is it worth using ssd with usb2?

[avidgamer121]

so i have 7 drives, 4 internal and 3 external but the problem i only have 2 usb 3.0 and my case doesn't have front usb 3.0 so my 7th drive is connected to a usb 2.0 adapter it's better than nothing but still slow despite the fact im getting peak speed

should i buy usb hub? i also want to confirm if i buy one will the bandwidth be full considering only 1 drive is actively transferring files?

 

[Konomi]

If you aren't using the SSD for anything intensive (like loading games), you can get away with USB 2. Not ideal, but it works. If you're constantly accessing files on it, get the USB 3 hub - you'll get the speed of your drive as long as you're not hammering the other drives at the same time.

 

[_roman_]

10 - 15 years I used to use that.

I did not look it up. I think it's in the nature of the "hub" to share the bandwidth. It also depends what the mainboard does. That is a different topic about mainboard design and bandwidth.

You can check the tree view of usb devices.

Sienna_Cichlid /home/roman # lsusb -t
/:  Bus 001.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/12p, 480M
    |__ Port 009: Dev 002, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M
/:  Bus 002.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/5p, 20000M/x2
/:  Bus 003.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/12p, 480M
    |__ Port 007: Dev 002, If 0, Class=Vendor Specific Class, Driver=[none], 12M
    |__ Port 007: Dev 002, If 2, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
/:  Bus 004.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/6p, 10000M
/:  Bus 005.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/2p, 480M
    |__ Port 002: Dev 002, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
    |__ Port 002: Dev 002, If 1, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
    |__ Port 002: Dev 002, If 2, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
    |__ Port 002: Dev 002, If 3, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
/:  Bus 006.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/2p, 10000M
/:  Bus 007.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/2p, 480M
    |__ Port 002: Dev 002, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/4p, 480M
        |__ Port 001: Dev 003, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
        |__ Port 001: Dev 003, If 1, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
        |__ Port 004: Dev 004, If 0, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 480M
        |__ Port 004: Dev 004, If 1, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 480M
        |__ Port 004: Dev 004, If 2, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 480M
        |__ Port 004: Dev 004, If 3, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 480M
        |__ Port 004: Dev 004, If 4, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 480M
        |__ Port 004: Dev 004, If 5, Class=Application Specific Interface, Driver=[none], 480M
/:  Bus 008.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/2p, 10000M
/:  Bus 009.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/1p, 480M
/:  Bus 010.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/0p, 5000M

When you wonder Port 7 is obvious my ASUS PA278QV monitor build in hub - only a part to explain the hub topic
which is totally fine - as the "usb sound card" is usb 2 = m-audio air 192|6
mouse = who cares

Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 007 Device 002: ID 05e3:0610 Genesys Logic, Inc. Hub
Bus 007 Device 003: ID 3938:1161 Acrox AGM700 Gaming mouse
Bus 007 Device 004: ID 0763:410c M-Audio AIR 192 6

--

you may provide more information before asking in detail. what hardware do you own already and intend to use (parts please)

I would not use anything below 10gbps usb anymore for usb nvme.
Sata SSDs with usb 5gbps I used for quite a while.

 

[Shrek]

USB 3 hubs are as cheap as $12
Amazon.com: USB 3.0 Hub,Aluminum 4 Port USB Data Hub 3.0 Multi USB Port Expander Dongle USB Extension Multiport Adapter with 3.3ft Cable USB Splitter for Laptop, PC/Xbox/Flash Drive/Printer/Camera/Keyborad/Mouse : Electronics

 

[DaemonForce]

Do you have a USB3 header anywhere?
It isn't always about front ports. My case doesn't have any.
It sometimes makes sense to use the header for rear I/O.
Very specific case but I would opt for a USB3 DOM (if I could find any).

