USB 3.0 Part I
So the waiting period is over. The USB 3.0 flash drive is definitely on the scene! As the new USB standard was slowly being rolled out in mid-2009, it only took until November that year for the first USB 3.0 memory stick to be announced. Of course most consumers didn’t have any computers yet with SuperSpeed USB ports – but now that its been 1 1/2 years the situation is slightly changing. Especially since there are affordable upgrade solutions such as Host Controllers and Adapter Cards.
So whats so cool about SuperSpeed USB? Well, the answer pretty much lies in the name. It prizes itself with a speed of 4800 Mbits/s – that’s 4.8 Gbps! Compare that to USB 2.0 which has a 10x less transfer rate of 480 Mbits/s. And that’s only in theory, as most USB 2.0 flash drive models “only” reach a peak of about 34 MB/s (vs the theoretical 57 MB/s). For instance, the Corsair Flash Voyager GTR. And that’s about the end of the line.
In other words, you can actually sit in front of your PC now and watch in amazement how your USB 3.0 flash drive transfers your 1GB worth of data. Because it should only take about 2 seconds. Well, in reality it will probably be more like 10 – but that’s still a giant leap from the previous standard.
The way these faster speeds can be achieved is by five additional pins in the USB interface. And the good news is that this is backward compatible with USB 2.0. Meaning you can still use your USB 2.0 media in a USB 3.0 port. And likewise, you can use a USB 3.0 flash drive in a USB 2.0 port. The only drawback is that you will be limited to the USB 2.0 performance. But on another upside, USB 3.0 uses 2/3 less power than its predecessor.
Without further ado, here are the first USB 3.0 flash drives on the market.
Mach Xtreme FX (MX-FX)
Almost the Speed of Sound: Mach Xtreme FX USB 3.0 (@ 
) or (
)
Metallic body with silver lid
Vibration and shock resistant
Available in gray or blue
16/ 32/ 64GB
max 125 MB/s read
max 80 MB/s write
USB 2.0 backward compatible
Key ring grommet
Low power consumption
RoHs certified
78 x 27 x 9.3 mm
39 grams
10 years data retention
3 year warranty
A-DATA N005
Quantum of Pace: A-DATA N005 USB 3.0 (@ ) or ()
Silver-gray coated aluminum body
Black snap-on cap
16/ 32/ 64GB
85 MB/s read
55 MB/s write
USB 2.0 backward compatible
Key ring hole
90 x 20.5 x 11.5 mm
20.5 grams
10 years data retention
3 year warranty
Team Group X101
Team Effort: USB 3.0 Team Group X101 (@ ) or ()
Slim plastic body with snap-on cap
Available in red/white or black/orange
32/ 64/ 128GB
60 MB/s read
37 MB/s write
With MSC-300 driver:
101 MB/s read
48 MB/s write
USB 2.0 backward compatible
Key ring hole
90 x 23 x 13 mm
18 grams
10 years data retention
Lifetime warranty
Kingston DT Ultimate
White Knight: DataTraveler Ultimate USB 3.0 (@ 
) or (
)
Durable plastic body in white & silver
Lid fits on end tip
16/ 32/ 64GB
80 MB/s read
60 MB/s write
USB 2.0 backward compatible
Blue LED signal
Keychain loop
Lanyard & USB Y-cable included
74 mm x 22 mm x 16 mm
30g
5 year warranty
10 year data retention
PQI Cool Drive U366
Double Entrées: PQI U366 USB 3.0 (@ ) or ()
Aluminum body with clear plastic lid
Available in blue or silver
Lid fits on end tip
16/ 32/ 64GB
Up to 97 MB/s transfer speeds
USB 2.0 backward compatible
Support for Ur-Smart
LED indicator
Keyring hole
87 x 22 x12 mm
Weight ?
10 years data retention
Lifetime warranty
PQI Cool Drive U368
The Sky’s the Limit: PQI U368 USB 3.0 (@ ) or ()
Blue metallic casing with lid
Lid fits on end tip
8/ 16/ 32/ 64GB
Up to 105 MB/s transfer speeds
USB 2.0 backward compatible
TurboFlash software
Support for Ur-Smart
LED indicator
Keyring hole
Key strap included
90.1 x 11.1 x 22 mm (3.55 x 0.44 x 0.87 in)
25 g (0.06 lb)
10 years data retention
Lifetime warranty
Super Talent USB 3.0 Drives
Super Talent Super Speed: USB 3.0 RAIDDrive, SuperCrypt & Express Drives (@ )
or ()
For details see Super Talent Expres Drive & Others
Make sure to check for updates on this list as more USB 3.0 flash drive models are bound to come out in the following months. By the way, if you’re longing for the “good ole days” – USB 1.1 boasted a whopping 12 Mbits/s. All praise be to progress… 
…on eBay right now:
[wordbay]USB 3.0 +(flash drive,pen drive,memory stick,2TB,3TB) -(Corsair,CORSAIR,fix,no-tax,new,fake,chinese,warranty,wrty,post)[/wordbay]
or
Click here to find more USB 3.0 flash drives
Other parts:
