Best USB drives to buy right now? Recommendations wanted!

Not trying to start a whole new thread here, but I need some advice.

I picked up this 16GB SanDisk Cruzer Blade G2 (http://www.google.com/us/usb/perso...siness#dt101g2)
and it is painfully slow when I try to move files onto it.
I'm averaging about 1.5MB/sec.

For comparison, my older 8GB SanDisk Ultra is lightyears ahead—it finishes the exact same file transfers four times faster than this G2.
I ran both tests on the same PC.

Is there any way to speed up this new 16GB drive, or is this entire series just notoriously sluggish?🤷

Good afternoon, everyone,

I truly believe this specific sub-forum is the most appropriate place to bring up such a niche topic.

To get straight to the point, I am on the hunt for some USB flash drives that lean more towards the "fancy" side of things—you know, something with a bit of flair, almost like a Swarovski accessory. For instance, take a look at these:



Now, because I am quite particular about having a valid warranty for peace of mind, I really need to find a brick-and-mortar retail store here in a major US city rather than just browsing random classified ads or shady online listings.
I did manage to find a couple of options on google.com, but they only carry two different styles, both limited to 4GB capacity, priced at around $50...
I also happened to spot an ad for something somewhat similar featuring embedded diamonds, an 8GB model going for $27... so, I was wondering if anyone might be able to recommend a reputable shop that carries these kinds of high-end, decorative drives?

Run those tests a few times using http://usbflashspeed.com/.
I'd love to see what kind of speeds you're actually getting... try copying those same files over to a TeraCopy drive as well.

Here you go

quietnomad4 said:don't start a whole new thread about this

so, I picked up this 16GB SanDisk Cruzer Blade G2 (http://www.google.com/us/usb/perso...siness#dt101g2)
and man, transferring files onto it is an absolute nightmare
I'm averaging about 1.5MB/sec

just for context—my old SanDisk Ultra 8GB that I've had forever is basically Speedy Gonzales compared to this G2; it rips through the exact same file load four times faster than this thing does
and yeah, I tested them both on the same PC

is there any way to actually speed up this new 16GB one, or is this entire series just notoriously sluggish? 🤷

Did you actually copy the exact same set of files during your test? Large files always move faster than a mountain of tiny ones. These sticks aren't exactly race cars, but honestly, both should be hitting at least 5-6 MB/s when you're writing data.

mellowskipper91 said:Here you go,

Thanks, but I think I clearly misspoken myself there, truly; I was merely suggesting that when I clicked through to the link, all I could actually find was that specific USB drive...
The real question I am grappling with is whether there might be some other retailer out there somewhere that carries those versions with the diamond accents?

David Price5 said:Double-check everything a few times. Check out http://usbflashspeed.com/
What kind of speeds are we looking at? You should try copying those files over as well just to see. Copying data? Go for it.

I just ran a benchmark on my 16GB SanDisk Cruzer Blade G2, and here are the results.
I'm seeing about 1.9MB/s on reads when copying a 100MB file, while write speeds are hitting 20MB/s.

Here are the results for this old 8GB SanDisk Ultra.
I'm seeing an average read speed of 19MB/s, while copying a 100MB file only hits about 5.4MB/s.

Both of them copy smaller files even slower, though I'm not really sweating it...

Could anyone suggest a reliable 16GB USB flash drive with decent transfer speeds? I'm looking to spend somewhere between $60 and $27—if such an option even exists?

They’re claiming 40/10 MB/s for read/write—honestly, I’m a little skeptical about those speeds, though it feels more grounded in reality than some of the other junk out there. Plus, you actually get a decent warranty on this one:

If you ask me, this is the superior choice up to $33

https://www.google.com/search?q=usb+3.0+performance

45MB read / 20MB write

-It costs $3.25 more than what you planned to spend, but at least you're getting 32GB instead of 16GB, right?

