 2.5 inch laptop notebooks --also good for external backups but slow compared with SSD's.)

    they should look something like this : (cost about 4 -7 EUR -- probably about 3.50 - 6 GBP depending on exchange rate)

    No power needed just connect the SSD to the SATA end and plug into machine USB3 port --no drivers needed either. I've 4 or 5 of these --useful for quick connect of an SSD when I want to take a macrium backup etc or fire up another Virtual Machine --even USB3 connected these devices are far faster than standard spinners.

    I'm sure somebody like amazon will have these. (That's where I got mine from).

    External SSDs not suitable for large file transfers?-screenshot_20200118_112453.png

    cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 565
    Windows 10 Professional 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #17

    OK. That explains it and opens up more options. I have been looking only at external SSDs but now I can consider internal SSDs connected via the SATA -> USB cable. Thanks for pointing me in that direction. I'll look into it as I suspect that heat will be less of a problem using a 2.5" internal SSD since they are not as compact as external SSDs.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #18

    wiganken said:
    OK. That explains it and opens up more options. I have been looking only at external SSDs but now I can consider internal SSDs connected via the SATA -> USB cable. Thanks for pointing me in that direction. I'll look into it as I suspect that heat will be less of a problem using a 2.5" internal SSD since they are not as compact as external SSDs.
    Hi there
    don't have the SSD in any caddy / container --treat it just like a USB stick.

    Computer will just see it as another disk drive (removable) though so if you want to install bootable windows on it you need some sort of "windows2go" creator. You can clone existing Windows if the disk is large enough and then it will boot if you fit the disk internally. Also very useful for running things like Macrium system backups etc.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 565
    Windows 10 Professional 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #19

    Understood. I use Macrium anyway and I would use its "Create Rescue Media" tool to make the SSD bootable as well as use the SSD for writing images to. For writing 80GB image files it sounds the way to go I think.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 2,716
    Windows 10
       #20

    "Never heard of SSD's being a problem for file transfers of any kind -- also no moving parts and low power so I'm not sure how much heat should be generated. "

    Maybe you should read some more around the subject. At an atomic level there are moving parts in an SSD. OK they are "noseeums" in general terms compared to an HDD.

    The electrical efficiency is low so most of the consumed power appears as heat, that is a bit less than a mechanical drive sure, but the physical size of the memory cells in an SSD is much smaller and thus easily raises the temperature of those cells. The controller ic and any extra buffer/cache memory also adds to the heat generation.

    Most people know that raised temperatures on semiconductor devices shortens their life.

    As I said, whether the SSD runs at a controlled speed or starts off fast and then decreases is a matter of design.
      My Computer


 

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