Causes of "This device can perform faster" pop-up

We sometimes see the "This device can perform faster" pop-up message when we plug in a USB storage device to a computer. Why does it happen?
1. Wrong port
If you plug a USB 3.0 storage device into a USB 2.0 port, or USB 2.0 device into a USB 1.1 port, you will see the "This device can perform faster" message. This is not a big deal. The USB devices still work properly only with slower speed. If you want to enjoy the full speed, plug a USB 3.0 device into a USB 3.0 port. Same for a USB 2.0 device.

2. Wrong cable
If you use a USB 2.0 cable to connect a USB 3.0 device to a USB 3.0 port, you will see the "This device can perform faster" message. This is not a big deal either. Use a USB 3.0 cable for a USB 3.0 device and you will enjoy the full transfer speed of the USB 3.0 device.

3. Faulty device
This case is the worst case. This occurs mostly to USB 3.0 devices. The USB 3.0 connector has 5 additional pins which USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 connectors do not have. If any of the additional 5 pins of a USB 3.0 device malfunctions, the computer to which the USB 3.0 device is connect will assume the USB 3.0 device is connected to a USB 2.0 port even when the USB 3.0 device is in fact plugged into a USB 3.0 port. Hence, the computer shows you the annoying "This device can perform faster" message and limits the speed of the USB 3.0 device to the speed of the USB 2.0 protocol.

I have a 128 GB USB 3.0 flash drive. It used to work very well. It usually demonstrated 200 MB/s sequential read speed and 80 MB/s sequential write speed, which agrees well with the manufacturer's specs. However, one day, my computer showed me the "This device ... blah blah ..." message when I plugged the 128 GB USB 3.0 flash drive into a USB 3.0 port of the computer. I first thought I mistook a USB 2.0 port for a USB 3.0 port. But, the USB 3.0 flash drive was indeed plugged into a USB 3.0 port properly. Then, I thought the cause could be a wrong USB 3.0 driver. I uninstalled the old driver and installed a latest driver. But, I still saw the same "This device ..." message. Before trying another fix, I benchmarked the transfer speed of the USB 3.0 device with the "This device ..." message thinking it was not a huge issue as long as the transfer speed is correct. Unfortunately, the transfer speed decreased significantly. With the "This device..." message, the transfer speed of the USB 3.0 flash drive was only 40 MB/s for both sequential read and write. I still believed my computer was the reason. Thus, I tried the USB 3.0 flash drive on many other computers with USB 3.0 ports. The "This device ... " message popped up on all of the computers I tried and the transfer speed was also only 40 MB/s on all of the computers. Then, I concluded the USB 3.0 flash drive was the reason. I wanted to know what exactly was causing the issue. After examining the USB 3.0 flash drive quite thoroughly, I found out one of the 5 additional pins was broken. I am still using this USB 3.0 flash drive since it is still working except the transfer speed is less than half of its expected speed.

Best micro USB charger

Blackberry Folding Blade Charger for Playbook

http://www.amazon.com/Blackberry-Folding-Blade-Charger-Playbook/dp/B004OZMWUS

This charger is simply the best micro USB charger.

Affordable price
Reliable manufacturer
Huge output (1.8 A)
Long cable (6 feet long)

Buying a used mobile phone

When buying a used phone, buy only former flagship models.
I have concluded that buying used mid-range or budget phone is a waste of money.

My Wish for New Moto G

Moto G ver.2

8 GB or 16 GB internal storage
microSD slot (up to 64 GB)
LTE support (for both at&t and T-Mobile)
2400 mAh or larger battery size
The same physical dimensions
The sane display size
The same display resolution
Slightly better SoC than the first Moto G.
Factory Unlocked unit price $199.99

So, it's basically ATRIX HD with a larger battery size and a better exterior design.
Motorola can definitely do this.

T-Mobile APN, USA, LTE

Name:

T-Mobile USA LTE 

APN:

fast.t-mobile.com

MMSC: 

http://mms.msg.eng.t-mobile.com/mms/wapenc

MMS Proxy: 

Not set

MMS port: 

Not set

MCC: 

310

MNC: 

260

Authentication type: 

None

APN type: 

default,admin,fota,mms,supl,hipri,internet

APN protocol: 

IPv4/IPv6

APN roaming protocol:

IPv4/IPv6

MetroPCS LG Optimus F3 Android System Update

MetroPCS LG Optimus F3 Android System Update
Date: Dec 30 2013 (It could've been earlier since I kept my F3 off for a while)
Size: 111.8 MB

I seriously do not know what has changed.

MetroPCS APN Setting, GSM LTE

The following APN is for MetroPCS Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) plan, which is GSM based using T-Mobile radio and requires a SIM.

APN begins here.

Name:
MetroPCS (Whatever you'd like. Name matters little.)