 

[avidgamer121]

Do you have a USB3 header anywhere?
It isn't always about front ports. My case doesn't have any.
It sometimes makes sense to use the header for rear I/O.
Very specific case but I would opt for a USB3 DOM (if I could find any).

yes my mobo does have usb3 header i think for more than a decade all budget mobos have. Do you have really old pc?
DOMs seem like a rare thing and couldn't find one listed online

USB 3 hubs are as cheap as $12
Amazon.com: USB 3.0 Hub,Aluminum 4 Port USB Data Hub 3.0 Multi USB Port Expander Dongle USB Extension Multiport Adapter with 3.3ft Cable USB Splitter for Laptop, PC/Xbox/Flash Drive/Printer/Camera/Keyborad/Mouse : Electronics

i am satisfied with usb2 speed, it's actually similar to my new 1tb ssd after it hits sustain load limit so i guess for a little while i can live with it maybe next month. Yeah i now it's very cheap i can even get a chinese ones hub + enclosure under 8$ but that's that caveat you face when not being financially independent.

 

[A Computer Guy]

so i have 7 drives, 4 internal and 3 external but the problem i only have 2 usb 3.0 and my case doesn't have front usb 3.0 so my 7th drive is connected to a usb 2.0 adapter it's better than nothing but still slow despite the fact im getting peak speed
View attachment 393881

should i buy usb hub? i also want to confirm if i buy one will the bandwidth be full considering only 1 drive is actively transferring files?

USB3 supplies more power. You may have issues with USB2 only power delivery with storage devices.

yes my mobo does have usb3 header ...

If you have an unused USB3 header and your case can't support it you can get something like this...

 

[theFOoL]

USB3 supplies more power. You may have issues with USB2 only power delivery with storage devices.


If you have an unused USB3 header and your case can't support it you can get something like this...
View attachment 393910

I was going to suggest. I have that in my 775 Build

 

[avidgamer121]

USB3 supplies more power. You may have issues with USB2 only power delivery with storage devices.


If you have an unused USB3 header and your case can't support it you can get something like this...
View attachment 393910

Sounds like a good idea, i will have a look.

 

[theFOoL]

Sounds like a good idea, i will have a look.

Yes but Bare in mind that USB Storage devices like SSD/2.5 HDD should work with any problems but you need a dock with power outlet for 3.5 HDDs I bought a 8 port USB3 extension Hub off temu

 

[LabRat 891]

SSDs are great for access times.
Faster access times will notably improve felt performance, even within the bandwidth-limitations of USB 2.0.
If it's games and/or applications on the external drive, the improvement will be notable vs. an HDD.

I can tell you from experience, over a USB 2.0 bandwidth-limited bridged (USB<->SATA or NVMe) connection:
-any SATA SSD is faster than any 2.5" SATA HDD
-any NVME SSD is faster than a SATA SSD or eMMC (basemodel SteamDeck pull)
-any Optane (excepting H10 and H20) will be faster over USB2.0 than any other NVMe.

10 - 15 years I used to use that.

I did not look it up. I think it's in the nature of the "hub" to share the bandwidth. It also depends what the mainboard does. That is a different topic about mainboard design and bandwidth.

You can check the tree view of usb devices.

Sienna_Cichlid /home/roman # lsusb -t
/:  Bus 001.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/12p, 480M
    |__ Port 009: Dev 002, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M
/:  Bus 002.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/5p, 20000M/x2
/:  Bus 003.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/12p, 480M
    |__ Port 007: Dev 002, If 0, Class=Vendor Specific Class, Driver=[none], 12M
    |__ Port 007: Dev 002, If 2, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
/:  Bus 004.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/6p, 10000M
/:  Bus 005.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/2p, 480M
    |__ Port 002: Dev 002, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
    |__ Port 002: Dev 002, If 1, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
    |__ Port 002: Dev 002, If 2, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
    |__ Port 002: Dev 002, If 3, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
/:  Bus 006.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/2p, 10000M
/:  Bus 007.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/2p, 480M
    |__ Port 002: Dev 002, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/4p, 480M
        |__ Port 001: Dev 003, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
        |__ Port 001: Dev 003, If 1, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
        |__ Port 004: Dev 004, If 0, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 480M
        |__ Port 004: Dev 004, If 1, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 480M
        |__ Port 004: Dev 004, If 2, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 480M
        |__ Port 004: Dev 004, If 3, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 480M
        |__ Port 004: Dev 004, If 4, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 480M
        |__ Port 004: Dev 004, If 5, Class=Application Specific Interface, Driver=[none], 480M
/:  Bus 008.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/2p, 10000M
/:  Bus 009.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/1p, 480M
/:  Bus 010.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/0p, 5000M

