10 USB Flash Drives Roundup @ X-bit Labs

Iria · Oct 29, 2006, 03:07 AM

Source: X-Bit Labs
_________
The manufacturers have made some progress since we last tested USB flash drives in our labs. Almost all major brands have mastered dual-channel memory controllers and large-capacity memory chips. Today we will look at popular USB drives with 1GB storage capacity from Apacer, A-Data, Kingston, OCZ and Transcend.

LHC · Oct 29, 2006, 03:31 AM

Nice review, pretty big..

Though I must say, I'm happy with my Connect3D 1GB stick that i got for $20

TheBlackCat · Oct 29, 2006, 04:19 AM

There is a factor that I have found very important. I have a sony microvault 1gb. It is tiny, which is excellent. It is as thick as two pennies, not even as long as two pennies, and no wider than the usb plug built into it. That means it can literally fit anywhere, any space that is large enough for a USB port is large enough for this thing. The cramped back of a computer with lots of USB devices plugged in can be a real problem for thick flash drives.

But the real advantage for me is that it has extremely low power consumption. So low it will work in underpowered USB ports that normal flash drives cannot use. So for instance you can use the USB ports built into an apple keyboard, even with an optical mouse attached. In my experience at least using an apple keyboard with any other flash drive is impossible.

FluffyChicken · Oct 29, 2006, 10:16 AM

They didn't test to see if it is Vista ReadyBoost compatible, which is quite an ommision given people will probably want to use them if possible for that feature. Though it the fast random read/write/access you need so shouln't be hard to choose. I would say it was comprehensive sine there are so many USB pen drives to choose from and you have only a few manufacturers mentioned, missing out some of the larger brand makes.

Erroneus · Oct 29, 2006, 12:04 PM

Yeah would have been nice with a test in Vista, hopefully the Sony Micro Vault USM-EX Turbo (USM1GEX) 2gb is compatable, because it looks to be a nice pen and has a fair price.

TheBlackCat · Oct 29, 2006, 03:43 PM

I thought all flash drives were compatible with that.

Erroneus · Oct 29, 2006, 05:38 PM

Nope i saw a test last month where they tested 8 drives, and three of them were not.

Not sure what makes them compatible...

TheBlackCat · Oct 29, 2006, 09:07 PM

That's disappointing. I thought it would work with any flash drive.

FluffyChicken · Nov 2, 2006, 11:14 AM

No not all, usb pen drives with slow random read/write access etc are not good since there is no beneift. Also if you go through most usb hubs and some controllers it doesn't work.

Here is a growing list of what is and is not working with ReadyBoost
http://www.grantgibson.co.uk/misc/readyboost/

Erroneus · Nov 2, 2006, 02:09 PM

Nice link, more here about what is needed. http://blogs.msdn.com/tomarcher/arch...02/615199.aspx

Oct 29, 2006, 03:07 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	10 USB Flash Drives Roundup @ X-bit Labs Source: X-Bit Labs _________ The manufacturers have made some progress since we last tested USB flash drives in our labs. Almost all major brands have mastered dual-channel memory controllers and large-capacity memory chips. Today we will look at popular USB drives with 1GB storage capacity from Apacer, A-Data, Kingston, OCZ and Transcend.

Oct 29, 2006, 03:31 AM	#2
LHC Stingy and Stubborn Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,325 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Nice review, pretty big.. Though I must say, I'm happy with my Connect3D 1GB stick that i got for $20 __________________

Oct 29, 2006, 04:19 AM	#3
TheBlackCat DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Searching for the Candle in the Dark Posts: 567 Rep Power: 0	There is a factor that I have found very important. I have a sony microvault 1gb. It is tiny, which is excellent. It is as thick as two pennies, not even as long as two pennies, and no wider than the usb plug built into it. That means it can literally fit anywhere, any space that is large enough for a USB port is large enough for this thing. The cramped back of a computer with lots of USB devices plugged in can be a real problem for thick flash drives. But the real advantage for me is that it has extremely low power consumption. So low it will work in underpowered USB ports that normal flash drives cannot use. So for instance you can use the USB ports built into an apple keyboard, even with an optical mouse attached. In my experience at least using an apple keyboard with any other flash drive is impossible. __________________ [color=#000000]There is always an easy solution to every human problem—neat, plausible and wrong.[/color] -H. L. Mencken

Oct 29, 2006, 10:16 AM	#4
FluffyChicken DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: England Posts: 320 Rep Power: 0	They didn't test to see if it is Vista ReadyBoost compatible, which is quite an ommision given people will probably want to use them if possible for that feature. Though it the fast random read/write/access you need so shouln't be hard to choose. I would say it was comprehensive sine there are so many USB pen drives to choose from and you have only a few manufacturers mentioned, missing out some of the larger brand makes. __________________ [COLOR=#455b64]Team mauisun.org [/COLOR] Last edited by FluffyChicken; Nov 2, 2006 at 11:10 AM.

Oct 29, 2006, 12:04 PM	#5
Erroneus Get off my lawn! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 13,417 Rep Power: 119 System Specs	Yeah would have been nice with a test in Vista, hopefully the Sony Micro Vault USM-EX Turbo (USM1GEX) 2gb is compatable, because it looks to be a nice pen and has a fair price. __________________

Oct 29, 2006, 03:43 PM	#6
TheBlackCat DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Searching for the Candle in the Dark Posts: 567 Rep Power: 0	I thought all flash drives were compatible with that. __________________ [color=#000000]There is always an easy solution to every human problem—neat, plausible and wrong.[/color] -H. L. Mencken

Oct 29, 2006, 05:38 PM	#7
Erroneus Get off my lawn! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 13,417 Rep Power: 119 System Specs	Nope i saw a test last month where they tested 8 drives, and three of them were not. Not sure what makes them compatible... __________________

Oct 29, 2006, 09:07 PM	#8
TheBlackCat DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Searching for the Candle in the Dark Posts: 567 Rep Power: 0	That's disappointing. I thought it would work with any flash drive. __________________ [color=#000000]There is always an easy solution to every human problem—neat, plausible and wrong.[/color] -H. L. Mencken

Nov 2, 2006, 11:14 AM	#9
FluffyChicken DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: England Posts: 320 Rep Power: 0	No not all, usb pen drives with slow random read/write access etc are not good since there is no beneift. Also if you go through most usb hubs and some controllers it doesn't work. Here is a growing list of what is and is not working with ReadyBoost http://www.grantgibson.co.uk/misc/readyboost/ __________________ [COLOR=#455b64]Team mauisun.org [/COLOR]

Nov 2, 2006, 02:09 PM	#10
Erroneus Get off my lawn! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 13,417 Rep Power: 119 System Specs	Nice link, more here about what is needed. http://blogs.msdn.com/tomarcher/arch...02/615199.aspx __________________