[SOLVED] USB 3.0 having a transfer speed of 10 to 20 MB/s.

archbaby · 2022-09-22 11:06:39

I have Arch Linux installed on a 64-GB HP v250w USB 3.1 flash drive. My Laptop's USB port is USB 3.0.

I read that the transfer speed of USB 3.0 is about 500 MB/s. But mine's less than 20 MB/s, which isn't even close to 500 MB/s.

Am I missing some driver to use the 3.0 interface with its full performance? I'm using my web browser (chromium) on tmpfs because the USB drive is just too slow to handle the IO of the web browser.

Here are the outputs of some commands:

$ lsusb -t
/:  Bus 02.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/6p, 5000M
/:  Bus 01.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/12p, 480M
    |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M
    |__ Port 5: Dev 4, If 0, Class=Video, Driver=, 480M
    |__ Port 5: Dev 4, If 1, Class=Video, Driver=, 480M
    |__ Port 6: Dev 5, If 0, Class=Vendor Specific Class, Driver=rtsx_usb, 480M
    |__ Port 8: Dev 6, If 1, Class=Wireless, Driver=btusb, 12M
    |__ Port 8: Dev 6, If 0, Class=Wireless, Driver=btusb, 12M

$ lspci -nn
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v5/E3-1500 v5/6th Gen Core Processor Host Bridge/DRAM Registers [8086:1904] (rev 08)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Skylake GT2 [HD Graphics 520] [8086:1916] (rev 07)
00:04.0 Signal processing controller [1180]: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v5/E3-1500 v5/6th Gen Core Processor Thermal Subsystem [8086:1903] (rev 08)
00:14.0 USB controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-LP USB 3.0 xHCI Controller [8086:9d2f] (rev 21)
00:14.2 Signal processing controller [1180]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-LP Thermal subsystem [8086:9d31] (rev 21)
00:15.0 Signal processing controller [1180]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-LP Serial IO I2C Controller #0 [8086:9d60] (rev 21)
00:15.1 Signal processing controller [1180]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-LP Serial IO I2C Controller #1 [8086:9d61] (rev 21)
00:16.0 Communication controller [0780]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-LP CSME HECI #1 [8086:9d3a] (rev 21)
00:17.0 SATA controller [0106]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-LP SATA Controller [AHCI mode] [8086:9d03] (rev 21)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-LP PCI Express Root Port #5 [8086:9d14] (rev f1)
00:1c.5 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-LP PCI Express Root Port #6 [8086:9d15] (rev f1)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge [0601]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-LP LPC Controller [8086:9d48] (rev 21)
00:1f.2 Memory controller [0580]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-LP PMC [8086:9d21] (rev 21)
00:1f.3 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-LP HD Audio [8086:9d70] (rev 21)
00:1f.4 SMBus [0c05]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-LP SMBus [8086:9d23] (rev 21)
01:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter [168c:0042] (rev 31)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL810xE PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller [10ec:8136] (rev 07)

$

Last edited by archbaby (2022-09-26 10:24:42)

V1del · 2022-09-22 12:32:17

The bus you're using is shared with many other devices and doesn't look 3.0 (or is downclocked for USB2 compat) at all. Try to find the port associated with the currently unused bus that shows the expected rate of 5000M

Note that more generally USB drives are not really intended for the constant workloads of running an actively used OS on them, so you'll likely want to keep the chromium cache on tmpfs regardless.

Last edited by V1del (2022-09-22 12:34:44)

seth · 2022-09-22 12:36:38

Bus 01.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/12p, 480M

looks like a usb2 hub which matches the perceived speed.

lsusb -tv
lsusb -v

and try some other usb port.

archbaby · 2022-09-22 13:24:22

V1del wrote:

The bus you're using is shared with many other devices and doesn't look 3.0 (or is downclocked for USB2 compat) at all. Try to find the port associated with the currently unused bus that shows the expected rate of 5000M

Oh, I notice it now. The USB 3.0 bus is not being used.
I have 3 ports on my laptop and I currently have 3 USB sticks plugged in on all 3 of them, and none of the ports seem to use the 3.0 bus. What am I missing? Please help.

$ lsusb -t
/:  Bus 02.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/6p, 5000M
/:  Bus 01.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/12p, 480M
    |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M
    |__ Port 2: Dev 8, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M
    |__ Port 3: Dev 7, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M
    |__ Port 5: Dev 4, If 0, Class=Video, Driver=, 480M
    |__ Port 5: Dev 4, If 1, Class=Video, Driver=, 480M
    |__ Port 6: Dev 5, If 0, Class=Vendor Specific Class, Driver=rtsx_usb, 480M
    |__ Port 8: Dev 6, If 1, Class=Wireless, Driver=btusb, 12M
    |__ Port 8: Dev 6, If 0, Class=Wireless, Driver=btusb, 12M

