Firewire transfer rates -- what is "normal" ?

[RedFive]

I just got my 20GB 3G iPod today and it's a beautiful piece of work. I love just about everything about it and can't wait to try out iTunes for Windows tomorrow! *fingers crossed*

With that said, I am curious as to what transfer rates people normally get using Firewire on Windows. I'm using Windows XP SP1 on an Athlon XP 2100+ based computer with 512 MB of RAM. The Firewire is built-in to the motherboard, which is an EPoX EP-8RDA+ (link (http://web.epox.com/html/motherboard.asp?product=EP-8RDAplus&lang=1)).

My iPod is connected via the dock, which is connected to my PC using the included Firewire cable.

I'm using a registered copy of Anapod Explorer 8.2.8 for connection and transfer. Transfers over Firewire seem to fluctuate between 10 - 16 Mbits/sec, leveling off at about 14 Mbit/sec.

Are these speeds normal? Low? High? Someone please let me know. I've never used a Firewire device before, let alone an iPod.

If you have suggestions for making it quicker, that would be wonderful.

On my list to try:

- Connect via USB2 (I have the dual head cable.)
- Transfer using EphPod
- Transfer using iTunes for Windows (tomorrow)

Thanks for any help you can provide!

[Lance]

I dont know the exact specs of my computer, but i'm running win2k, firewire, and ephpod and i get between 8-11 mb/s but leveling off at 9.8 mb/s.

I've used an external hard drive to transfer music from it to my hard drive, and my ipod gets better speeds in terms of transfer time. (sub 8 sec. for an album on ipod, about 15sec on the external drive)

[RedFive]

It must have had something to do with the battery being charged up for the first time or SOMETHING... because now I'm getting in excess of 55Mbit/sec transfer rates using Anapod Explorer (and now iTunes for Windows, I assume -- it's way fast).

I wonder what was up with that?

Either way, it's all good now. And fast. :)

[Benjidatramp]

That is interesting as firewire maximum is only 50Mb/s - and U must have a VERY fast HDD. I think ur programs are screwy somehow :)

[larrybird]

becareful tossing around MB and Mb. The limitations in general seem
to be the ipod drive, though as I found out, one of my drives had some
how gone out of DMA mode. AFAIK, most are seeing around 5-7MB/s.

[Roland]

Originally posted by stark23x
Mine, a 3G 30GB, bought about four months ago from Amazon, gets a consistent 5-6MB/s. My wife's 30GB 3G, bought only three weeks ago direct from Apple, not only has a deep, rich blue backlight, but a, 8-9.5 MB/s rate consistently.

She'd notice if I switched them. ;)

Stark, is that on the same computer? with songs on the same HD?
dang! I also have a 30gig bought 2 months ago, and am getting 5-6.