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When I attach my USB 3.0-Stick dmesg says:

[ 3308.966755] usb 2-1.1: new SuperSpeed USB device number 5 using xhci_hcd

[ 3308.987443] usb 2-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0781, idProduct=5583

[ 3308.987444] usb 2-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3

[ 3308.987445] usb 2-1.1: Product: Ultra Fit

[ 3308.987446] usb 2-1.1: Manufacturer: SanDisk

[ 3308.987447] usb 2-1.1: SerialNumber: 4C530001130125108084

[ 3308.987973] usb-storage 2-1.1:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected

[ 3308.988102] scsi host8: usb-storage 2-1.1:1.0

[ 3310.003801] scsi 8:0:0:0: Direct-Access     SanDisk  Ultra Fit        1.00 PQ: 0 ANSI: 6

[ 3310.004113] sd 8:0:0:0: [sde] 60062500 512-byte logical blocks: (30.8 GB/28.6 GiB)

[ 3310.004332] sd 8:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg5 type 0

[ 3310.004725] sd 8:0:0:0: [sde] Write Protect is off

[ 3310.004727] sd 8:0:0:0: [sde] Mode Sense: 43 00 00 00

[ 3310.004993] sd 8:0:0:0: [sde] Write cache: disabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA

[ 3310.011636]  sde:

[ 3310.012638] sd 8:0:0:0: [sde] Attached SCSI removable disk

[ 3337.899311] usb 1-2: USB disconnect, device number 14

[ 3337.916315] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdc] Synchronizing SCSI cache

[ 3338.164228] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdc] Synchronize Cache(10) failed: Result: hostbyte=DID_ERROR driverbyte=DRIVER_OK

[ 3345.232408] usb 2-1.1: USB disconnect, device number 5

But when I connect my USB 3.0 hard drive to the same port dmesg says:

[ 3354.269053] usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 16 using xhci_hcd

[ 3354.449932] usb 1-1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=152d, idProduct=0579

[ 3354.449936] usb 1-1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3

[ 3354.449939] usb 1-1.1: Product: External USB-3.0

[ 3354.449941] usb 1-1.1: Manufacturer: Intenso

[ 3354.449943] usb 1-1.1: SerialNumber: 2015112320089

[ 3354.451081] scsi host6: uas

[ 3354.451512] scsi 6:0:0:0: Direct-Access     Intenso  External USB-3.0 1201 PQ: 0 ANSI: 6

[ 3354.452039] sd 6:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg3 type 0

[ 3357.101531] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdc] 1953525168 512-byte logical blocks: (1.00 TB/932 GiB)

[ 3357.101533] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdc] 4096-byte physical blocks

[ 3357.101709] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdc] Write Protect is off

[ 3357.101710] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdc] Mode Sense: 5f 00 00 08

[ 3357.101963] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdc] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA

[ 3357.108787]  sdc: sdc1

[ 3357.110080] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdc] Attached SCSI disk

[ 3411.218491] usb 1-1.1: USB disconnect, device number 16

[ 3411.236156] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdc] Synchronizing SCSI cache

[ 3411.488046] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdc] Synchronize Cache(10) failed: Result: hostbyte=DID_ERROR driverbyte=DRIVER_OK

My dd-benchmark confirms USB 2.0 speed:

user@host:~> sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/largefile bs=8k count=2000000

dd: error writing '/mnt/largefile': File too large

524288+0 records in

524287+0 records out

4294967295 bytes (4.3 GB, 4.0 GiB) copied, 54.0439 s, 79.5 MB/s

user@host:~> sudo sh -c "sync && echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches"

[sudo] password for root: 

user@host:~> dd if=/mnt/largefile of=/dev/null bs=8k

524287+1 records in

524287+1 records out

4294967295 bytes (4.3 GB, 4.0 GiB) copied, 101.613 s, 42.3 MB/s

While lsusb -v confirms "super speed capability"

user@host:~> sudo lsusb -v -D /dev/bus/usb/001/018

Device: ID 152d:0579 JMicron Technology Corp. / JMicron USA Technology Corp. 