$ lsusb -tv
/:  Bus 02.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/6p, 5000M
    ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
/:  Bus 01.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/12p, 480M
    ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
    |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M
        ID 23a9:ef18
    |__ Port 2: Dev 8, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M
        ID 0781:5567 SanDisk Corp. Cruzer Blade
    |__ Port 3: Dev 7, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M
        ID 0781:5567 SanDisk Corp. Cruzer Blade
    |__ Port 5: Dev 4, If 0, Class=Video, Driver=, 480M
        ID 0bda:5769 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    |__ Port 5: Dev 4, If 1, Class=Video, Driver=, 480M
        ID 0bda:5769 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    |__ Port 6: Dev 5, If 0, Class=Vendor Specific Class, Driver=rtsx_usb, 480M
        ID 0bda:0129 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTS5129 Card Reader Controller
    |__ Port 8: Dev 6, If 1, Class=Wireless, Driver=btusb, 12M
        ID 0cf3:e009 Qualcomm Atheros Communications
    |__ Port 8: Dev 6, If 0, Class=Wireless, Driver=btusb, 12M
        ID 0cf3:e009 Qualcomm Atheros Communications

$

V1del wrote:

Note that more generally USB drives are not really intended for the constant workloads of running an actively used OS on them, so you'll likely want to keep the chromium cache on tmpfs regardless.

Thanks a lot for the advice. I will continue using tmpfs for my web browser.
I'm a kid and my HDD died a few days ago. I can't afford to replace the internal HDD or buy an external SSD or HDD. That's why I have no choice but to use the USB stick to run Arch.

Last edited by archbaby (2022-09-22 13:36:15)

archbaby · 2022-09-22 13:24:55

seth wrote:

Bus 01.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/12p, 480M
looks like a usb2 hub which matches the perceived speed.
lsusb -tv
lsusb -v
and try some other usb port.

Oh, I notice it now. The USB 3.0 bus is not being used.
I have 3 ports on my laptop and I currently have 3 USB sticks plugged in on all 3 of them, and none of the ports seem to use the 3.0 bus. What am I missing? Please help.

$ lsusb -t
/:  Bus 02.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/6p, 5000M
/:  Bus 01.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/12p, 480M
    |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M
    |__ Port 2: Dev 8, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M
    |__ Port 3: Dev 7, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M
    |__ Port 5: Dev 4, If 0, Class=Video, Driver=, 480M
    |__ Port 5: Dev 4, If 1, Class=Video, Driver=, 480M
    |__ Port 6: Dev 5, If 0, Class=Vendor Specific Class, Driver=rtsx_usb, 480M
    |__ Port 8: Dev 6, If 1, Class=Wireless, Driver=btusb, 12M
    |__ Port 8: Dev 6, If 0, Class=Wireless, Driver=btusb, 12M

$ lsusb -tv
/:  Bus 02.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/6p, 5000M
    ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
/:  Bus 01.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/12p, 480M
    ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
    |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M
        ID 23a9:ef18
    |__ Port 2: Dev 8, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M
        ID 0781:5567 SanDisk Corp. Cruzer Blade
    |__ Port 3: Dev 7, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M
        ID 0781:5567 SanDisk Corp. Cruzer Blade
    |__ Port 5: Dev 4, If 0, Class=Video, Driver=, 480M
        ID 0bda:5769 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    |__ Port 5: Dev 4, If 1, Class=Video, Driver=, 480M
        ID 0bda:5769 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    |__ Port 6: Dev 5, If 0, Class=Vendor Specific Class, Driver=rtsx_usb, 480M
        ID 0bda:0129 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. RTS5129 Card Reader Controller
    |__ Port 8: Dev 6, If 1, Class=Wireless, Driver=btusb, 12M
        ID 0cf3:e009 Qualcomm Atheros Communications
    |__ Port 8: Dev 6, If 0, Class=Wireless, Driver=btusb, 12M
        ID 0cf3:e009 Qualcomm Atheros Communications

$

Last edited by archbaby (2022-09-22 13:36:33)

Maniaxx · 2022-09-22 13:38:29

What Laptop model is it exactly?

jonno2002 · 2022-09-22 13:51:01

all your sticks are usb 2.0, i just plugged a known 3.0 and 2,0 stick into my laptop in the same 3.0 port and sure enough the 3.0 came up on the 3.0 bus and the 2.0 came up on the 2.0 bus.

also just because a stick is usb 3.0 doesnt make it better/faster than a 2.0 stick because the 2.0 stick i have is actually faster than the 3.0 for running arch system on a stick, its all down to the random read/write speeds NOT the sequential it seems because thats what the tests showed when i benchmarked all my sticks, the 3.0 sticks had the higher sequential speeds but the 2.0 stick had MUCH better random read/writes and it performs alot better with an OS on it, but still no where near as good as even an old hdd, but it has its use case.

archbaby · 2022-09-22 13:55:46

Maniaxx wrote:

What Laptop model is it exactly?

