VM ware still doesn't work very well even with VM Player 5.0.2 on an external USB3

VM ware still doesn't work very well even with VM Player 5.0.2 on an
external USB3

I have had problems trying to use VM images on an Integral 512Gb external
ssd with USB3. My new Dell Latitude E6230 has two USB3 ports. I was on
VMPlayer 4.0.4 which works extremely well when the VM image is on the
internal ssd drive, but slowed to a crawl when I I tried to use the
external ssd attached to either of the USB3 ports. I mean suicidally slow.
I got all excited when I read one of the other articles here:
VM Ware does not recognize USB devices
I immediately updated to VM Player 5.0.2 and waited expectantly. I first
checked that I had the same high speed response with the same VM image
copied to the internal ssd. However, I was extremely disappointed that the
improvement on the external ssd (and a Lexar USB3 128Gb memory stick as
well) was marginal at best.
Please can someone help me? While I can obviously use the internal ssd,
its only got 256Gb so with all the other bloatware I have to use
(Microsoft of course the main problem) there isn't that much space for all
but a few smallish VM images.
I look forward to some assistance.