Tom's Hardware > Forum > Storage > Flash Media > What is the fastest Flash Drive?
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zeek2517   11-12-2007 at 05:52:58 PM

Why is it so hard to find tech specs on actuall transfer rates for Thumb Drives? Everyone Claims "High Performance" "The Fastest" etc, etc. Also, I found if you run across these types of numbers in speed references 150x, 200x, etc. Those speed ratings are based on the original rotational speed of a CD player; 1X delivers 150 kiloBytes per second.

Anyway here is what I have gathered so far.

[U]Make / Model-------------------Read Speed --||||-- Write Speed[/U]

Patriot Xporter XT - 200x ------ 32MB/s ------||||--- 26MB/s

Patriot Xporter XT V2 - 266x --- 39MB/s

Patriot Xporter XT - 150x ------

Corsair Flash Survivor GT - 8GB - 34MB/s ------||||--- 28MB/s

PNY Attache - 16GB ----------

OCZ ATV Turbo --------------- 33-35MB/s ----||||--- 26-30MB/s

Lexar Jumpdrive Lightning ------ 30MB/s -------||||--- 21MB/s

Memina Rocket ---------------- 200x (30MB/s) ||||--- 160x (24MB/s)

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xcorat   05-21-2008 at 06:13:58 PM
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Heyy, these are really good info. but remember, most of the times, what manufacturers specify are not 100% correct. I have found some benchmarks on flash drives and did a small comparition. The Corsair Vayager GT and Patriot Xparter XT came really close. Take a minute and read it, And please comment your data too.

http://xcorats-tech.blogspot.com/2 [...] drive.html

but remember, dont submit manufacturer specs. Submit your own benchmark results if you do so.

Reply to xcorat
rozar   05-21-2008 at 08:10:37 PM
- 0 +

I believe that USB 2.0 actually has about 34 to 36 MB a sec of bandwidth. So there is going to be a bottle neck at some point no matter how fast the drive actually is. I also believe what xcorat says about vendor specs not being accurate. Some might be conservative while others might be optimistic. I have about 30+ flash drives, some new some old, and the fastest one I have ever seen is the Turbo series from Sony. It is rated at 28mb a sec read and 18mb a sec write. I actually tested it at mid 30s for read and low 20s for write.

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wc [...] sh%20drive

If you get a Sony delete the virtual expander software off it, which kinda sucks.


Message edited by rozar on 05-21-2008 at 08:21:46 PM
------------------------------ Intel DX48BT2 bone trail 2 || Q9650 with Xigmatek S1283 || 4GB Gskill DDR3 1600 || 1 - 300GB 15k SAS boot , 3 - 750GB SATA Raid 5 || Adaptec 5805 SAS RAID controller || ATI 3870 || Antec 300 Chassis with Nspire 600 watt PS
 Reply to rozar
xcorat   05-27-2008 at 08:53:51 AM
- 0 +

well, I read somwhr about a USB HDD that can read at 40MB/s. And the max USB2.0 can go, theoritically is 48MBps.(480Mbps / (8 data bits + 2 parity bits)
(isnt it??) so I guess we will be seeing USB drives that can go up to about 40MBps. But remember USB3.0 spec is supposed to be released this year, Which they boast to have 3Gbps throughput. probably in a couple more years, they will be really fast (somwhr around 300MBps!!!!!!) and will come packaged with hand gloves..............!!!! (well, wont they be blazing hot as well????).................lol

Btw, rozar, why dont you submit some benchmark scores to on my page, so I can add those too. Use HDTune http://www.hdtune.com/


Message edited by xcorat on 05-27-2008 at 08:58:54 AM
Reply to xcorat
rozar   05-27-2008 at 07:16:39 PM
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Yeah USB 2.0 is spec to 480mbps but I dont think it is really that fast in real world use. Im not sure what the reason is and maybe someone can fill us in. But also we know that a 1 gbps network connection never really goes that fast either.

I will see if I can post some results sometime.

------------------------------ Intel DX48BT2 bone trail 2 || Q9650 with Xigmatek S1283 || 4GB Gskill DDR3 1600 || 1 - 300GB 15k SAS boot , 3 - 750GB SATA Raid 5 || Adaptec 5805 SAS RAID controller || ATI 3870 || Antec 300 Chassis with Nspire 600 watt PS
 Reply to rozar
tiga2001   10-13-2008 at 12:05:00 AM
- 0 +

This is one of the fastest drives I've encountered:
http://www.overclockersclub.com/re [...] ash_drive/

Also, the usb 2.0 spec 480Mbps is the peak transfer rate. The average transfer rate is much lower, which is why even Firewire 400 can beat usb 2.0 on transferring large amounts of data, and probably why the highest speeds on flash drive are all around the upper 30's.

Reply to tiga2001
phil0083   02-19-2009 at 01:03:25 AM
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The THEORETICAL bandwidth of the USB 2.0 specification is 480Mbps which comes out to be 60MBps. Every type of bus and or device will have a theoretical bandwidth speed but various real-world considerations will generally keep the actual effective throughput much lower.

Reply to phil0083
descendency   02-20-2009 at 12:40:10 AM
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I have an e-sata/usb 2.0 drive (OCZ Throttle 32gb) which transfers around 32 mb/s read and like 15-20 mb/s write in USB mode.

I think it's near the fastest if not the fastest you can get.

Reply to descendency
SoMxNemesis   02-22-2009 at 06:55:34 AM
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lol, all of you havent heard of Buffalo technology's Flash drives have you..? Buffalo still uses the SLC NAND flash chips!

Reads @ 39mb/sec Writes @ 32mb/sec

its not available anymore in the us :( its time we all asked buffalo to start importing these from Japan!

check the buffalo Japan Website and translate using google.. you will be surprised!

it owns! all the competetion..

Its time these companies stopped using MLC NAND calling them the fastest flash chips.
SLC nand uses a simple logic and has a longer lifespan.. its just a tad costiler.. but for people who want performance.. its small price to pay.

Reply to SoMxNemesis
redwraith94   06-03-2009 at 06:26:47 AM
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The System always reserves some USB bandwidth for it's use. For Windows look here:

Device Manager (devmgmt.msc)
Universal Serial Bus Controllers, untree this (click the plus sign)
Select any of the "Blah blah blah USB Universal Host Controller / USB2 Enhanced Host Controller"
Right Click > Properties
Advanced Tab (at the top)

Most systems today reserve 10% of the bandwidth

I have not seen it documented that there are 2 parity bits per byte of data, and assuming there is none then:

480 megabits per second / 8 bits per byte = 60 Megabytes per second, with 10% reserved = 54 Megabytes per second.

I don't believe the Universal Serial Bus uses any type of parity, or error correction. The majority of main memory isn't even ECC (Error Correcting Code), why would they waste that much bandwidth on parity for the USB?

Reply to redwraith94
Anonymous   08-22-2009 at 01:23:35 AM
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Thats probably why wireless ubs is 54MBps

Reply to Anonymous
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