laptop challenge with USB disks


jimbo45

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Hi folks
using a small powered 7-USB hub I wonder how many self powered USB passport disks you can attach still getting reasonable response and all functioning properly

I've got here 3 X 4 TB drives plus 1X 5 TB drive attached via the hub to a smallish HP envy laptop with i5 gen 6 processor and they are all working fine -- OK Host is Linux these drives are XFS formatted and I need to share them with Windows (Via SAMBA) so that's why they are on a Linux laptop. All these drives are "self powered" i.e no separate power other than standard usb cable connection. Hub is powered.

Just wonder at what point does the Disk I/O bus on the laptop get overwhelmed by these USB drives. There's no mega fast activity on them - some file sharing and streaming which isn't the most taxing tasks for HDD -- but just interested to see what numbers others have on external USB devices. Disks are /DV0, DV1, DV3, DV4 while an external 232 GB SSD is attached via a computers USB port so not included in the USB Hub attached count.

Screenshot_20220310_161810.png

Cheers
jimbo
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows XP,7,10,11 Linux Arch Linux
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    2 X Intel i7
Are the "passport" drives actually the Western Digital My Passport or a different brand? Most 2.5" drive need only 5V power. The WD My Passport drives I have are all USB port powered, single cable and USB 3 which has more power available than USB 2. I have a couple of 2.5" cases that are USB 2 but require a Y-cable, one leg for data and power and the other leg for additional power, depends upon the requirement of the drive itself where some may be rated at 1A or less and others at higher. The larger 3.5" drives or cases require self-power as both 5V and 12V is required.
 

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System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
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    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
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:ROFLMAO:This reminds me of once I was asked to disassemble a man's office and attempt to do some cable management and tagging. I found probably 8 or 10 powered usb hubs daisy chained together across multiple desks with multiples of every usb device known to man, some of them powered, some using usb power. All I could do was stare open-mouthed at the customer and ask "WHY???"
His answer.."Well, I have them and never know when I'm going to need one of them."
I asked "Are they all working?"
"Most of the time."
My final answer. "I wouldn't touch this with a 10 foot pole." I wish I'd taken a picture but I was in too much a hurry to leave..
 

My Computers

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  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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    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
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
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    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
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    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium

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