3 Ways to Test External Hard Drive Transfer Speed

When data transfer from an external hard drive takes a long time, it can be frustrating. It's recommended to regularly test your hard drive's transfer speed to avoid such issues and ensure optimal performance. This guide will provide step-by-step instructions on how to test the external hard disk transfer speed using built-in or third-party tools with these tools.

How to Test External Hard Drive Transfer Speed – 3 Methods

This section will examine three methods for testing the transfer speed of an external hard drive. We will delve into each method and meticulously evaluate them to determine which is most suitable for your requirements. For beginners, we recommend attempting the first method as it is the most efficient and straightforward choice.

Let's examine these tried-and-true methods in detail from the comparison table below and see which one meets your needs.

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Method 1: Test External Hard Drive Transfer Speed with Tools - Partition Master

Tools Partition Master provides an excellent capability to test the real-time hard disk transfer speed. Its user-friendly interface allows for easy operation. The tool offers live statistics and identifies all crucial metrics that can affect the hard disk's speed. The "DiskMark" feature helps monitor your hard drive's read and write rates, temperature, storage capacity, and more.

All you need to do is download and install it on your Windows system, then follow the steps.

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Click the download button to activate the "DiskMark" feature under the "Tools" section.

Step 2. Click the drop-down box to select the target drive, test data, and block size.

Step 3. Once everything is set up, click "Start" to initiate the disk test. You'll then see the Sequential or Random read/write speed, I/O, and Delay data.

Advantages of Partition Master Tools

• DiskMark feature for precise results in comparison to other approaches.
• Test hard disk transfer speed, I/O speed, latency speed, etc.
• Compatible with all Windows operating systems.
• Fast and accurate results with effortless speed testing.

Way 2. Test External Hard Drive Transfer Speed via Task Manager

Another simple method to test the speed of your external hard drive is by using the Windows Task Manager. It provides quick, albeit limited, information about the transfer speed. Here's how to do it: 1. Press `Ctrl + Shift + Esc` on your keyboard to open the Task Manager. 2. Click on the "Performance" tab. 3. In the right panel, you should see a section called "Disk." Locate your external hard drive from the list (it might be labeled with the drive letter, e.g., "E:" or "F:"). 4. Observe the "Read" and "Write" speeds displayed next to the drive. These will give you an indication of the data transfer rates. Keep in mind that the Task Manager's measurements might not be as accurate or comprehensive as dedicated benchmarking tools like CrystalDiskMark or HD Tune.

Step 1: Press the Windows key and head to the search bar.

Step 2: Type "Task Manager" in the search bar and click on the Task Manager app to open it.

Type "Task Manager" in the search box

Step 3: Once opened, navigate to "Performance" from the left menu.

Navigate to Performance

Step 4: Select the external drive from the list to view its read and write transfer rates in kilobytes per second (KB/s).

Select the target external hard disk as shown in the screenshot below:

Please note that this method only delivers your hard drive's basic transfer rate. To know more comprehensive results, install the Partition Master tool.

Method 3: Test External Hard Drive Transfer Speed via CMD

If you have some basic computer experience and knowledge, you can quickly test the transfer speed of your external hard drive using Command Prompt. This built-in utility provides detailed disk information promptly. However, it's recommended to run it as an administrator to avoid data loss. Follow these steps to learn how: 1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard to open the Quick Access menu. 2. Select "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" to run it with administrative privileges. 3. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: ``` fsutil fsinfo statistics [drive letter:] ``` Replace `[drive letter:]` with the actual letter of your external hard drive, for example, `E:`. 4. The command will display various statistics about the drive, including read and write operations. Look for "Bytes Total" and "Bytes Free" under the "Volume Information" section to get an idea of the disk's capacity and available space. 5. To measure the transfer speed, you can use the "Robocopy" command. For instance, to copy a large file or folder from one location to another on the external drive and measure the speed, use the following command: ``` robocopy [source] [destination] /MOV /NFL /NDL /NS /NC /LOG+:speedlog.txt ``` Replace `[source]` with the path of the file or folder you want to copy and `[destination]` with the path where you want to copy it on the external drive. 6. After the copy process finishes, open the "speedlog.txt" file in the same directory as the Command Prompt to view the transfer rate. Please note that this method provides a rough estimate of transfer speeds and might not be as accurate as dedicated benchmarking tools. For more precise results, consider using software like CrystalDiskMark or HD Tune.

Step 1: Go to the search box on the taskbar and type "Command Prompt."

Step 2: Right-click the first option and select "Run as administrator."

Click CMD and run it as administrator.

Step 3: Type the following command to test the transfer speed of your external hard drive.

winsat disk -drive c - This command translates to: Windows System Assessment Tool (winsat) disk assessment for drive C:

Important: Replace "C" with the letter of your external drive.

Enter the winsat command

It displays a detailed analysis of the transfer speed of your selected disk. Although the process is quick and straightforward, we advise against using CMD if you're unsure about entering the correct command.

If you're unsure about the specific steps, you can refer to this video for more details:

# 2 Why Should We Test External Hard Disk Transfer Speed?

External hard drives are designed to accommodate and share various types of data. When users need to access data from an external hard drive, the read and write performance relies on the drive's transfer rate. Hence, it's essential to test the external hard disk speed to ensure it operates optimally. By utilizing a compatible hard drive testing tool, you can assess the speed and overall performance of the external drive. For example, a USB 3.0 external hard drive should be capable of reading and writing data at a rate between 100 and 150 MB/s.