Device Descriptor:

  bLength                18

  bDescriptorType         1

  bcdUSB               2.10

  bDeviceClass            0 

  bDeviceSubClass         0 

  bDeviceProtocol         0 

  bMaxPacketSize0        64

  idVendor           0x152d JMicron Technology Corp. / JMicron USA Technology Corp.

  idProduct          0x0579 

  bcdDevice            1.00

  iManufacturer           1 Intenso

  iProduct                2 External USB-3.0

  iSerial                 3 2015112320089

  bNumConfigurations      1

  Configuration Descriptor:

    bLength                 9

    bDescriptorType         2

    wTotalLength           85

    bNumInterfaces          1

    bConfigurationValue     1

    iConfiguration          0 

    bmAttributes         0x80

      (Bus Powered)

    MaxPower              500mA

    Interface Descriptor:

      bLength                 9

      bDescriptorType         4

      bInterfaceNumber        0

      bAlternateSetting       0

      bNumEndpoints           2

      bInterfaceClass         8 Mass Storage

      bInterfaceSubClass      6 SCSI

      bInterfaceProtocol     80 Bulk-Only

      iInterface              0 

      Endpoint Descriptor:

        bLength                 7

        bDescriptorType         5

        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN

        bmAttributes            2

          Transfer Type            Bulk

          Synch Type               None

          Usage Type               Data

        wMaxPacketSize     0x0200  1x 512 bytes

        bInterval               0

      Endpoint Descriptor:

        bLength                 7

        bDescriptorType         5

        bEndpointAddress     0x02  EP 2 OUT

        bmAttributes            2

          Transfer Type            Bulk

          Synch Type               None

          Usage Type               Data

        wMaxPacketSize     0x0200  1x 512 bytes

        bInterval               0

    Interface Descriptor:

      bLength                 9

      bDescriptorType         4

      bInterfaceNumber        0

      bAlternateSetting       1

      bNumEndpoints           4

      bInterfaceClass         8 Mass Storage

      bInterfaceSubClass      6 SCSI

      bInterfaceProtocol     98 

      iInterface              0 

      Endpoint Descriptor:

        bLength                 7

        bDescriptorType         5

        bEndpointAddress     0x01  EP 1 OUT

        bmAttributes            2

          Transfer Type            Bulk

          Synch Type               None

          Usage Type               Data

        wMaxPacketSize     0x0200  1x 512 bytes

        bInterval               0

        Command pipe (0x01)

      Endpoint Descriptor:

        bLength                 7

        bDescriptorType         5

        bEndpointAddress     0x82  EP 2 IN

        bmAttributes            2

          Transfer Type            Bulk

          Synch Type               None

          Usage Type               Data

        wMaxPacketSize     0x0200  1x 512 bytes

        bInterval               0

        Status pipe (0x02)

      Endpoint Descriptor:

        bLength                 7

        bDescriptorType         5

        bEndpointAddress     0x83  EP 3 IN

        bmAttributes            2

          Transfer Type            Bulk

          Synch Type               None

          Usage Type               Data

        wMaxPacketSize     0x0200  1x 512 bytes

        bInterval               0

        Data-in pipe (0x03)

      Endpoint Descriptor:

        bLength                 7

        bDescriptorType         5

        bEndpointAddress     0x04  EP 4 OUT

        bmAttributes            2

          Transfer Type            Bulk

          Synch Type               None

          Usage Type               Data

        wMaxPacketSize     0x0200  1x 512 bytes

        bInterval               0

        Data-out pipe (0x04)

Binary Object Store Descriptor:

  bLength                 5

  bDescriptorType        15

  wTotalLength           22

  bNumDeviceCaps          2

  USB 2.0 Extension Device Capability:

    bLength                 7

    bDescriptorType        16

    bDevCapabilityType      2

    bmAttributes   0x00000f0e

      BESL Link Power Management (LPM) Supported

    BESL value     3840 us 

  SuperSpeed USB Device Capability:

    bLength                10

    bDescriptorType        16

    bDevCapabilityType      3

    bmAttributes         0x00

    wSpeedsSupported   0x000e

      Device can operate at Full Speed (12Mbps)

      Device can operate at High Speed (480Mbps)

      Device can operate at SuperSpeed (5Gbps)

    bFunctionalitySupport   1

      Lowest fully-functional device speed is Full Speed (12Mbps)

    bU1DevExitLat          10 micro seconds

    bU2DevExitLat          32 micro seconds

can't get debug descriptor: Resource temporarily unavailable

Device Status:     0x0000

  (Bus Powered)

This is the output of lsusb -t with the USB-Stick:

