Maximum Hard Drive Size via USB - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Classof83 · 2012-07-12, 10:43 PM

Is it true that a connection via USB from an external enclosure to the PC can only host a maximum hard drive size of 2 TB, while an eSata connection can handle larger sized drives such as 3 TB or 4 TB?

JamesK · 2012-07-13, 07:42 AM

^^^^
A couple of seconds of hard Googling turns up a Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Desk 3 TB USB 2.0 hard drive. So, it appears there's no limit at 2 TB.

Classof83 · 2012-07-13, 10:10 AM

Well, I Googled this topic, and someone on another forum stated that eSata had no limitations, while USB did. And a lot of USB enclosures I found maxed out at 2 TB. I wanted the wise members of this forum to chime in.

Anyways, I did connect things via USB, and I only got 746.39 GB shown. Then I went the eSata route, and I got the full amount. The thing is, I only have 1 eSata port on the back of my computer, so I'll most likely have to buy a hub, as I plan on upgrading my external hard drives big time.

hugh · 2012-07-13, 10:25 AM

Depends on your OS.

Take a look at the following link which should help answer your questions

http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/.../130/p/247,335

Classof83 · 2012-07-13, 11:24 AM

Thanks for the link. I do have Windows 7, 64-bit, and did partition things via GUID, but it was still limited via USB.

I think I should switch to eSata anyways as it gives faster transfer speeds.

Jake · 2012-07-13, 12:43 PM

Try putting some data on it and see if it reports a drop in capacity. It may be just failing to report the correct capacity but work normally.

3 terabyte (TB) = 2.73 tebibyte (TiB). If we lop off the 2TiB you have .73 TiB left over. Or almost 746GiB.

Classof83 · 2012-07-16, 09:23 PM

I did try putting data on it, and things started going haywire, in the sense I couldn't access files. Now I have to reformat things and only use eSata.

Even the rep at the store stated that USB starts going wonky with large capacity hard drives (and he's very knowledgeable as I've talked to him many times before about a lot of other things).

Alan Bealby · 2012-07-17, 07:05 PM

I have 3TB USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 external drives, some full to 2.5 TB. I have used them connected to a Windows 7 PC. I use a USB 2.0 port for the USB 2.0 drives and USB 3.0 port for the USB 3.0 drives.

I have used both the USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 3TB drives attached to a WD Live Hub through its USB 2.0 port.

I haven't experienced any problems yet.

Note that both hardware and software limits the maximum size drive that can be connected. For example, the WD Live Hub shipped with support for a maximum of 2 TB but a software upgrade increase the maximum drive size to 3TB. I haven't checked what it is now but with 4TB drives on the market I may have to check the limits again.

Note that the other gotcha is the formated file type. I have the least trouble with NTFS with the larger drives but not all connecting devices support NTFS. A/V devices in particular that I have and have had usually support smalled sizes and not NTFS.

Forgot to add that besides the volume size limitation there are file size limitations depending on format type. I think the FAt32 file size limitation is 8GB. As I was creating some HD video files that ranged from 6 tp 10 GB I ran into problems with, I think, FAT32 but not with NTFS.

Classof83 · 2012-07-17, 11:23 PM

The rep did mention the 3 TB WD Live drives do work with USB better. I bought an internal drive and put it in a Vantec closure, because I wanted it to match the other Vantec enclosures I have.

I have filled this new 3 TB drive to 2.05 TB, and so far, no problems with eSata. I did format things via GUID, as mentioned earlier.

ScaryBob · 2012-07-18, 12:51 PM

I would expect many external USB enclosures to have a 2TB limit. If it doesn't say it supports larger than 2TB, it probably doesn't.

Classof83 · 2012-07-18, 09:50 PM

One thing is for certain - these 4 TB drives take awhile to format!

2012-07-12, 10:43 PM	#1
Classof83 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 882	Maximum Hard Drive Size via USB Is it true that a connection via USB from an external enclosure to the PC can only host a maximum hard drive size of 2 TB, while an eSata connection can handle larger sized drives such as 3 TB or 4 TB?

