USB 2.0 HD hooked to a Router with 10/100/1000 Switch

[Veritas1]

Since USB 2.0 is 480MB/s Peak and the router ( link ) I just bought is going to be connected to my computer via the Gigabit switch, will I see any speed loss from my hard-drive since USB 2.0 can't saturate the gigabit cable?

Thanks for the help! I couldnt find any pages on google that dealt wit this specifically!

[CPressland]

I don't think USB 2.0 is 480MB/s it's 480Mb/s which is roughly around 40MB/s. So depending on the processor in the router, no, it shouldn't be any slower than it usually is.

[deactivated_]

^ this.

You won't notice any real speed difference with a USB2 device connected directly to your computer vs. connected to the switch.

[Veritas1]

Yeah meant to say Mb/s not MB/s that second capital letter makes a huge speed difference ;-)

Thanks for the responses, this is what I was hoping for now I can have all the computers on my lan get at the content on the hard drive without having to keep one on continually.

[tmorris1]

^ this.

You won't notice any real speed difference with a USB2 device connected directly to your computer vs. connected to the switch.

This is not true. I will guarantee you that it will be slower going through the router than with it connected to a PC via USB. All the speeds quoted above are theoretical maxs, but you will be limited by the CPU in the router that you have. So the loss in speed will be dependent on what router you have. I have an Linksys e3000 that has a 480MHz Broadcom CPU and I get 5-7Mb/s when connected to the router and about 30 when conected directly to the PC. Router CPU has a lot less power than your PC.

What router do you have?

[CPressland]

I have an Linksys e3000 that has a 480MHz Broadcom CPU and I get 5-7Mb/s when connected to the router and about 30 when conected directly to the PC. Router CPU has a lot less power than your PC.

If it's having to translate to NTFS, then Yes, it will be slower, but format it in FAT32 or exFAT and you *should* get full speed. I certainly do from my Apple AirPort Extreme Disks.

What router do you have?

Read the OPs Post.

[deactivated_]

This is not true. I will guarantee you that it will be slower going through the router than with it connected to a PC via USB. All the speeds quoted above are theoretical maxs, but you will be limited by the CPU in the router that you have. So the loss in speed will be dependent on what router you have. I have an Linksys e3000 that has a 480MHz Broadcom CPU and I get 5-7Mb/s when connected to the router and about 30 when conected directly to the PC. Router CPU has a lot less power than your PC.

Interesting speed differences you have there. I have a Asus 520 router that I get around 22 MB/s with my USB drive connected, and about 23-24 MB/s when connected to the computer. Thus my comments on there not being a noticeable difference.

[tmorris1]

You "should" but I will almost bet you won't. Read the reviews on any of these routers and it will backup what I say. The speed may very well be acceptable for him, but I guarantee it will be fast connected directly to the PC's USB (NTFS or FAT32). Either way it has to "translate" the formatted data. It may depend on which driver is better implemented Fat or NTFS.

Sorry I meant MB/s. That is the speed that Windows gives me on a file transfer. I am running DD-WRT on it, so maybe that isn't as good with USB as the Linksys OEM firmware. Most I have seen are slower unless you go to the high end E4200 or something.

[Roger H. Veteran]

The Linksys E4200 V2 (note version) is the fastest via NTFS now because of it's 1.2Ghz CPU. The other devices with 480Mhz CPUs give you up to 10MB/s. The E4200 does 20MB/s. So while it's not super fast, that's basically the max you can expect to get via any router out there.