Mark <captain.black@gmail.com> wrote:
Media (films/tv) on two older WD 2.5" drives (one 1TB Elements, one... much >> older 320GB WD). Both formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Both drives >> only have about 50GB free. Will buy a new 2TB WD Elements tomorrow. How long >> to transfer (one at a time) a total of 1.2GB files across? Will be using a >> base M1 MBA, new drive directly commected vis USB C, older drives (one at a >> time) connected via USB A + with A-to-C adapter.
One hour? Three hours? I'd like to use exFat so my housemate can use the
drive. Can I still do that on silicon? Any real downside to that format?
For spinners, I'd ballpark 100MB/s, or 40MB/s if they're connected via USB 2 (the 320GB might be if very old). That's bulk transfer speed - it'll be (potentially much) slower if there are lots of little files to copy.
So for the 1TB that's at least 3 hours, for the 320GB it would be an hour
but more like 3 if it's on USB 2. Worse if there are many small files or
the media files are scattered about causing lots of heads seeks.
Theo
On 06/02/2026 14:55, Richard Tobin wrote:
In article <R-l*C-xyA@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>,
Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
For spinners, I'd ballpark 100MB/s, or 40MB/s if they're connected
via USB 2 (the 320GB might be if very old).
And bear in mind that even if the disk drive supports USB 3, the cable
might not. A USB A plug on a cable that supports USB 3 will usually
have blue plastic in the plug.
And many USB C cables only support USB 2 speeds, especially if they're
sold as charging cables.
-- Richard
Also USB to USB can be very slow. So much so that sometimes it's quicker
to copy USB to internal and then internal to the other USB, provided
that you have space.
If you don't have space make sure you are on different USB busses.
System Report -> Hardware -> USB will make it obvious when you have the drives plugged in.
In article <R-l*C-xyA@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>,
Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
For spinners, I'd ballpark 100MB/s, or 40MB/s if they're connected
via USB 2 (the 320GB might be if very old).
And bear in mind that even if the disk drive supports USB 3, the cable
might not. A USB A plug on a cable that supports USB 3 will usually
have blue plastic in the plug.
And many USB C cables only support USB 2 speeds, especially if they're
sold as charging cables.
-- Richard
On 6 Feb 2026 at 2:55:34rC>PM GMT, "Richard Tobin" <Richard Tobin> wrote:
In article <R-l*C-xyA@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>,
Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
For spinners, I'd ballpark 100MB/s, or 40MB/s if they're connected
via USB 2 (the 320GB might be if very old).
And bear in mind that even if the disk drive supports USB 3, the cable might not. A USB A plug on a cable that supports USB 3 will usually
have blue plastic in the plug.
And many USB C cables only support USB 2 speeds, especially if they're
sold as charging cables.
-- Richard
Blue plastic? Not heard about that before. The 'tongue' in USB A (female) end is blue... Is that what you meant? The brand is 'Yesido'. Either way, I know this may take a while!
A USB A plug on a cable that supports USB 3 will usually
have blue plastic in the plug.
Blue plastic? Not heard about that before. The 'tongue' in USB A
(female) end is blue... Is that what you meant?
Sadly not enough space on the MBA for either of them. This is the M1 model so only two (USB C) sockets.
On 07/02/2026 11:48, Mark wrote:
Sadly not enough space on the MBA for either of them. This is the M1 model so
only two (USB C) sockets.
My M1 has a third on the right hand side?
Mark <captain.black@gmail.com> wrote:
On 6 Feb 2026 at 2:55:34rC>PM GMT, "Richard Tobin" <Richard Tobin> wrote:
In article <R-l*C-xyA@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>,
Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
For spinners, I'd ballpark 100MB/s, or 40MB/s if they're connected
via USB 2 (the 320GB might be if very old).
And bear in mind that even if the disk drive supports USB 3, the cable
might not. A USB A plug on a cable that supports USB 3 will usually
have blue plastic in the plug.
And many USB C cables only support USB 2 speeds, especially if they're
sold as charging cables.
-- Richard
Blue plastic? Not heard about that before. The 'tongue' in USB A (female) end
is blue... Is that what you meant? The brand is 'Yesido'. Either way, I know >> this may take a while!
Yes. On a USB 3.0 plug there are 5 additional pins to the rear of the 'tongue':
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_3.0#/media/File:USB_3.0.png
and it's traditionally coloured blue: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_hardware#Colors
Of course, having the right connector is no guarantee they spent the extra cents on putting the extra cores in the cable. But it's a useful indication.
Theo
In article <10m78p5$10ke1$1@dont-email.me>,
Mark <captain.black@gmail.com> wrote:
A USB A plug on a cable that supports USB 3 will usually
have blue plastic in the plug.
Blue plastic? Not heard about that before. The 'tongue' in USB A
(female) end is blue... Is that what you meant?
Probably. See
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB#Connector_type_quick_reference
-- Richard
In article <10m78p5$10ke1$1@dont-email.me>,
Mark <captain.black@gmail.com> wrote:
A USB A plug on a cable that supports USB 3 will usually
have blue plastic in the plug.
Blue plastic? Not heard about that before. The 'tongue' in USB A
(female) end is blue... Is that what you meant?
Probably. See
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB#Connector_type_quick_reference
Mark <captain.black@gmail.com> wrote:
On 7 Feb 2026 at 2:08:13rC>PM GMT, "David Kennedy" <davidkennedygm@gmail.com>
wrote:
On 07/02/2026 11:48, Mark wrote:
Sadly not enough space on the MBA for either of them. This is the M1 model so
only two (USB C) sockets.
My M1 has a third on the right hand side?
Not here. Maybe you mean the 14" or 16" MBP? I don't think the 13" MBP has one
on that side, either.
Yes my 13rCY M1 MBP has 2 USB-C / TB ports on the lhs and a single audio socket on the rhs. Charging can be done via the lhs sockets.
| Sysop: | Amessyroom |
|---|---|
| Location: | Fayetteville, NC |
| Users: | 65 |
| Nodes: | 6 (0 / 6) |
| Uptime: | 10:29:57 |
| Calls: | 862 |
| Files: | 1,311 |
| D/L today: |
3 files (7,546K bytes) |
| Messages: | 265,188 |
