Downloading to external HD

This may be a dumb question, but does downloading to an external USB hard drive affect download speeds?

Depends on how fast a external is compared to a internal. If they've the same RPM, then it shouldn't really bother it.

Interface speed is more of an issue with external USB. If you've only got USB 1.1 ports and/or a USB 1.1 external hard drive, the transfer rate is limited to 12Mbps (1.4MB/sec). This is already faster than the majority of internet connections you're likely to find in the home. If the drive and ports are both high speed USB 2.0, transfer rates can reach 480Mbps (57MB/sec), way beyond what any internet connection you're likely to encounter can manage (though it should be noted, somewhat lower than the ~80MB/sec sustained transfer rate that is the maximum you can reach with a modern hard drive). The drive's RPM is largely irrelevant. So in short, no - downloading to an external drive is unlikely to affect download speeds unless you've got a blisteringly fast internet connection and an outdated external drive.

>>3

Very helpful. Thank you!