2012-07-13, 10:25 AM	#4
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	Depends on your OS. Take a look at the following link which should help answer your questions http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/.../130/p/247,335 __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

2012-07-13, 12:43 PM	#6
Jake Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gatineau and Ottawa Posts: 10,195	Try putting some data on it and see if it reports a drop in capacity. It may be just failing to report the correct capacity but work normally. 3 terabyte (TB) = 2.73 tebibyte (TiB). If we lop off the 2TiB you have .73 TiB left over. Or almost 746GiB. __________________ Tip: See an offending post? Don't reply, report it by clicking on the 'Report Post' icon.

2012-07-17, 07:05 PM	#8
Alan Bealby Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 1,377	I have 3TB USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 external drives, some full to 2.5 TB. I have used them connected to a Windows 7 PC. I use a USB 2.0 port for the USB 2.0 drives and USB 3.0 port for the USB 3.0 drives. I have used both the USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 3TB drives attached to a WD Live Hub through its USB 2.0 port. I haven't experienced any problems yet. Note that both hardware and software limits the maximum size drive that can be connected. For example, the WD Live Hub shipped with support for a maximum of 2 TB but a software upgrade increase the maximum drive size to 3TB. I haven't checked what it is now but with 4TB drives on the market I may have to check the limits again. Note that the other gotcha is the formated file type. I have the least trouble with NTFS with the larger drives but not all connecting devices support NTFS. A/V devices in particular that I have and have had usually support smalled sizes and not NTFS. Forgot to add that besides the volume size limitation there are file size limitations depending on format type. I think the FAt32 file size limitation is 8GB. As I was creating some HD video files that ranged from 6 tp 10 GB I ran into problems with, I think, FAT32 but not with NTFS. __________________ Gateway and 3 Portals, Samsung FP-T6374 TV, Panasonic DMR-E80, Denon AVR-3808, Sony CX777ES Last edited by Alan Bealby; 2012-07-17 at 07:10 PM. Reason: Add file size limitation consideration.

2012-07-18, 12:51 PM	#10
ScaryBob Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Dandelion City Posts: 7,133	I would expect many external USB enclosures to have a 2TB limit. If it doesn't say it supports larger than 2TB, it probably doesn't. __________________ At 20 I had a good mind. At 40 I had money. At 60 I've lost my mind and my money. Oh, to be 20 again. --Scary

2012-07-13, 07:42 AM	#2
JamesK Veteran Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mississauga Posts: 5,049	^^^^ A couple of seconds of hard Googling turns up a Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Desk 3 TB USB 2.0 hard drive. So, it appears there's no limit at 2 TB.

2012-07-13, 10:10 AM	#3
Classof83 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 882	Well, I Googled this topic, and someone on another forum stated that eSata had no limitations, while USB did. And a lot of USB enclosures I found maxed out at 2 TB. I wanted the wise members of this forum to chime in. Anyways, I did connect things via USB, and I only got 746.39 GB shown. Then I went the eSata route, and I got the full amount. The thing is, I only have 1 eSata port on the back of my computer, so I'll most likely have to buy a hub, as I plan on upgrading my external hard drives big time.

2012-07-13, 11:24 AM	#5
Classof83 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 882	Thanks for the link. I do have Windows 7, 64-bit, and did partition things via GUID, but it was still limited via USB. I think I should switch to eSata anyways as it gives faster transfer speeds.

2012-07-16, 09:23 PM	#7
Classof83 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 882	I did try putting data on it, and things started going haywire, in the sense I couldn't access files. Now I have to reformat things and only use eSata. Even the rep at the store stated that USB starts going wonky with large capacity hard drives (and he's very knowledgeable as I've talked to him many times before about a lot of other things).

2012-07-17, 11:23 PM	#9
Classof83 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 882	The rep did mention the 3 TB WD Live drives do work with USB better. I bought an internal drive and put it in a Vantec closure, because I wanted it to match the other Vantec enclosures I have. I have filled this new 3 TB drive to 2.05 TB, and so far, no problems with eSata. I did format things via GUID, as mentioned earlier.

2012-07-18, 09:50 PM	#11
Classof83 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 882	One thing is for certain - these 4 TB drives take awhile to format!

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