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Regarding the same topic, but it's a different question...
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What is the difference between the concepts:
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1. Max. Transfer Mode
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2. Used Transfer Mode
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3. Interface
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Thanks!
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I also have the above question--please define what these fields mean.
I have a Seagate External HDD that's plugged into my Dell desktop PC's "SS" USB port. I get the following report. What does Used Transfer Mode of SATA II 3.0Gb/s mean, and should I be concerned that it's not SATA III 6.0 Gb/s?
Seagate Backup+ Hub BK SCSI Disk Device
Heads 16
Cylinders 972,801
Tracks 248,064,255
Sectors 15,628,048,065
SATA type SATA-III 6.0Gb/s
Device type Fixed
ATA Standard ACS3
Serial Number ########
Firmware Version Number 0001
LBA Size 48-bit LBA
Power On Count 4 times
Power On Time 0.0 days
Speed 5425 RPM
Features S.M.A.R.T., NCQ
Max. Transfer Mode SATA III 6.0Gb/s
Used Transfer Mode SATA II 3.0Gb/s
Interface USB (SATA)
Capacity 7452 GB
Real size 8,001,563,221,504 bytes
max. transfer mode is the available maximum of data-transfer of your device -> in this example 6 gb/s
used transfer mode is - perhaps from "insufficient device driver support" or others (if your motherboard supports only sata II -> it could not use the max data-transfer from your connected device with faster interface of sata III <- the same plug connection, but slower speed)
interface - connection standard between your motherboard and your device (in your case SATA -> about USB connected) older standard for hdds/cd-drives/dvd-drives was PATA
in your case about USB -> perhaps its not the right driver installed or activated for USB 3 with faster speed - i mean if your usb connection work with USB 2 its not enought speed for SATA III (also the simple usb 3 is not enought speed!)
usb 2 -> 0,48 Gbit/s
usb 3 -> 4,8 Gbit/s (perhaps the installed driver corrected the real speed from 6 Gbit/s down to 3 Gbit/s because the lower speed of usb 3?!)
usb 3.1 -> 10 Gbit/s <- this works only if the right hardware is yours and the right driver/controller is installed/activated
usb 3.2 -> 20 Gbit/s
usb 4.0 -> 40 Gbit/s -> like intels thunderbold 3 (take over/replacement)
sata III -> 6,0 Gbit/s
sata II -> 3.0 Gbit/s
"xhci" controller its usb 3 - must be activated in your motherboard-bios.
-> i mean unter your circumstandes its all fine with this connections from your hdd to your pc about usb-connection and the downgrade from sata III to sata II.
For just seeing what the drive is capable of I'd recommend using CrystalDiskInfo (https://crystalmark.info/en/download) (it's free and only lists details about disk drives).
In it look for:
* Interface:
Should state UASP (Serial ATA).
UASP allows the drive to function faster when plugged into a USB 3.0 port, it allows up to 70% faster read speeds and 40% faster write speeds. If it's a desktop PC only plug the drive into the USB 3.0 ports on the back of the PC, it's a little know fact that those are typically always faster than any USB 3.0 ports on the front or top of a PC which may be using some add-on to add USB 3.0 ports to a more convenient yet slower location.
If you're using Windows 10 and if the drive is slow it can mean that Write Cache is disabled. Windows 10 used to have Write Cache enabled by default, but now it's off by default. Off is safer, but much slower, and you have to 100% of the time safely remove the device to prevent corruption.
* Transfer Mode:
Should state SATA/300 | SATA/600
SATA/300 = 300 Gbps (often incorrectly called "SATA 2").
SATA/600 = 600 Gbps (often incorrectly called "SATA 3").
I have also deactivated the hdd-write-cache for data-security against faster performance. Safer is safer :-)
on my laptop it seems i have perhaps also a hdd connection via usb3 and not via sata, because i tried deactivate/activate at bios and after reactivate usb3, w8 starts faster as without usb3.