Hey there!
Anyone got a solid recommendation for a high-quality USB drive to store some photos?
I’m honestly pretty clueless about this stuff... just looking for something reliable that won't let me down when I need my files. ;-)

Just picked up a 32GB SanDisk Ultra for me and my old man. Mine’s an older model while his is the SanDisk Cruzer Blade G2. Both fly on USB 3.0—hitting about 70MBs when I'm moving files—they've got that rubberized grip, and they come with a 5-year warranty all for roughly $67. If you think that's not enough, you can grab a 320GB portable hard drive for $133.

Highly recommend.

http://www.google.com/kingston-dt-...ng-dtr30g2-32g

It ultimately depends on what an individual chooses to prioritize above all else; personally, I opted to pick up an HP v250w with 512 GB of capacity for just $12 USD. While I will readily admit that it might not be the fastest drive on the market, its sheer storage capacity is quite impressive for the price.

All I know is that I’d never buy Kingston.
I honestly think they hold the record for most broken flash drives.
Spending money on those overpriced, fancy rubberized ones is just throwing cash down the drain because they fail just as fast as the cheap ones.
If you want to store photos, you’re better off getting a small external hard drive. They’re simple, compact, and way more reliable than a thumb drive.

Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion.

But if you're going to claim Kingston holds the record for most defective sticks, you should probably back it up with some actual data, rather than just citing your own experience with a single drive—unless you actually want your argument to carry any weight or credibility...

Joshua Cook62 said:It really just comes down to what you actually care about. I picked up an HP v250w with 512 GB for $12. It’s probably not breaking any speed records, but hey, it holds plenty of files.

And then, a few days later, you're back here asking for tech support because your USB drive isn't working quite right.

Of course it doesn't work. You fell for one of those fake drives where they claim it's 500 GB when it's actually barely a few gigs.

I'm thinking about picking up this USB drive
http://www.ebay.com/itm/32GB-Mini-Me...item5d56eda9ca
but I can't help wondering if it's just more of that typical eBay "junk"
is there actually any value in buying something like this, or would you guys personally pass on it?

You can never be 100% sure, but it looks fine to me. The seller seems legit—solid feedback, good reviews, and they actually run an established shop with a massive inventory. You really have to watch out for those accounts that only have one or two items listed; people with actual storefronts rarely pull scams, even if everything is technically rigged to look perfect...

darkowl72 said:You can never be one hundred percent certain about anything, but honestly, it looks fine to me. The seller seems legit—solid feedback, decent reviews, and they actually run a full shop with a massive inventory. You really have to watch out for those sketchy accounts that only have two items listed, but people running established storefronts rarely turn out to be scammers, even if everything can technically be rigged if someone tries hard enough...

What I'm really trying to figure out is if you guys, sitting there in my shoes, would actually pull the trigger on this USB drive
I mean, it isn't breaking the bank, and it's got 32GB of capacity, which is plenty for some basic stuff

Here is what the listing claims
Description:
net Weight: 54g
Size: Approx. 3.2x4.3x0.9cm
Key chain diameter: Approx. 2.5cm
Writing speed: 6M/S
Reading Speed: 15M/S
Capacity: 32G
100% Brand new and high quality.
Hot plug & play
Compatible with USB 1.1/2.0
Compatible with PC, notebook, MAC
mac metal Silver house shape design, make it elegant
Store your pictures, videos, and songs and any kind of data.

My main concern is whether the data transfer speeds are going to be painfully slow when I'm actually trying to move files

😬

I read what was written... Look, they don't exactly pack these kinds of sticks with cutting-edge tech or high-end components, especially since it's just USB 2.0. It isn't going to be lightning fast; it’ll perform pretty much like any cheap thumb drive you picked up at a drugstore a few years ago.

So, how fast are we actually talking? If you're just saving documents and photos, you won't notice much. But if you try to record large movies, you're going to be waiting a while. 😬 You can't have your cake and eat it too...