USB 2.0 vs. Gigabit Ethernet

[Nebor]

For large storage. Looks like USB is 480mbps, whereas Gigabit is 1000mbps. What about actual responsiveness and throughput?

 

[hennessy1]

If your moving or saving or w/e large files you will def notice a difference with 1000mbps as compared to 480mbps. And if you have this on your network or a network then you will also notice an increase in respose times if you connect to it through wireless. I have large account files and documents on a networked hdd and I can tell you that its much faster with gigabit then usb 2.0

 

[themisfit610]

Without a doubt. Ethernet is a much more robust interface. Add to it the fact that it's usually setup in a switched network as opposed to the point-to-point setup in USB.

It's a no brainer.

~MiSfit

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: Nebor
For large storage. Looks like USB is 480mbps, whereas Gigabit is 1000mbps. What about actual responsiveness and throughput?

USB and GbE are two very different things. USB is cheap, good for point-to-point essentially local access, and pretty useless for multi-point access. GbE is good for multi-point access, and also usable for some point to point "local" access, but comes generally at a much higher price point than simple USB for similar performance.

USB 2.0, when done well, will sustain file transfers somewhere around 30 MB/s. Gigabit Ethernet performance varies a lot, and can be anywhere from around 10 MB/s to over 100 MB/s -- this depends on everything, including the OS, target device hardware, drive performance on both ends, and even the CPU performance in some cases, esp. for cheap NAS boxes. 30 MB/s is again a typical performance level for random unoptimized desktop hardware and software.

For USB 2 type of local access, the real competitor is eSATA. For single drives at least, this will match or exceed gigabit performance (because gigabit is much more complex and thus harder to optimize).

 

[JackMDS]

If you use one or few drives are attached directly to a computer and are set within few feet away USB is more functional.

Otherwise, it is the time to some learning and start Networking.

 

[Blain]

If PC-A has a gigabit adapter and PC-B also uses a gigabit adapter, but you use a 10/100 switch/router between them, guess what your max speed will be?

 

[themisfit610]

of course 100

Gigabit switches are pretty cheap nowadays, and you can stick a gigabit switch on a 10/100 modem / router with no problems, and still get gigabit to the desktops.