USB 3.0 Flash Drives

USB 3.0 ("SuperSpeed"), now becoming a reality, can be up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed), but many early USB 3.0 products are disappointing, not all that much faster than USB 2.0 products, particularly in the case of USB flash drives. Because flash memory writing is relatively slow, higher speeds are only possible with advanced multiple-channel controllers and large RAM buffers, which cheaper products lack. A good choice for high performance is Patriot Supersonic:

Supersonic Xpress

• 2-channel memory controller
• 8GB, 16GB: Up to 50MB/s read, 20MB/s write
• 32GB: Up to 60MB/s read, 25MB/s write

Supersonic

• 4-channel memory controller
• 32GB, 64GB: Up to 100MB/s read, 70MB/s write

Supersonic Magnum

•  8-Channel technology
•  64GB, 128GB: Up to 200MB/s read, 120MB/s write

If your laptop/notebook computer lacks USB 3.0 ports, a good solution is the StarTech flush ExpressCard Adapter:

• 34mm: 1 USB 3.0 port
• 54mm: 2 USB 3.0 ports

If your desktop/tower computer lacks USB 3.0 ports, a good solution is the SYBA USB 3.0 2-port PCI-e Controller Card (based on the Etron EJ168 chip, which is faster than more common NEC/Renesas chips).