/:  Bus 04.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=ehci-pci/2p, 480M

    |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/6p, 480M

/:  Bus 03.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=ehci-pci/2p, 480M

    |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/4p, 480M

/:  Bus 02.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/2p, 5000M

    |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/4p, 5000M

        |__ Port 1: Dev 6, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 5000M

/:  Bus 01.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/10p, 480M

    |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/4p, 480M

    |__ Port 3: Dev 3, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 1.5M

    |__ Port 3: Dev 3, If 1, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 1.5M

    |__ Port 8: Dev 15, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M

    |__ Port 9: Dev 5, If 0, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 12M

    |__ Port 9: Dev 5, If 1, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 12M

    |__ Port 9: Dev 5, If 2, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 12M

    |__ Port 9: Dev 5, If 3, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M

    |__ Port 10: Dev 6, If 1, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 1.5M

    |__ Port 10: Dev 6, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 1.5M

And this is lsusb -t with the hard drive connected to the same port:

    sudo lsusb -t -D /dev/bus/usb/001/018

    /:  Bus 04.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=ehci-pci/2p, 480M

        |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/6p, 480M

    /:  Bus 03.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=ehci-pci/2p, 480M

        |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/4p, 480M

    /:  Bus 02.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/2p, 5000M

        |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/4p, 5000M

    /:  Bus 01.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/10p, 480M

        |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/4p, 480M

            |__ Port 1: Dev 18, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=uas, 480M

        |__ Port 3: Dev 3, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 1.5M

        |__ Port 3: Dev 3, If 1, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 1.5M

        |__ Port 8: Dev 15, If 0, Class=Mass Storage, Driver=usb-storage, 480M

        |__ Port 9: Dev 5, If 0, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 12M

        |__ Port 9: Dev 5, If 1, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 12M

        |__ Port 9: Dev 5, If 2, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 12M

        |__ Port 9: Dev 5, If 3, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M

        |__ Port 10: Dev 6, If 1, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 1.5M

        |__ Port 10: Dev 6, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 1.5M

How can I make this device operate at USB 3.0 SuperSpeed?

The Short version:

Your Intenso external SSD is already performing at peak performance if you bought the High performance model. However, if you bought the Top performance model, you should:

1. try another USB3.1 cable first


2. contact the manufacturer after you've ruled out cabling problems.

The long version:

1. 
   

   All USB cables are equal, but some are more equal than others:

   
   
   

   USB 2.0 layout:

   
   
   

   Pin     Colour      Name    Description
   
   1       Red         VCC     +5 VDC
   
   2       White       D-      Data -
   
   3       Green       D+      Data +
   
   4       Black       GND     Ground
   
   

   
   
   

   USB 3.x layout:

   
   
   

   Pin     Colour              Name                Description
   
                   A connector     B connector
   
   1   Red                     VBUS                Power
   
   2   White                   D−                  USB 2.0 differential pair
   
   3   Green                   D+
   
   4   Black                   GND                 Ground for power return
   
   5   Blue        StdA_SSRX−      StdB_SSTX−      SuperSpeed receiver differential pair
   
   6   Yellow      StdA_SSRX+      StdB_SSTX+
   
   7   N/A                     GND_DRAIN           Ground for signal return
   
   8   Purple      StdA_SSTX−      StdB_SSRX−      SuperSpeed transmitter differential pair
   
   9   Orange      StdA_SSTX+      StdB_SSRX+ 
   
   

   
   
   

   So if you have a damaged cable or have the wrong cable, you should replace it or you'll fall back to USB 2.0.

   
   


2. 
   

   The two main parts of a SSD are the controller bridge and the actual NAND chips. In your case, the JMicron Controller Bridge is capable of SuperSpeed, but the actual NAND in your SSD is only capable of High-Speed as your tests confirmed.

   
   
   

   What's the difference between SuperSpeed and High-speed NAND?

   
   
   
   
   
   • 
     SLC: 1 bit per cell: fastest, highest cost.
     
   
   
   • 
     MLC: 2 bits per cell
   
   
   • 
     TLC: 3 bits per cell
   
   
   • 
     QLC: 4 bits per cell: slowest, lowest cost
     
   
   
   
   

   So your (small) USB Stick contains both SuperSpeed-capable controller and NAND but your (large) SSD only contains the SuperSpeed-capable controller but not the NAND that goes with it.

   
   
   

   As you gave us a lot of information, but not the actual model number of the SSD, we cannot check whether you bought the High performance instead of the Top performance model as Intenso does not publish the USB ID on their web site. Generally, the Top Performance is twice as expensive as the High-performance model, so in the unlikely case you did buy the Top Performance model, there was a mix-up at the manufacturer and you should contact them and ask for a replacement.