Dell Inspiron 15-3567

archbaby · 2022-09-22 13:57:16

jonno2002 wrote:

all your sticks are usb 2.0, i just plugged a known 3.0 and 2,0 stick into my laptop in the same 3.0 port and sure enough the 3.0 came up on the 3.0 bus and the 2.0 came up on the 2.0 bus.
also just because a stick is usb 3.0 doesnt make it better/faster than a 2.0 stick because the 2.0 stick i have is actually faster than the 3.0 for running arch system on a stick, its all down to the random read/write speeds NOT the sequential it seems because thats what the tests showed when i benchmarked all my sticks, the 3.0 sticks had the higher sequential speeds but the 2.0 stick had MUCH better random read/writes and it performs alot better with an OS on it, but still no where near as good as even an old hdd, but it has its use case.

2 of them are 2.0.

And the one with Arch installed is 3.1. At least its package indicates it's 3.1.

Last edited by archbaby (2022-09-22 14:23:01)

archbaby · 2022-09-22 13:59:12

archbaby wrote:

jonno2002 wrote:
all your sticks are usb 2.0, i just plugged a known 3.0 and 2,0 stick into my laptop in the same 3.0 port and sure enough the 3.0 came up on the 3.0 bus and the 2.0 came up on the 2.0 bus.
also just because a stick is usb 3.0 doesnt make it better/faster than a 2.0 stick because the 2.0 stick i have is actually faster than the 3.0 for running arch system on a stick, its all down to the random read/write speeds NOT the sequential it seems because thats what the tests showed when i benchmarked all my sticks, the 3.0 sticks had the higher sequential speeds but the 2.0 stick had MUCH better random read/writes and it performs alot better with an OS on it, but still no where near as good as even an old hdd, but it has its use case.
2 of them are 2.0.
And the one with Arch installed is 3.1. At least it package indicates it's 3.1.

So the 3.1 USB stick could be a fake 2.0?

OK. I just need one answer from you Veterans, does Arch detects USB 3.0 out-of-the-box?

seth · 2022-09-22 14:01:14

seth wrote:

lsusb -v

but google agrees w/ jonno2002 that those IDs belong to USB2 devices.

Personally I'd expect a usb3 key to perform much better on reads but not on writes.

jonno2002 · 2022-09-22 14:03:30

archbaby wrote:

So the 3.1 USB stick could be a fake 2.0?

yes id say so

archbaby wrote:

OK. I just need one answer from you Veterans, does Arch detects USB 3.0 out-of-the-box?

yes thats what this means

/:  Bus 02.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/6p, 5000M
    ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub

Last edited by jonno2002 (2022-09-22 14:05:10)

archbaby · 2022-09-22 14:30:21

I'm glad I asked all the questions here. And I even got all my answers from you guys. Thanks so much for existing in this forum and helping others.
Arch Community's the best!

The takeway from all your answers:
My 3.1 USB stick is actually a 2.0.

Thanks once again for the help, guys!!

Last edited by archbaby (2022-09-22 16:17:48)

seth · 2022-09-22 15:20:13

We shall see.

seth wrote:

seth wrote:
lsusb -v

nowy · 2022-09-23 06:01:11

I had had same problem where usb flash was connected as 2.0. I cleaned my usb port with cotton swabs. Now the usb flash drive is working as usb 3.0. Based on your flash drive device id(23a9:ef18), I think your device can support usb 3.0.

Last edited by nowy (2022-09-23 06:07:38)

Arch Linux

#1 2022-09-22 11:06:39

[SOLVED] USB 3.0 having a transfer speed of 10 to 20 MB/s.

#2 2022-09-22 12:32:17

Re: [SOLVED] USB 3.0 having a transfer speed of 10 to 20 MB/s.

#3 2022-09-22 12:36:38

Re: [SOLVED] USB 3.0 having a transfer speed of 10 to 20 MB/s.

#4 2022-09-22 13:24:22

Re: [SOLVED] USB 3.0 having a transfer speed of 10 to 20 MB/s.

#5 2022-09-22 13:24:55

Re: [SOLVED] USB 3.0 having a transfer speed of 10 to 20 MB/s.

#6 2022-09-22 13:38:29

Re: [SOLVED] USB 3.0 having a transfer speed of 10 to 20 MB/s.

#7 2022-09-22 13:51:01

Re: [SOLVED] USB 3.0 having a transfer speed of 10 to 20 MB/s.

#8 2022-09-22 13:55:46

Re: [SOLVED] USB 3.0 having a transfer speed of 10 to 20 MB/s.

#9 2022-09-22 13:57:16

Re: [SOLVED] USB 3.0 having a transfer speed of 10 to 20 MB/s.

#10 2022-09-22 13:59:12

Re: [SOLVED] USB 3.0 having a transfer speed of 10 to 20 MB/s.

#11 2022-09-22 14:01:14

Re: [SOLVED] USB 3.0 having a transfer speed of 10 to 20 MB/s.

#12 2022-09-22 14:03:30

Re: [SOLVED] USB 3.0 having a transfer speed of 10 to 20 MB/s.

#13 2022-09-22 14:30:21

Re: [SOLVED] USB 3.0 having a transfer speed of 10 to 20 MB/s.

#14 2022-09-22 15:20:13

Re: [SOLVED] USB 3.0 having a transfer speed of 10 to 20 MB/s.

#15 2022-09-23 06:01:11

Re: [SOLVED] USB 3.0 having a transfer speed of 10 to 20 MB/s.

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