Fastest Flash-based USB drives

[hytek369]

Anyone know what is the fastest flashed-based USB drive? I am looking for one with at least 4GB and hopefully U3 software.

 

[hytek369]

no one?

 

[PandaBear]

U3 are only produced by either SanDisk or M-System (rebadged into various other brand), and now M-System is part of SanDisk. IMO if you are using primarily U3 then get the M-System clone as they have a lighter weight U3 implementation, but if you don't care about U3, then SanDisk Extreme IV is the fastest out there (but cost more).

 

[WobbleWobble]

Originally posted by: PandaBear
U3 are only produced by either SanDisk or M-System (rebadged into various other brand), and now M-System is part of SanDisk. IMO if you are using primarily U3 then get the M-System clone as they have a lighter weight U3 implementation, but if you don't care about U3, then SanDisk Extreme IV is the fastest out there (but cost more).

But other manufacturers also have U3 drives...

It's hard to tangify performance. Some drives are faster at small files while some drives are faster at handling larger files.

 

[HiME]

I'd say the once that implements duel channel within the drive. They use a dual channel controller to improve the writing and reading speed.

OCZ is the first company who adopted that technology towards flash USB drives, their Rally2 series offers somewhere around 20MB/s~ pretty nice.

EDIT: Just noticed that OCZ rally2 won't offer 4GB, it's only up to 2GB.

 

[Rubycon]

I have the apacer and sandisk 4gb models. U3 was promptly removed; it emulates a CD drive and is useless to me but I can see it being of use to a n00b. 😛

Both read around 18MB/S and write around 10MB/S.

I believe that limit is the controller on the drive itself and not the memory. R/W tiny files is still slow as ever, however.

4GB for under a Ben is a good deal though. Seems like yesterday 4GB was monstrous for a system HDD and now it can be waved around like a weiner. :Q