Here are the most common reasons why an external hard drive speed test is essential: Here are the main reasons why performing a speed test on an external hard drive is crucial:

1. **Ensure Performance:** Testing the transfer speed allows users to confirm the optimal performance of the drive. It aids in understanding how promptly the disk responds to read and write commands. 2. **Analyzing Multiple Problems:** Evaluating your external hard drive's transfer speed helps identify the reasons behind any speed or slow data transfer issues. If the transfer speed is significantly lower than expected, there might be problems with the disk, such as corrupted sectors, bad sectors, or loose connections. 3. **Prevent Data Loss:** Testing the transfer speed assists in assessing the effectiveness of the data transfer process. If you notice that the performance is slower than normal, you can take appropriate measures to prevent unexpected data loss. Slow transfer speeds can increase the likelihood of data loss or corruption, especially when dealing with large files or massive data transfers. 4. **Identifying Hardware Issues:** A transfer speed test on an external hard disk can help pinpoint potential bottlenecks in the data transfer process. You can discern whether the limitations are due to the external hard drive itself or other factors, such as the connection interface or the computer's hardware capabilities.

Conclusion

In essence, testing an external hard drive's transfer rate provides valuable insights into its performance, assists in issue diagnosis, enables drive comparisons, and guarantees efficient data transmission. This article introduces three practical tools to assess the external hard drive's speed. Windows' Command Prompt (CMD) and Task Manager can be used to gauge the drive's basic read and write speeds. For comprehensive test results and optimizing the drive's performance, consider using the tool Partition Master. If you're curious about other applications of Partition Master, explore the related article in the following links:

Frequently Asked Questions About Testing External Hard Disk Transfer Speed

Please refer to this FAQ section for any further questions regarding Testing External Hard Disk Transfer Speed.

1. How to calculate the transfer speed of a hard drive? To calculate the transfer speed of a hard drive, you typically need to consider factors such as the interface type (e.g., SATA, USB, NVMe), the drive's specifications, and the data transfer rate. Here's a general method: 1. **Determine the Interface Speed**: Check the maximum theoretical speed supported by the interface your hard drive uses. For example: - SATA 3.0 supports up to 6 Gbps (equivalent to 750 MB/s). - USB 3.0 supports up to 5 Gbps (equivalent to 625 MB/s). - NVMe over PCIe 3.0 x4 supports up to 3,200 MB/s. 2. **Consider Real-World Performance**: The actual transfer speeds will be lower than the theoretical maximum due to overhead and other factors. Hard drives, especially mechanical ones, rarely reach their interface's full potential. SSDs tend to perform closer to their maximum speeds. 3. **Benchmarking**: Use benchmarking software like CrystalDiskMark or HD Tune to measure the read and write speeds of the hard drive. These tools perform multiple tests and provide average transfer rates. 4. **Calculate Average Transfer Speed**: After running the benchmark tests, note the average read and write speeds. The transfer speed will be the slower of these two, as it depends on both reading and writing data. 5. **Real-Life Usage**: Keep in mind that real-life usage often involves a mix of read and write operations, and the actual speed may vary depending on the file size, file type, and system resources. Remember, this is a simplified explanation, and the process can be more complex for enterprise-level or specialized storage solutions.

Just install Partition Master and click the Discovery tab. Choose DiskMark to calculate your hard drive's transfer speed. Select your drive > test data > block size > Start.

2. How fast is the Seagate 2TB external hard drive? The speed of the Seagate 2TB external hard drive can vary depending on several factors, such as the interface it uses (USB 3.0, USB 2.0, Thunderbolt, etc.) and the specific model. Generally, Seagate external hard drives with USB 3.0 connectivity offer speeds around 120-140 MB/s for reading and writing data. However, actual performance may be influenced by the user's computer, the type of files being transferred, and whether the drive is bus-powered or requires an external power source. For more accurate information, you can refer to the product specifications provided by Seagate.

The speed of the Seagate 2TB external hard drive is dependent on the type of USB port being used. It can transfer data at a maximum speed of 480 Megabits per second via USB 2.0 and 4.8 Gigabits per second through USB 3.0.

3. How to check my SSD read speed? To check the read speed of your Solid State Drive (SSD), you can follow these steps on Windows or macOS: **For Windows:** 1. **Download a benchmarking tool**: One popular option is CrystalDiskMark. Visit their website () and download the latest version. 2. **Install and run the software**: After downloading, install CrystalDiskMark and open it. 3. **Select the drive**: In the program, make sure the SSD you want to test is selected under "Drive." 4. **Choose the test settings**: By default, it should be set to perform a sequential read test. You can also choose other options if needed. 5. **Run the test**: Click on "All" or "5x" to start the benchmarking process. It will measure the read speed in MB/s. 6. **View the results**: Once the test is complete, the read speed will be displayed on the screen. **For macOS:** 1. **Download a benchmarking tool**: You can use Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, which is available for free on the Mac App Store. 2. **Install and run the app**: Download and install the app from the App Store, then launch it. 3. **Select the SSD**: In the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test window, ensure your SSD is selected as the "Volume." 4. **Start the test**: Click the "Write Speed" button first, and after it completes, click the "Read Speed" button. 5. **View the results**: The read speed will be displayed in MB/s once the test is finished. These tools provide an accurate measurement of your SSD's read speed under controlled conditions. Keep in mind that real-world performance may vary depending on your system configuration and usage scenarios.

Utilize the user-friendly Partition Master tools to obtain precise speed information. Launch the application, choose "Discovery," select your external SSD hard drive from the list, opt for the "Disk Mark" option, choose the "test data" and "block size," and then click "Start" to initiate the test.