USB 3.0 Flashdrive

I'm looking for a new USB 3.0 flashdrive. I'm big into high performance to replace my current 32GB Patriot Supersonic USB 3.0 drive and my 250GB 5400rpm portable Seagate HDD.

I barely fill more than 40-50GB on the HDD and anything on my FDD is just duplicate data. And everything except my lossless music is also backed up on OneDrive and Dropbox depending on what it is. So I'm thinking of just getting a single USB 3.0 drive for all data backup (also my tablet cannot use HDD's because the USB 2.0 port is unpowered on it so I can only use lower power devices like a FDD).

What I'm thinking of doing is selling my HDD, converting my 32GB FDD from NTFS to FAT 32 format so that I can save 1GB for scanner usage and the rest as a traveling Xbox 360 memory unit.

I have my eyes on the Kingston Digital HyperX 3.0 DataTraveler. Not sure if I should get 64GB or pony up for 128GB. Amazon.com: Kingston Digital HyperX 3.0 DataTraveler (DTHX30/64GB): Computers & Accessories

What are your thoughts and recommendations on any USB 3.0 flashdrives and storage space?

 

Have a look at the Sandisk Extreme usb 3.0 they are actually an mini ssd with trim and smart and my 16gb version has a read of 70mb/s and a write of 50mb/s

Extreme USB Flash Drive by SanDisk

John.

 

Yes, I second this. That flash drive has insane performance, but it's so expensive. Then again, you get what you pay for.

 

The Kingston HyperX's specs looks alright. But I would go with Tinderbox's and Waru's suggestion for the Extreme USB by Sandisk. I have it in the 32GB capacity and the performance is excellent.
You also mentioned ponying up for the 128GB, this is a capacity not offered by the Extreme USB. Fortunately, SanDisk also offers an Extreme PRO USB 3.0. It only offers a 128GB capacity in this model but it has incredible read and write speeds (260mb/s, 240mb/s respectively). I've been eyeing it for the past week and might take the dive and buy it.
Anyhow, comparing the price points between the Kingston and the Sandisk 128GB models, the Kingston would be cheaper. Though, Sandisk out performs the Kingston by a long shot. Just depends on what you're looking for and willing to spend.

-Zahid

 

I too would recommend the Sandisk Extreme 3.0
I got myself the 32gb model for 23€ and it really is fast. The 64gb would be perfect in my opinion. More than reasonable capacity and also some of the greatest speeds for the price (190mb/s read 140~150mb/s write). Just search online as you should probably find a deal.

 

I'd like to add some stufff.

Sandisk has
-better random performance
-better smaller block size performance (transferring small files much MUCH faster)
-cheaper, value and performance wise
-support USAP (sandisk extreme) windows 8 and above, by around 25% in sequential read/write

Kingston
-faster sequential overall, much faster sequential than sandisk in window 7
-more reliable, sandisk extreme has some issues, maybe extreme pro fixed it now

 

The Extreme Pro 128GB is the newest addition to the SanDisk USB 3.0 Extreme lineup.

SanDisk's new Extreme PRO USB 3.0 flash drive writes up to 240MB/sec | TweakTown

I own 2 x 64GB Extremes and 2 x 16GB

The 64GB are much better performers

This linked post has my 64GB benchmarks on empty drive.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/msi...t780-gt783-owners-lounge-850.html#post9156422

 

i vote Kinsgston since that's the drive that I have. At the time I purchased it was the fastest of its kind and continues to be the fastest of all my removable drives. I've posted the excellent results.

The only negative is the poor design that all USB drives have in that the cap is still so easily lost. This is an obvious design flaw that manufactures really have no excuse for not addressing. Also EXFat might be an alternative as far as format

 

any idea where to get extreme pro? i have been looking for one, can't find it anywhere

 

How about directly from SanDisk
SanDisk US Online Store

Amazon
Amazon.com: sandisk extreme pro usb 3.0 flash drive

Newegg(out of stock)
Newegg.com - SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive Model SDCZ88-128G-G46

SanDisk Promotion Codes:
http://www.anycodes.com/merchant-SanDisk-coupons-deals-11003.html

 

If you want 64GB, go with Sandisk Extreme 64GB.

If you want even higher capacity, go with Sandisk Extreme Pro 128GB. These just came out, so your best bets to get one are either directly from Sandisk or wait for it become available through Amazon.

I bought a Sandisk Extreme 64GB about a year ago, and absolutely love the performance on that drive. I was so impressed with it, that I placed an order for the Sandisk Extreme Pro 128GB as soon as it was listed on Amazon.

You can find cheaper drives than the Sandisk Extreme (Pro) drives. But if you value performance, these are the drives you want. You absolutely get what you pay for with Sandisk Extreme (Pro) drives.

And always buy the largest capacity you can afford, for any storage device. Because I can promise you that even though you may think "Oh, the smaller capacity is more than enough for what I would ever need," you will eventually get to the point where space gets tight and you wish you bought a higher-capacity drive.

 

Is there any problems booting from an Sandisk Extreme USB? , I am not sure if i read somewhere that there was, has anybody tried it.

John.

 

There are two possible issues at work here.

1) Computer BIOS must be able to support booting from USB. Most modern computers support this.

2) You need to get an OS onto the flash drive. The default installer for Windows 7 / 8 does not support installing to removable media, so you'll need to do some research to get Windows onto a flash drive.

 

Ok, now that Amazon has both 128GB flashdrives in stock, I'm torn on which to get. I appreciate all the input you guys have given me already.

SanDisk Extreme Pro is $150 but seems to be higher performance specification wise. The only thing that worries me is that it uses a slider not a cap to protect the header.
Kingston HyperX DataTraveler is $120 and has a cap protecting the header, but seems to be outperformed.

 

Get the SanDisk Extreme Pro, simply because it's a physically smaller drive and won't run the risk of blocking adjacent USB ports. The fact that it has a slider mechanism is actually better, because there isn't a cap to lose.

And don't worry about specs. The top-tier USB 3.0 flash drives all perform within 10% of each other, which you will never notice in real-world performance. Buy the SanDisk Extreme Pro because of its size and capless design, not because of performance specs.