Choosing a USB Flash Drive
April 7, 2010
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Choosing a USB flash drive may seem trivial with only a few things to consider, but there are a few technical details that many people don’t consider or know about. Storage capacity is a given, transfer rates are usually considered, but memory type plays a part in the latter. Also, you may be less likely to forget about your USB flash drive if it has a cap.
I didn’t compare read speeds because they’re fairly comparable. Also, even though MLC has fewer write cycles, as a consumer, there’s not much chance you’ll have any problems. If you plan to have a server with an SSD, I would opt for SLC memory. You can find more details here:
There are many ways to remember your flash drive, but I found this seems to work best for me.
Memory type determines speed and longevity
There are two types of non-volatile memory used in today’s USB flash drives and solid state drives (SSD). They are single-level cell (SLC) and multi-level (MLC). Here are some significant differences:| Memory Type | SLC | MLC |
| Cost | more | less |
| Data Density | lower | higher |
| Write Speed | faster | slower |
| Endurance | 100k write cycles | 10k write cycles |
I didn’t compare read speeds because they’re fairly comparable. Also, even though MLC has fewer write cycles, as a consumer, there’s not much chance you’ll have any problems. If you plan to have a server with an SSD, I would opt for SLC memory. You can find more details here:
Having a cap may help you remember your flash drive
It may be convenient and stylish to have a USB flash drive without a cap that slides in or flips out. However, if you need to use a USB port on the back of a computer or otherwise out of sight, it can be easy to forget. If you have a cap, you can place it in an obvious location near your hand or keyboard. When you see the cap, you remember your flash drive.There are many ways to remember your flash drive, but I found this seems to work best for me.