Caldigit FASTA-6GU3 - Speed Tests

[Matthew Conrad]

Did a few quick tests with a new caldigit esata/usb3 combo card... check it.

Red SSD Reader - 128gb SSD Card
esata - read: 174 write: 146
fw800 - read 82 write: 82 (to macpro fw800)

Red MINI SSD Reader - 128gb SSD Card
usb3 - read: 208 write: 50
fw800 - read 80 write: 80 (to macpro fw800)

3TB Segate 7200rpm
usb3 - read: 176 write: 172


So the USB3 wins for read speed from the mini ssd reader, but I'm not sure why the write speed is so slow... I feel like its the reader more so than the caldigit since the seagate's write speeds moves pretty quick. Either way... I don't do much writing TO the ssd, so I'm fine with the results.

Side note.... the card readers pop immediately with esata, but usb3 takes about 20 seconds.

 

[Elliott Balsley]

Interesting. I got different results in my own test. I didn't do exactly the same combinations that you did, but here are my results:

Red SSD Reader - 128GB SSD
eSATA - read: 214

G-Speed Q 8TB RAID 0
SATA - read: 248
SATA - write: 241
eSATA - read: 241
eSATA - write: 165

I'm using an eSATA adapter cable plugged into the extra optical drive in my 2010 Mac Pro.
The big surprise is that when copying files from Red SSD to the RAID (both on eSATA), speed drops to 115MB/s. Caldigit can't explain this, nor why eSATA is slower than internal SATA, but they're going to send me a brand new model next week for testing. I will report results here. By the way, I'm running 10.8.2. Matthew, I wonder if there's something wrong with your Redstation or RedMag, since the read speed is slower than mine.

 

[Elliott Balsley]

Or maybe there is just variance in RedMag manufacturing. I just tested another 128GB mag and got only 190MB/s read.

 

[Matthew Conrad]

Do you have to power cycle the computer to change drives on your optical bay sata-esata adapter?

 

[Elliott Balsley]

Yes, but that doesn't bother me. I have the RAID plugged in all the time.

 

[Elliott Balsley]

UPDATE:
CalDigit has told me that the speed drop when using both eSATA ports simultaneously is normal, and that I should buy a 4e card if I care about speed. With this information, I would recommend everyone stay away from this card.