An open community 
of Macintosh users,
for Macintosh users.

FineTunedMac Dashboard widget now available! Download Here

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
SSD enclosure - return or not?
#63822 04/23/23 11:14 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
OP Offline

Joined: Aug 2009
I bought a hard drive enclosure to hook up an SSD to the USB-C (10 Gb/s) input on my iMac. The enclosure was advertised as 10 Gb/s, but when I plugged it in, System Report says it's only transmitting 5 Gb/s. I know the cable is capable of 10 Gb/s.

It's annoying, but the question is: is there any real world advantage in sending it back and insisting on getting the faster throughput? I use the drive to store .mp4 video files that will be transmitted at 72 Mb/s via Plex to my television.

Is the 5 Gb/s enclosure up to the task, or should I insist upon a quicker enclosure?

Thanks.


iMac (19,1, 3.1 GHz i5, 12.7.4, 40 Gb RAM); MacBook Air (1.8 Ghz, 8 Gb RAM, 10.14.6, 256 Gb SSD) Vodafone router and Devolo Wi-Fi Extender, Canon TS8351 printer/scanner.
Re: SSD enclosure - return or not?
freelance #63823 04/24/23 02:06 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16
Moderator
Offline
Moderator

Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16
Originally Posted by freelance
. I know the cable is capable of 10 Gb/s.

To achieve 10Gbps data transfer rate requires ports, cables, hubs, everything in the circuit to be rated at least USB 3.1 gen 2 SuperSpeed+ and USB 3.1 gen 2 cables are about as common as hen’s teeth. My solution has been to use Thunderbolt 3 or 4 cables with port adapters rated USB 3.1 gen 2, which are a bit more common than hen’s teeth. But it takes very careful and intentional shopping. (USB C connections are no guarantee of speed greater than 5 Gbps).

That said, 75Mbps is only 2% of of 5Gbps.


If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?

— Albert Einstein
Re: SSD enclosure - return or not?
joemikeb #63825 04/24/23 02:55 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
OP Offline

Joined: Aug 2009
Ha! I have a drawer of cables that are redundant because I did not pay enough attention to the specification when ordering. But, I do have two SSD/enclosure/cable combinations plugged into a 4-port 3.1 gen.2 hub, then into the USB-C iMac input that work as I want them to: 10 Gb/s.

So I was paying close attention when I ordered this new enclosure. False advertising, wrong spec. I have a loose SSD that I can house in this enclosure, so it won't go to waste. I've just ordered another enclosure like the one I have that I know works. (I tried to save some money...)

That said, I think you are saying that the 5 Gb/s enclosure will perform well for the task I am assigning it?


iMac (19,1, 3.1 GHz i5, 12.7.4, 40 Gb RAM); MacBook Air (1.8 Ghz, 8 Gb RAM, 10.14.6, 256 Gb SSD) Vodafone router and Devolo Wi-Fi Extender, Canon TS8351 printer/scanner.
Re: SSD enclosure - return or not?
freelance #63834 04/24/23 09:41 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16
Moderator
Offline
Moderator

Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16
Originally Posted by freelance
That said, I think you are saying that the 5 Gb/s enclosure will perform well for the task I am assigning it?

I am saying the 5 Gbps data rate leaves you with roughly 99% of the bandwidth unused. (NOTE: That is a very rough estimate and does not take into consideration the fact that USB is a relatively primitive protocol and a substantial portion of the 5Gbps bandwidth is used to route the message packets, assure they are accurately received by the proper device, and coordinate traffic among any and all devices on the same USB network.) But even worst case, 5Gbps should easily handle your load unless there is another device on the same USB network soaking up bandwidth and/or conflicting with the traffic to and from your drive.


If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?

— Albert Einstein
Re: SSD enclosure - return or not?
joemikeb #63835 04/24/23 10:46 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
OP Offline

Joined: Aug 2009
Thanks.


iMac (19,1, 3.1 GHz i5, 12.7.4, 40 Gb RAM); MacBook Air (1.8 Ghz, 8 Gb RAM, 10.14.6, 256 Gb SSD) Vodafone router and Devolo Wi-Fi Extender, Canon TS8351 printer/scanner.

Moderated by  alternaut, cyn 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4
(Release build 20200307)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.4.33 Page Time: 0.016s Queries: 24 (0.012s) Memory: 0.5893 MB (Peak: 0.6567 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-29 13:54:00 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS