More real-world P2 Transfer tests

MrPolarBare

MrPolarBare

Well-known member
It seems like everyone around here loves real world results, and since eveyone's setup is a little different, it seems like we can never have too many tests. Anyways, here are the results of my transfer tests. I used a P2 Store, a 1.6ghz P4 Centrino Tablet PC, and an external 3.5" 7200rpm USB2 drive that was hooked up to the laptop (unfortunately I didn't have a USB buspowered 2.5" drive to test it out with, which in the field is more likely what you would use).

The test - I basically filled up a 4gb P2 card with footage, and then transferred the files through different setups...these are the results I got...

6:22 - Transfer to P2 Store (Verify Mode)
2:45 - Transfer to P2 Store (Non-verify mode)
3:12 - Transfer to Laptop using PCMCIA PC Card Slot
2:31 - Transfer to External HD using laptop's PCMCIA PC Card Slot
2:19 - Transfer half of the files to Laptop, and the other half to the External HD using the PCMCIA PC Card Slot
3:55 - Transfer to Laptop and simultaneously creating a backup on the External HD using the PCMCIA PC Card Slot
4:51 - Transfer files to my laptop using the P2 Store as a P2 Card reader via USB2

Obviously the bottle-neck is in the hard drives, not the P2 cards. The one that surpised me the most was the last test, where I used the P2 Store as an external P2 Card Reader. I'm not sure why it took such a performance hit. I ran that test for the MacBook Pro users out there, since that seems to be the only way to get a PCMCIA PC Card slot onto their laptops. Also, note that I ran the "Transfer to laptop using PCMCIA PC Card" test twice. The first time I got 3:12 (which is what I posted), and the second time I got 3:02. So these results appear to flucuate a little.
 
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Hey Polar,

Could you see how long it takes to transfer footage from your P2 Store to your External USB 2.0 Hard Disk?
I want to see if how the P2 Store Internal Drive performs/
 
BollingerPro said:
Hey Polar,

Could you see how long it takes to transfer footage from your P2 Store to your External USB 2.0 Hard Disk?
I want to see if how the P2 Store Internal Drive performs/
Click to expand...

4:50 - P2 Store to laptop, where the files were transferred from the internal drive of the P2 Store via USB2.
4:21 - P2 Store to External HD on laptop, where the files were transferred from the internal drive of the P2 Store via USB2

The internal drive on my laptop tablet is probably 4200rpm. The external drive is 3.5" 7200rpm. So even when copying from the 2.5" P2 Store internal drive, you do get some performance boost when copying to a 7200rpm drive when compared to a 4200rpm drive. So I am assuming the P2 Store drive is faster than my laptop's 4200rpm drive.
 
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Gopher_Greene said:
Thanks, I've been debating on the need for a P2 store, looks like I can get by with just a laptop and HDDs.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I guess it is different for each person. If you have a stable environment where you can keep a laptop, then it is fine. But, I do a lot of shooting on a bumpy ski boat, so bringing a laptop with me out there on the water isn't the best fit. So, basically, the only benefit of a P2 Store over a laptop is superior battery life, better portability, and a more rugged design. If you don't need those things, then a laptop would work fine. The benefit of the laptop would be a bigger hard drive, and the ability to capture straight into your NLE program. There is give and take...you just have to figure out whats best for you.
 
Mr PolarBare!

Thank You for posting those times!

I wonder if transfering footage from the P2 Store to a firewire hard drive would alow you to have faster transfer times from the P2 Store because of the P2 Store being the same USB 2.0 controler?

Anyone have thoughts on that?
 
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BollingerPro said:
Mr PolarBare!

Thank You for posting those times!

I wonder if transfering footage from the P2 Store to a firewire hard drive would alow you to have faster transfer times from the P2 Store because of the P2 Store being the same USB 2.0 controler?

Anyone have thoughts on that?
Click to expand...
I don't think it would have an effect in transfer times if you are transferring from the P2 Store's internal drive, because the bottle neck would be the internal drive, not the USB connection. But, when using the P2 Store as an external p2 card reader, you might be right. Using a Firewire drive might get you better performance since it is not using the same USB controller in the laptop that the P2 Store is using. Good observation.
 
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