External HDD 3.0 falls to 2.0


Both the cable and the port on the PC has to support USB 3.X speed.
I connected my external USB 3.x cabinet to my laptop USB 3.x port yesterday with my mobile phone's USB charging cable. That did not go well, the cable only supported USB 2.0 speed, 480 Mbit/s = 60 MB/s (theoretical). When I switced to a USB 3.x cable I got 10 Gbit/s = 1250 MB/s (theoretical).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2, OS build: 26200.8655
    Computer type
    Laptop
The connection is unstable it get fixed sometimes when i move the cable the port support usb 3.0 speed but i get random disconnections or hardely works in 3.0
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Nassim Sonic said:
when i move the cable the port support usb 3.0 speed but i get random disconnections or hardely works in 3.0
Click to expand...
Maybe because of a bad/loose USB cable or worn port.
- try a different USB 3.0 cable
- try another USB 3.0 port (rear if desktop)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2, OS build: 26200.8655
    Computer type
    Laptop
Anibor_11 said:
You got the theoretical speed? So it´s not theoretical anymore?
Click to expand...
My apologies—this is the correct information I should have shared initially. :-)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 9.0.3 x64 (C) 2007-2026 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World: Crystal Dew World
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* MB/s = 1,000,000 bytes/s [SATA/600 = 600,000,000 bytes/s]
* KB = 1000 bytes, KiB = 1024 bytes

[Read]
SEQ 1MiB (Q= 8, T= 1): 1009.730 MB/s [ 963.0 IOPS] < 8299.31 us>
SEQ 1MiB (Q= 1, T= 1): 858.004 MB/s [ 818.3 IOPS] < 1221.28 us>
RND 4KiB (Q= 32, T= 1): 0.000 MB/s [ 0.0 IOPS] < 0.00 us>
RND 4KiB (Q= 1, T= 1): 0.000 MB/s [ 0.0 IOPS] < 0.00 us>

[Write]
SEQ 1MiB (Q= 8, T= 1): 993.872 MB/s [ 947.8 IOPS] < 8421.89 us>
SEQ 1MiB (Q= 1, T= 1): 854.840 MB/s [ 815.2 IOPS] < 1225.38 us>
RND 4KiB (Q= 32, T= 1): 0.000 MB/s [ 0.0 IOPS] < 0.00 us>
RND 4KiB (Q= 1, T= 1): 0.000 MB/s [ 0.0 IOPS] < 0.00 us>

Profile: Default
Test: 1 GiB (x3) [E: 22% (208/931GiB)]
Mode: [Admin]
Time: Measure 5 sec / Interval 5 sec
Date: 2026/06/09 16:11:42
OS: Windows 11 Pro 25H2 [10.0 Build 26200] (x64)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2, OS build: 26200.8655
    Computer type
    Laptop
A slightly loose cable or a bad cable
A dirty or worn port
A cheap enclosure controller
A damaged connector on the drive
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8655
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2x1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+2tb Kingston m2.nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.8457
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC SER5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    integrated
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Crucial nvme
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    still too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26200.8457
Does the External HDD have it;s own power supply and what specification do the USB slots have?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    home built
    CPU
    amd ryzen 5-2600
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b450m-ds3h
    Memory
    ng skill sniper x 16gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidea gtx 1050
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq fp 92
    Hard Drives
    samsung 860 evo 500gb m2 ssd
    PSU
    antec ea550g
    Case
    nzxt noctis 450
    Browser
    edge
You either have not done the Random access tests, chose the wrong tests, or it is a drive with some kind of specialist firmware/formatting.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
If the disk is 2.5" (a single USB 3.0 cable for both data and power), then it might be that your USB 3.0 port is not providing enough power. I had a similar issue. After I replaced my USB 3.0 PCIe card for a combo USB 3.0 and SATA III PCIe card, it would not provide enough power and my external hard disks would not be detected properly! I solved that by using a POWERED USB 3.0 hub with is own separate power. In fact they now receive adequate power and they work faster than before!
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (5699), 25H2 (8655)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, no SSE4.2, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v25H2 (build 26200.8655)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6GB (GV-N3050WF2OCV2-6GD)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue SA510 2.5 1000GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Deepcool Gamma Archer CPU cooler, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
I wonder if it due to bios updates or maybe because everything in the house is electricity shocking when we touch the metal
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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