Firewire transfer rates
Hi all,
I recently purchased a 30GB 3G IPOD. I'm using it with Windows XP, P4, 1.5GHz, 256RAM etc etc.
After 2 weeks of using USB 1.1 I decided to install Firewire. SIIG 3 Port 6 Pin Microsoft Certified !!
I was expecting a transfer rate of something around 5-6 megabytes per second. I had read a number of reviews on CNET and the like that gave me that impression... e.g 5GB in 20 mins! Even the Apple website states an album every 10 seconds ! Wooooow I though, my entire 25GB collection will be downloaded in lightnin fast speed. I have ripped at only 160kbps so my files are not huge. about 3-5mb per song. However, my rates have been significantly lower!!!!!! It took 70-75 Mins for 4GB using Music Match. Slightly quicker when using X Play, about the same when using Ephpod! I
I even tried it on a seperate higher spec PC and a MAC and got the same rates ! I thought it was maybe my SIIG card !
Anyone had similar speeds or problems ? Its driving me crazy. The Apple Care guys don't know there ar** from there elbow either. They dont seem to have a clue about anything... please help. Maybe I am expecting far too much but I reckon there is defo something up somewhere.
Thanks in anticipation
x:(
[1261 byte] By [
Hutch72] at [2007-11-9 13:24:43]
# 1 Re: Firewire transfer rates
You should be getting about a song per second using Xplay. I don't want to give you guesstimates w/MMJB because it's so slow.
I do know that I've seen a number of problems with SIIG cards. Not sure why.
But a song a second is a good rule.
Is it possible to try a different card? Say an Adaptec 4300 or Orangelink Card?
Adam
# 2 Re: Firewire transfer rates
thanks for the quick reply!
I tried it on a higher spec PC but unsure what card was in it as I tested it at a PC World... (they were much more helpful than Apple Support by the way!!) I also tried the MAC there aswell and it was about the same but perhaps slightly faster.
X Play is noticebaly faster but still only get 1 song every 3-4 seconds. I know I am being anal about this but I get really jealous of all those other users getting a much higher speed !!
Does it sound more like an IPOD failure or do you think it is more likely to be card/pc problem or software problem. Everything is pointing to IPOD in my opinion but thats praps cause Im fed up.. ha ha ha
# 3 Re: Firewire transfer rates
try ephpod (www.ephpod.com) and set "internal copying buffering size" to "4096" under configuration -> advanced options. that ought to give you speeeeeeeeeeeeed... ;)
edit: ugh, the green colour is ugly, isn't it? :D
m.r.m. at 2007-11-15 17:07:53 >
# 4 Re: Firewire transfer rates
tried that already and it was coming in at 1.24mb per second...
i can't help thinking its the IPOD...... maybe i'm being over zealous!!!!
I might swap the firewire for USB 2.0 -- see if that helps any....
thanks for the tip though......
# 5 Re: Firewire transfer rates
I'm having a very similar problem. Transfer rates of ~1-2 M/s,
the funny thing is, I just bought my wife a 30G iPod this weekend,
and I get much higher rates (around 6-8M/s). Guess it's time to contact Apple (sigh).
ficta
# 6 Re: Firewire transfer rates
None of you guys have macopener installed do you? Just a thought. Some have installed it and it's had negative effects on transfer speeds. It's not needed if you have your iPod formatted as a WiPod.
The other thing I didn't think to ask, how big on average are your songs? You're not ripping at some unheard of bitrate (320) are you? I mean, are your tunes 3-7MB each on average?
Adam
# 7 Re: Firewire transfer rates
Hi Adam,
I don't have Macopener installed. Its a straight Windows set-up. As per my original post ......I ripped at only 160kbps so my files are not huge. About 3-5mb per song on average.
Iv'e now tried a few other things that other posts have suggested. None of which helped in the slightest!! Dohhhhh
1) had a play with the BIOS PCI latency timer settings and
2) installed the PCI VIA chip latency patch
3) Defragged my hard drive
I'm expecting a call back from the Apple tech guys this morning who are testing at their end to get a bench mark and then give me more tech support. So far they have been pretty rubbish cause they don't seem to have any clue about the IPOD at all. Generally speaking I mean they really don't know the product at all!! Adam you are much better qualified than they will ever be !!!!!! Thanks for your help so far and i'll let you know how I get on. I'm still thinking about swapping out the SIGG card.... but tried it on another PC and a MAC and it was the same !!!!
# 8 Re: Firewire transfer rates
If you tried the card on another PC and got the same results then it's either the card or the iPod don't you think?
Since the card's cheaper, I'd try a different one (make sure you can get your money back). Adaptec 4300 and Orangelink cards are good.
Adam
# 9 Re: Firewire transfer rates
soz Adam,
I knew that would confuse.....
I meant that I tried it on a different PC (512 RAM 2,5GHz 120GB HDD) and a seperate MAC (new, don't know spec) both with their very own internal Firewire cards. Tried it at PC World, they were very helpful.....
I dont know the makes of the 2 cards in the other machines but surely one of em should give me a decent transfer!!!!! especially the MAC!!!! My Conclusion: It must be the IPOD ! Do you think ??
# 10 Re: Firewire transfer rates
Yup. Gotta concur with you there Hutch. If you could not get decent transfer rates on the Mac then there is definitely something wrong w/the iPod.
Send 'er in. They do testing on Macs so as long as you've duplicated the problem on a mac you should be fine.
Service is very quick w/Apple. I had a great experience.
Adam
# 11 Re: Firewire transfer rates
Cheers Adam.
I'm phoning right now
thanks for the advice. You guys do a great job and its at such a quick rate... you must be flying between all this different forums man !!!! How do you get the time ?!
# 12 Re: Firewire transfer rates
Firewire transfer from Hutch72
Heh gazoo93,
Thanks for the post about transfer speeds. It is annoying isn't it. Especially when everyone else is getting such fantastic rates.
I'm expecting a call back from the Apple care guys today. I'll let you know what they say and if they give me any more tips !
Are you speaking with Apple as well ? It would be good to hear what they have to say to you. Especially seen as you have 2 pods using the same firewire card and only one is getting a decent transfer rate!!!!!!!! I wonder what words of wisdom they can come up with for that !
Cheers
# 13 Re: Firewire transfer rates
Haven't talked to Apple yet (things a bit busy), but I should be getting around to it in a day or two. I'll post here if I find out anything useful.
