Low write speed Maxtor DM+9 in USB 2.0 case

[kalabp]

I have run into an unusual problem with an 80 GB Maxtor DiamondMax+9 (2
MB buffer) drive: when I run it in a USB 2.0 enclosure, the write speed
is only 6.5 MB/sec.

I have tried two different enclosures and I have checked that the drive
is set to "master", with the same result. I have tried two other drives
(an old Quantum CX 6.4 GB and a new DiamondMax+9 120 GB/2 MB buffer) in
the same enclosures, and those drives get write speeds around 14 - 18
MB/sec.

When I run the 80 GB Maxtor in a Lian-Li RH-32 removable IDE tray, its
write performance is normal (don't remember the figure but it did not
strike me as being too low).

Any ideas why this one particular drive does not like being in a USB
enclosure?

Thanks,
Peter

 

[Mr. Grinch]

I have run into an unusual problem with an 80 GB Maxtor DiamondMax+9 (2
MB buffer) drive: when I run it in a USB 2.0 enclosure, the write speed
is only 6.5 MB/sec.

I have tried two different enclosures and I have checked that the drive
is set to "master", with the same result. I have tried two other drives
(an old Quantum CX 6.4 GB and a new DiamondMax+9 120 GB/2 MB buffer) in
the same enclosures, and those drives get write speeds around 14 - 18
MB/sec.

When I run the 80 GB Maxtor in a Lian-Li RH-32 removable IDE tray, its
write performance is normal (don't remember the figure but it did not
strike me as being too low).

Any ideas why this one particular drive does not like being in a USB
enclosure?

I've no idea why the one drive operates at less than half the transfer rate
of the other two drives while in the enclosure. The other drives transfer
rates are "normal" compared to what I've seen for USB 2.0.

But there are enclosures which use different ATA->USB chipsets. There is a
chance a different chipset might perform better with that drive. But I've
not read or seen anything indicating any chipset is faster than another. I
have seen posts indicating some chipsets delt better with large drives
(over 128gb) than others.

The other thing I would do is try a different IDE cable inside the
enclosure.