Query -- not a Windows rant

Hi folks

Not a Windows rant -- but really curious --

Why is it that a full Linux GUI desktop such as KDE -- not the lightest desktop on that type of OS -- can perform so much better on an external USB2 (yes USB2) device connected via a SATA->USB connector with an SSD than an equivalent Windows to Go system connected to a similar USB2 slot on the same laptop. The Linux USB 2 connector can still even run a Windows VM at passable speed.

(USB 3 / USBC connections work OK on both types of systems-- it's specifically to running stuff on older hardware with only USB 2 ports).

I don't know much about Windows internals but there must be something inherently problematical in the kernel or the way it's written if there's so much disparity in performances of quite heavy desktop loads.

Any ideas --anyone -- just curious -- not dissing Windows but seems performance leaves a lot to be desired on certain hardware. Plenty of quite OK older hardware runs OS'es perfectly without needing to be junked. Windows does seem to require an exhorbitant amount of system resources -- especially bonkers when essentially it's a single user system unlike most Linux OS'es.

Cheers
jimbo