How long will it take to Transfer a file size of 1GB on a USB 2.0 and a USB 3.0 drive

To figure out how long it will take to transfer a 1GB file on a USB 2.0 and a USB 3.0 drive, we need to look at the speeds of each type of USB.

USB 2.0:

• Speed: USB 2.0 can transfer data at a maximum speed of 480 Megabits per second (Mbps). However, the actual speed is usually lower, around 280 Megabits per second due to various factors like file type and system performance.
• Conversion to Megabytes: 280 Mbps equals 35 Megabytes per second (MBps) (since 1 Byte = 8 bits).
• Time Calculation: To transfer 1GB (which is 1024MB) at 35 MBps, it would take approximately:
  • Time = 1024 MB / 35 MBps ≈ 29.26 seconds.

USB 3.0:

• Speed: USB 3.0 can transfer data at a maximum speed of 5 Gigabits per second (Gbps). The actual speed is typically around 4 Gigabits per second.
• Conversion to Megabytes: 4 Gbps equals 500 Megabytes per second (MBps).
• Time Calculation: To transfer 1GB (1024MB) at 500 MBps, it would take approximately:
  • Time = 1024 MB / 500 MBps ≈ 2.05 seconds.

Summary:

• USB 2.0: It would take about 29 seconds to transfer a 1GB file.
• USB 3.0: It would take about 2 seconds to transfer the same file.

Why the Difference?

• Speed: USB 3.0 is much faster than USB 2.0 because it can handle more data at once.
• Efficiency: USB 3.0 also has better efficiency, meaning it can transfer data more quickly with less delay.

So, using a USB 3.0 drive is much quicker for transferring large files like 1GB.