When you wonder Port 7 is obvious my ASUS PA278QV monitor build in hub - only a part to explain the hub topic
which is totally fine - as the "usb sound card" is usb 2 = m-audio air 192|6
mouse = who cares

Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 007 Device 002: ID 05e3:0610 Genesys Logic, Inc. Hub
Bus 007 Device 003: ID 3938:1161 Acrox AGM700 Gaming mouse
Bus 007 Device 004: ID 0763:410c M-Audio AIR 192 6

--

you may provide more information before asking in detail. what hardware do you own already and intend to use (parts please)

I would not use anything below 10gbps usb anymore for usb nvme.
Sata SSDs with usb 5gbps I used for quite a while.

A very user friendly way to view that info, is HWiNFO

Free Download HWiNFO Sofware | Installer & Portable for Windows, DOS

Start to analyze your hardware right now! HWiNFO has available as an Installer and Portable version for Windows (32/64-bit) and Portable version for DOS.

www.hwinfo.com

 

[theFOoL]

Indeed man. Luckily SSDs arey cheap if you Go the 2.5 case+msata (that's what I Do) or NVME

Just a FYI I ran WIN7 Go on a USB2 SD Card teehee

 

[LabRat 891]

Indeed man. Luckily SSDs arey cheap if you Go the 2.5 case+msata (that's what I Do) or NVME

Just a FYI I ran WIN7 Go on a USB2 SD Card teehee

I use lower-capacity NVMe drives and 1TB+ NVMes that don't have a solid home yet in USB enclosures regularly.
Even, for installing Win7 or XP on Legacy AMD K8 machines. At least once, I've installed XP onto a late-model Socket A build with a 16GB Optane M10 over USB 1.1.

Somewhere in front of me right now, there's a USB3.2<->NVMe bridge+USB3.0 hub+cardreader enclosure* containing a Rocket Q4 1TB, that I use as a Win10 LiveUSB.
Basically, I plug my mouse and KB into the NVMe enclosure, then plug that into a given machine, and can run "My Windows" with "My Peripherals" on any given Win10x64-supporting build. Even over USB2.0, it is "usable".
*I thermal putty'd the Realtek USB<->NVME bridge, any obvious power components, and the NVME drive itself to the aluminum casement. It gets fairly-evenly 'warm', with extended use.

 

[DaemonForce]

yes my mobo does have usb3 header i think for more than a decade all budget mobos have. Do you have really old pc?

Hella ancient dude.

This is a 2019 era Ryzen system with a 2009 era power supply and 2002 era server chassis with a Pentium 4 block.
There is no wire management system, no front panel, no headers of any kind, drive cages drilled out and it now uses a 360mm Cu rad.
Absolutely overkill for a 65/88W Ryzen and ~10W SolarFlare. Modded it for the FX-8370 and AMD 970 chipset, then Ryzen happened.

i am satisfied with usb2 speed, it's actually similar to my new 1tb ssd after it hits sustain load limit so i guess for a little while i can live with it maybe next month.

I might have something here.

Left: A Teamgroup 64GB SDXC chip. Right: An unfinished 32GB UDP chip. Outstanding performance in HDTune and it's under $5.
I use a complete 16GB SanDisk USB to boot Windows Server in my SFF eMachines. Might use this UDP or a full size 60GB sata to boot the FX rack.
Still on the fence. That machine only has 2 USB3.x ports but also a USB3 header and lots of USB2 and headers. Point is options exist.

If you have an unused USB3 header and your case can't support it you can get something like this...
View attachment 393910

It's a very good idea if you need to juggle USB3. I usually do.
My main system isn't in the middle of any kind of development or production role so I have LOTS of USB3 open right now.
Still, not everyone needs everything on a USB3 connection and it's wise to load up the USB2 headers if you can do that. I did.

I'm sure you won't have a problem.

 

[AleXXX666]

so i have 7 drives, 4 internal and 3 external but the problem i only have 2 usb 3.0 and my case doesn't have front usb 3.0 so my 7th drive is connected to a usb 2.0 adapter it's better than nothing but still slow despite the fact im getting peak speed
View attachment 393881

should i buy usb hub? i also want to confirm if i buy one will the bandwidth be full considering only 1 drive is actively transferring files?

depends WHAT files you need. For small files "random read" - LITTLE margin. For transferring HEAVY files - BIG difference, and then even BIG difference between USB 3.0, 3.1 and 3.2. (IDC about USB4 "hype").