APN:
fast.metropcs.com

Proxy:
Not set

Port:
Not set

Username:
Not set

Password:
Not set

Server:
Not set

MMSC:
http://metropcs.mmsmvno.com/mms/wapenc

MMS Proxy:
Not set

MMS port:
Not set

MCC:
310

MNC:
260

Authentication type:
Not set

APN type:
default,mms,supl

APN protocol
IPv4

APN roaming protocol
IPv4

APN enable/disable
APN enabled

Bearer
Unspecified

# Warning
When typing APN type, there must not be any blank/space between letters and between a letter and a comma. (hipri,internet,admin are optional)

MetroPCS 4G LTE Speed Test Logs (Nov 26 ~ Dec 18, 2013, Austin, TX)

Carrier: MetroPCS
Plan: $60/month unlimited, Bring Your Own Phone
Network: 4G LTE
Phone: Motorola Atrix HD (MB886)
Overall, quite satisfactory.

USB2.0 to Fast Ethernet (VK-RD9700) Quick Test

Figure 0. USB2.0 to Fast Ethernet Adapter, RD9700 Chipset.

The performance of the USB2.0 to Fast Ethernet is quite disappointing.

Figure 1. USB2.0 to Fast Ethernet



The Figure 1. shows the speed test result from www.speedtest.net using the USB2.0 to Fast Ethernet adapter. The maximum download and upload speed is about 6.5 Mbps. This is not due to the maximum capacity of the internet connection I use. As a control, I performed the same test through the same LAN port but with the built-in gigabit ethernet port in my laptop. The result is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Built-in gigabit ethernet port

As seen, the speed provided by my ISP is much higher than 6.5 Mbps up and down. Hence, the extremely slow speed stems from the USB2.0 to Fast Ethernet adapter.

The theoretical data transfer rate of USB 2.0 is 480 Mbps. Assuming it can use only the half of it in practice, the adapter should provide the full speed of Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps). Thus, the test result is quite disappointing.

Appendix

Test setting
Laptop: Sony VPCSA490X
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium x64
RAM: 8 GB
HDD: Samsung 830 SSD 256 GB
Driver: RD9700 Driver

My requirements for smart phones.

Screen size between 4 inch and 5 inch
LCD/TFT technology based display. No OLED.
Phone width less than 68 mm
Minimum 4 GB internal storage for apps
Micro SD slot
LTE bands for both at&t and T-Mobile
HSPA+ bands for both at&t and T-Mobile
GSM quad bands
Huge Battery at least 2000 mAh, over 2500 mAh preferred.
Android Jelly Bean 4.1.1 or higher
Windows Phone 8 or higher

Contenders

LG Optimus F3
     - The internal storage is too small (1.5 GB)

LG Optimus F6
     - The internal storage is too small (1.5 GB)

Sony Xperia ZL LTE (C6506)
     - Too good for my typical use
     - A bit pricy

Sony Xperia Z1 LTE (C6906)
     - Too good for my typical use
     - Quite pricy

Sony Xperia TL (LT30a)
     - Small battery (1850 mAh)
     - Not so great display

Motorola Atrix HD
     - Small battery (1780 mAh)

Net10 LTE Speed Test (Identical to Straight Talk LTE)

Location: Burnet Rd and W Anderson Ln, Austin, TX
Carrier: Net10 BYOP at&t MVNO
Plan: $50 / month Unlimited (2.5 GB LTE speed)
Network: LTE
Phone: Pantech Discover (P9090), Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
Remarks: Net10 BYOP is identical to Straight Talk BYOP. Hence, pretty much the same result is expected from Straight Talk.

Pantech Discover (P9090) Jelly Bean (4.1.2) Update

 

Pantech Discover (P9090) Jelly Bean (4.1.2) Update, at&t over the air (OTA).

07.31.2013 / July 31 2013.

Acer Iconia Tab A700 Jelly Bean Update Screenshot

Acer Inconia Tab A700 US (Jelly Bean Update)

Model Number: A700
Android Version: 4.1.1
Kernel Version: 3.1.10+
Image Version: Acer_AV051_A700_RV09RC08_PA_CUS1
Build Number: Acer_AV051_A700_1.034.00_PA_CUS1
Image P/N: FM.S1MA0.037

Expresscard 34mm USB 3.0 Card Information

1. AKE EXPRESS USB 3.0 CARD (BC628), 2 USB 3.0 Ports
Chipset: ASMedia ASM1042

http://www.station-drivers.com/page/asmedia.htm



2. AKE EXPRESS USB 3.0 CARD (BC618D), 1 USB Port
Chipset: Fresco Logic FL1000

http://www.station-drivers.com/page/fresco_logic.htm


They work perfectly fine. You only need to know the right chipset and drivers.