External hard drives USB 3.0 in the test

When they were launched in 1996, they worked with a data transmission rate of 12 Mbit/s, which is unthinkable today because it is really very slow. Nonetheless, at this point in computer history, an interface emerged that would become the most popular connector for external devices and the absolute standard.

However, the initially low rate limited the use of end device connections. Printers, keyboards and other devices were provided with the new connection.

For mass storage media, such as external hard drives, the transmission rate was simply too low and so the use was only possible to a very limited extent, which was to change drastically in the following years.

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8		AkoaDa 3m USB 3.0...	【Plug and Play】: AkoaDa USB A to USB B 3.0 cable... 【Robust and durable】：The USB B 3.0 cable with ... 【Wide compatibility】：AkoaDa USB A to USB B 3.0 cable is ...	Buy now "
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How fast is USB 3.0?

USB 3.0 is the latest generation of USB technology and is 10 times faster than its predecessor. However, if you have an older computer with a USB 2.0 port, there are adapters that will allow you to use these newer devices on your older system!

From USB 1.0 to 3.0

The first variants were equipped with the USB 1.0 protocol. In 2008, the specification USB 3.0 introduced. In theory, a data transmission rate of 5 Gbit/s should be possible here - the technical circumstances, however, translate to a real gross rate of 4 Gbit/s, which is still very fast by today's standards.

Along with the introduction of the USB 3.0 specification, new cables, jacks and plugs have also been used. The cables are much thicker and less flexible compared to the predecessors. However, some of the USB 3.0 external hard drives are still compatible with the previous models. It is usually possible to connect a hard drive with a USB 3.0 connection to a USB 2.0 socket without any problems, except that the transfer rates here correspond to those of the slower technology.

Appropriate adapters are offered should problems arise. Compatibility also refers to the corresponding end devices. Depending on the combination of host, cable and end device, there are different maximum achievable speeds.

USB 3.0 external hard drive - voltage and current

The different specifications also name the voltage provided and the current used. One USB 3.0 external hard drive has a voltage of 4,45 V up to 5,50 V (900 mA).

Different minimum values ​​are required depending on the size of the hard disk. The particularly high values ​​of the USB 3.0 external hard drives make these specifications usable for all sizes. A hard disk with 3TB is supplied with sufficient voltage without any problems. While such sizes under USB 2.0 still with an external Power Supplies were operated, since USB 3.0 this is only possible with some disks with a USB cable.

A USB 3.0 external hard drive is without question the best choice for models with large storage sizes. If large amounts of data are to be transferred regularly to and from the USB 3.0 external hard drive, this specification is highly recommended.

However, it is important to ensure that there is a correspondingly fast connection on the computer - because a USB 3.0 plug usually fits into a USB 2.0 socket, the speed is then of course limited by the latter and the power supply is not necessarily sufficient either out of.

The right external hard drive – always with USB 3.0?

The majority of current hard drives are equipped with USB 3.0 - and that's a good thing, because for most users it's the best solution that offers sufficient speed and a fair price.

If you want to achieve even faster speeds for any reason, you should take a look at hard drives with a Thunderbolt connection - if you are willing to pay a lot of money for it.

The average user will definitely take part USB 3.0 very good and usually only finds one such connection on its computer - below is an overview of the drives we tested that have such a connection.