Just a quick test to see how USB 2 and USB 3 memory stick compared in various ports.
Comparing USB 3 to USB 2, across a few different sticks:
The sticks:
OCZ rally 2 (USB 2)
http://www.amazon.com/Rally2-Drive-Flash-Memory-Readers/dp/B004Y359SW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376857297&sr=8-1&keywords=ocz+rally+2
Adata S102 (USB 3)
http://www.amazon.com/ADATA-Superior-Series-Flash-AS102P-16G-RGY/dp/B005Y8C0H4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376857354&sr=8-1&keywords=Adata+S102
Adata UE700 (USB 3)
http://www.amazon.com/ADATA-Elite-High-Speed-Capless-AUE700-16G-CBK/dp/B00BQU0YXQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376857464&sr=8-2&keywords=Adata+UE700
Sandisk Extreme (USB 3)
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Extreme-Flash-Drive-SDCZ80-032G-X46/dp/B007YXA5TC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1376857523&sr=8-4&keywords=Sandisk+Extreme+usb+3
The test:
not particularly sophisticated, but the results bear out my general impression. Copy and read back a 1.52 GB video file.
USB 2 ——
For comparison, a mid-range USB 2.0 stick:
OCZ rally 2 (no practical difference between hubs)
in USB 3 hub
W: 2:09 (that’s 2 minutes and 9 seconds)
R: 0:55 (that’s 55 seconds)
In USB 2 hub:
W: 2:11
R: 0:52
USB 3 sticks in USB 3 & 2 ports——
Adata S102
in USB 3 hub
W: 1:10
R: 0:22
In USB 2 hub:
W: 1:10
R: 0:36
—
Adata UE700
in USB 3 hub
W: 0:35
R: 0:07
In USB 2 hub:
W: 0:36
R: 0:37
—
Sandisk Extreme
in USB 3 hub
W: 0:17
R: 0:05
In USB 2 hub:
W: 0:37
R: 0:36
Looking at this, several things pop out:
USB 3 is faster
USB 3 sticks are faster in both USB 3 and USB 2 ports
USB sticks do have different speeds, by a lot
If you have a USB 2 port, there is a point at which getting a faster USB 3 serves no purpose.
Write speeds are surprisingly similar within the same port type… unless you get a really fast stick and are using USB 3.
Of course I’m generalizing here from a -tiny- sample of a simple test. No doubt these things vary with random access and so on.
What does seem to stand out is that USB 3 sticks perform significantly better in USB 2 ports than sticks marketed as “USB 2”.
hth
Tracy