Flash drive recommendations
 

Hey gang,

I'm in the market for a 32GB flash drive for safekeeping of PC application installers, videos and photos on the go as well as some Word/Notepad files.

Hopefully someone can make some recommendations. Also, please let me know if I should go for USB 3/3.1 or it doesn't matter even if I choose USB 2.

Thanks

Those things are pretty much a commodity these days, especially with such small capacity. Does your computer have USB 3 ports? If yes and you are storing a lot of media it's probably worth going for the USB 3 drive.

I've been using a 128GB USB 3 drive as my photo backup when I am on the road and it's worked out very well. Certainly better than a bigger hard drive.

Generally SanDisk has a very good reputation. I'd probably read reviews to see if whatever one I am planning to buy has any documented issues. When it comes to this sort of thing I usually start with Newegg.com or Amazon.

Yes, my computer has a USB 3 drive. No I'm still debating on whether to get a 16 or 32GB now :p What I usually do is start with the 16GB base price and if the 32GB amounts to 5 dollars or less than the 16, then the 32 it is.

I'm interested in the SanDisks as well and been looking around but the negative reviews like slow benchmark speed are off putting. And I was looking at the CZ80 but i'm not sure if its worth paying 24 bucks for a 32GB USB 3 flash drive.

Will purchase on amazon.

theres no reason not to get USB 3.0 now. speed difference is HUGE.

get a large capacity one. price difference is marginal.

i love the Transcend Jetflash 710.... tiny, fits on keychain. importantly - weather resistance... dust shock splash proof. goes with me everywhere. reliable when needed. copies files in a jiffy

Definitely get 3.0. Earlier is downright pokey. Not worth saving $7.

Second. Get a big, fast one to provide some future proofing.

Also realize that most of the flash drives' storage chips are made by the same couple of companies: people like Samsung, LG, etc. Different brands are mainly just different packaging for the same chips.

same thing with platter drives

lcd screens

etc

I have SanDisk 128 GB and it's never given me an issue before. If they're a good price, great.

At 32 GB, I can't imagine spending a lot of money, even with 3.0. Getting 3.1 may be pushing it a bit unless you have a MacBook (12 inch) and/or a USB Type-C smartphone and want to transfer between the 2 via USB.

This is just $10 from Amazon:

Size matters
Go Big or go home

I have regretted that I did not by drives (floppy, HHD SSD usb etc) in a bigger size.

Get the biggest Intl branded 3.0+ one within your budget. With the resolutions now photo and video can take up quite a bit of Gb's.

Also, if you're putting any sensitive information (personal data, work stuff, etc.) on the drive, then look for one with built in hardware encryption. I have an encrypted Sandisk flash drive.

Also, would suggest going with USB 3, unless you have a computer at home or work that you're using that's only compatible with USB 2 (hardware limitation), as it's not backward compatible.

And bigger is better.

These things are dirt cheap now.

I would never bother with only 16. Even 32 is small, but it you are not putting much on it, then fine. You could even get two and rotate backups if you want.

There really are not bad choices.

Thanks for the replies. Should I go for 3.0 or 3.1?

And any recommendations for Sandisk? I prefer a stick.

Thanks again.

Until 3.1 becomes more prevalent, I'd stick with 3. Otherwise, you're gonna need a converter every time you use it (unless the computer happens to have 3.1, which very few have)

Are you sure about lack of backward compatibility? Everything else I have found on the web indicates that USB 3 IS backwards compatible with USB 2.

I'm going to be a little contrarian on this, but when it comes to *safekeeping*, I wouldn't trust a usb flash drive for anything that I really was concerned about. They're great for moving things around, but long term reliability? I honestly couldn't even tell you how many I've had brought to me over the years from someone looking to try to recover files from one that's gone bad. Want to make a grad student cry? Tell them you can't recover their dissertation from a flash drive that's gone bad, and that's their only copy.

My sentiments exactly. Having a copy on USB is fine but be sure you back up regularly.

I also intend to use the flash drive to copy files between my desktop and laptop. It's a pain where I have to transfer files using another method like emailing files back and forth. So thanks again for the advice.

I guess I'll be going with SanDisk.

Anyone have or have used/tried out the SanDisk Ultra or ?

Maybe it's just me, but my USB 3.0 flash drive does not work with our old USB 2.0 laptop. I tried multiple times and it just won't read it. Works fine on my work laptop (T440).

How about using the rj45 networking port with a Cat-5 crossover cable?

USB3 devices work fine in USB2 ports, they just work at USB2 speeds.

Never had an issue with USB 3.0 flash drive in a 2.0 port

Must just be a unique situation, then. Sucks to be me.

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'll be going for a 32GB USB 3 then.

Anyone have experiences with either the Sandisk Ultra or ?

The Sandisk Extreme CZ80 flash drives use a SSD controller and achieve crazy fast transfers of small files. It is worth waiting for a sale if you find the regular price off putting.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I'm sure you have tried/used it before? Have you tried the CZ48? If so, how does it compare to the CZ80?

flash drives are more useful when theyre always accessible. thats why i prefer to buy compact, metal, weather-resistant ones, that can be carried on a keychain.

the long plastic ones get stored in my various bags, drawers, pouches, and eventually gets lots. happened to so many of em...

I have several of the CZ80s and can confirm the excellent read and write performance over varying file sizes.

i haven't personally owned a CZ48 but every reviewer who has run CrystalDiskMark says they have very poor write performance. They might be OK for a read-mostly application.

Thanks mate. What do you mean by read-mostly?

Happen to know where I can get the CZ80 for a good price?

"Read-mostly" is a use case where you're going to write to it very few times (maybe even just once) but read from it lots of times. For example, I have a stick with Windows 10 install files on it. So write performance is more or less immaterial but read performance is important.

Regarding price, I just set a threshold price at camelcamelcamel.com and buy one from Amazon when that threshold is met. The unfortunate side effect is that I have way too many of these :D

Yeah, I've ended up with a fair number over the years. I'm prone to getting a new one when I find a good deal on something better than what I have.

A bit late to the party, but I've been REALLY happy with a Lexar P20; I've got the 128gb but they make 32gb/64gb as well. Really annoyingly pricy (and worse by about $10 back around Christmas when I got it) but really, really fast -- 100MBytes/sec+ write speeds on larger files, and often 200MB+ reads.

Pretty solid metal case, too.

The CZ80 sounds like it's in the same speed class, and it's a bit cheaper for the 64GB, so it might be the better option. For ~$31, I'm tempted to pick one up myself.

If what you want is speed then http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B019NNEA2I or shorter http://www.amazon.com/USB3-0-Mobile-.../dp/B017NU23P4 and an M.2 SSD is likely your best bet. You can have a 128GB M.2 SSD for $50-60 and the speed and reliability is so far beyond to these USB drives. There are even USB 3.1 enclosures.

Let me know where and when you pick one up if you do. Still haven't made a desicion!

I don't need an SSD to be honest. Just a USB 3 flash drive will do.