USB 2.0 flash drives...why do the transfer rates vary?

[BlueWeasel]

I've currently got a 128mb USB 1.1 pen drive, and was looking at upgrading to something larger with USB 2.0.

Well, there is a Kingston 512mb USB 2.0 drive at Newegg for $40 after rebate. But Kingston has several different USB 2.0 models, and they each have different transfer rates.

512mb USB Data Traveler
Data transfer rates of up 6MB/sec. read and up to 1.5MB/sec write

512mb USB Data Traveler II
II Plus - Data transfer rates of up 19MB/sec. read and up to 13MB/sec write
II - Data transfer rates of up 11MB/sec. read and up to 7MB/sec write

Basically, Kingston is showing a USB 2.0 full speed for the Data Traveler, and USB 2.0 Hi-speed for the Data Traveler II. Obviously, I don't understand why the rates would be different if they are based on the USB 2.0 specification.

Looking at the Data Traveler (Data transfer rates of up 6MB/sec. read and up to 1.5MB/sec write), that's pretty slow for a USB 2.0 drive, right?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Flash memory is a lot slower than a hard drive. The limit is not the USB 2.0 connection it is the memory speed and electronics inside the flash drive.

www.ArsTechnica.com had a review of a bunch of different USB 2.0 models, you might want to go there and find it since performance and features varied widely.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
The limit is not the USB 2.0 connection it is the memory speed and electronics inside the flash drive.

Yep.

*runs some informal tests*

About 15MB/s read and 4MB/s write on my Sandisk.

- M4H

 

[BlueWeasel]

Ahh, well that makes sense. Thanks for the info, guys.