Arch Linux

Fixed

Member

Registered: 2005-08-09

Posts: 210

Toshiba Canvio USB HDD unbelievably slow

Hi there,

I just bought brand new Toshiba Canvio USB HDD 1 Tb for archive purposes.

It's slow writing the file ~2 Gb. When it comes to remove it through rm FLNM, it takes about 30 min.

I am wondering if it's rewriting neighbouring shingles SMR problem, or Linux problem? Has anyone seen it?

Last edited by Fixed (2022-02-17 10:27:04)

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Lone_Wolf

Forum Moderator

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 11,972

Re: Toshiba Canvio USB HDD unbelievably slow

Looks like that's an usb powered device, often they fall back to lower speeds if the usb connection doesn't provide enough power.

Check the documentation of your system and the drive to verify if the port you connect it to is able to provide enough amperage .

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paulkerry

Member

From: Sheffield, UK

Registered: 2014-10-02

Posts: 611

Re: Toshiba Canvio USB HDD unbelievably slow

Just wondering which filesystem you are using on the device?

Fixed

Member

Registered: 2005-08-09

Posts: 210

Re: Toshiba Canvio USB HDD unbelievably slow

@Lone_Wolf: I reproduced the same test on similar computer, the same USB port, and the disk works like a charm -- that's not and underpowered problem.

@paulkerry: ntfc

All in all, that's Linux problem.

UPD: Forgot to mention that it was Windows similar computer.

Last edited by Fixed (2022-02-17 20:37:31)

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Slithery

Administrator

From: Norfolk, UK

Registered: 2013-12-01

Posts: 5,776

Re: Toshiba Canvio USB HDD unbelievably slow

@Lone_Wolf: I reproduced the same test on similar computer, the same USB port, and the disk works like a charm -- that's not and underpowered problem.

'Similar' isn't the same system. You need to read the specs for this system to find out if the USB ports can provide enough power.

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teckk

Member

Registered: 2013-02-21

Posts: 519

Re: Toshiba Canvio USB HDD unbelievably slow

Toshiba Canvio USB HDD 1 Tb

I have those in 1 and 2TB, with an NTFS. Canvio Basic and Canvio Advance. (Whatever was on sale at the time.)

They have never had slow writing/reading problems on arch. Not on desktops or notebooks. I'm trying to remember...I get around 40 MBps on USB2 and 100-120MBps on usb3. Last one I bought was a year ago.

MJV

Member

Registered: 2023-07-05

Posts: 1

Re: Toshiba Canvio USB HDD unbelievably slow

Hi,

it's neither the OS nor the USB port.
It is the SMR (shingled a.k.a. sh*tty) HDD technology.
SMR is fast as long as the cache fills.
Then it gets down to unbelievable 3-4 MB/s (or less) AND stays there.
User tecck probably never got beyond the cache size ...
I have a Toshiba Canvio myself and it IS that slow (Linux Mint, 3 notebooks; Windows 10, 1x)

Stay away from SMR.
There is NO imaginable use case for SMR "tech" valid this waste in time.
Today CMRs (the normal fast stuff) are hard to find, externals maybe none.

A register of many HDDs SMR vs. CMR is here:
https://nascompares.com/answer/list-of- … rives-hdd/

Actual figures, taken since yesterday with my Toshiba Canvio  4TB
File transfer of 266 GB:
Write 24:40h = 3 MB/s overall (very fast initially)
Read 1:05h = 66 MB/s speed OK, when read.

Last edited by MJV (2023-07-05 21:20:50)

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 19,808

Re: Toshiba Canvio USB HDD unbelievably slow

MJV:  Welcome to the forums.  Watch the age of the threads to which you are posting.  This one has been dormant for a year and a half.  I also checked, and the original poster has not been on the forums since this thread went dormant.

Using this opportunity to close this old thread.

Edit:  Reopened by request for a few additions.

Edit:  And with the additions added in the post above, I am again closing the thread.

Last edited by ewaller (2023-07-05 21:31:07)

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