 

[Assimilator]

so i have 7 drives, 4 internal and 3 external but the problem i only have 2 usb 3.0 and my case doesn't have front usb 3.0 so my 7th drive is connected to a usb 2.0 adapter it's better than nothing but still slow despite the fact im getting peak speed
View attachment 393881

should i buy usb hub? i also want to confirm if i buy one will the bandwidth be full considering only 1 drive is actively transferring files?

Why don't you just run a USB3 extension cable from the rear IO to the front of the case?

 

[A Computer Guy]

Yes but Bare in mind that USB Storage devices like SSD/2.5 HDD should work with any problems ...

It all depends on the device power draw which one should take into consideration when using any USB only powered docking. I have 2.5.in HDD's that only draw 0.5 amps (2.5w) but I also have 2.5in SSD's that draw a whopping 2.0 amps (10w). The dock itself will use a little of that USB power as well.

A tool like this can come in handy if you use a lot of USB devices.

https://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-ET920-Capacity-Resistance/dp/B07GXZHPVR/ref=asc_df_B07GXZHPVR

 

[avidgamer121]

Why don't you just run a USB3 extension cable from the rear IO to the front of the case?

Are there splitter of such kind? I don't understand your statement, I mean you are implying I should use rear io which I am already using with two drives, maybe I don't understand your post.

 

[A Computer Guy]

Are there splitter of such kind? I don't understand your statement, I mean you are implying I should use rear io which I am already using with two drives, maybe I don't understand your post.

You can get USB extension cables.

If you have any rear USB ports left on your I/O panel you can use an extension cable to route the other end to somewhere more convenient like toward the front of your PC for use. At least in my opinion rear I/O tends to be more reliable than front panel connectors and also more reliable than USB hubs so I prefer and use good quality extension cables when possible.

 

[avidgamer121]

You can get USB extension cables.

View attachment 393997

If you have any rear USB ports left on your I/O panel you can use an extension cable to route the other end to somewhere more convenient like toward the front of your PC for use. At least in my opinion rear I/O tends to be more reliable than front panel connectors and also more reliable than USB hubs so I prefer and use good quality extension cables when possible.

no i don't have any left, all 6 are in use which include 2 usb3 ones. So no point in buying this.

 

[theFOoL]

True yes rear I/O is best. It also has alittle bit more power

 

[lexluthermiester]

is it worth using ssd with usb2?

so i have 7 drives, 4 internal and 3 external but the problem i only have 2 usb 3.0 and my case doesn't have front usb 3.0 so my 7th drive is connected to a usb 2.0 adapter it's better than nothing but still slow despite the fact im getting peak speed
View attachment 393881

should i buy usb hub? i also want to confirm if i buy one will the bandwidth be full considering only 1 drive is actively transferring files?

Hell yes. Two reasons. First, the USB2.0 bus will never have to wait on an SSD and Second, most USB2.0 drive enclosures have dual jacks for higher power usage which most SSD's need. USB3.X will have no issues running an SSD. I do this frequently.

A four port USB3 hub will be inexpensive.
EDIT:
My personal USB3 hubs are this model.
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Individual-Switches-Included-HB-UMP3/dp/B00TPMEOYM
Liked this one so much I bought several.

 

[avidgamer121]

Hell yes. Two reasons. First, the USB2.0 bus will never have to wait on an SSD and Second, most USB2.0 drive enclosures have dual jacks for higher power usage which most SSD's need. USB3.X will have no issues running an SSD. I do this frequently.

i am using a very old usb2 adapter for this, it was bought back in 2013 when i had sandy bridge pc and the mobo was h61 which had no usb3. It doesn't need dual jacks and it's fine with both ssd and hdd. I transferred a huge game as well without any issue.

 

[Assimilator]

no i don't have any left, all 6 are in use which include 2 usb3 ones. So no point in buying this.

Ahhh sorry, I didn't look at your board in detail, I had no idea people were still using systems where USB3 ports are at a premium. Given that your board does have an internal USB3 header which can supply two ports, a USB3 PCI breakout connector as @A Computer Guy suggested is the best idea.