Benchmarking file transfer speeds to a USB pen drive

[Ruggerbugger]

I bought a 1GB Crucial Gizmo drive after finding it in the bargain forum Here's a piccy:



I'd like to test file transfer speeds to it, but I'm not sure what program to use. I know I could just transfer a file of a certain size and time it, but I'm interested in a little more accuracy than that. It'd also be interesting to see the profile of speed throughout the transfer. I'm aware of HDTach for hard drives, but not something that tests this hardware.

I promise to post a review as payback.

[Mblaster]

SiSoft SANDRA would probably be a good option, they have used it in this review amongst other software. It'll give you something to compare your drive to as well.

I have been meaning to get one of those same drives (256mb version) nooks nice and small and it a good price. Any reason for me not to get it?

[Ruggerbugger]

Thanks, I came across other reviews using Sandra after I Googled I'll have to get the latest version. I wouldn't hesitate to reccommend the Gizmo. It's an ideal size, it doesn't stick out of your pocket on a keyring, and it's slim enough not to obscure another USB socket. I tried two different file transfer exercises - a very large favourites folder (lots of 1k URLs) and an assortment of hefty Powe******s and images (in the 200 - 500k range).

The larger files were fine, not as nippy as I'd expected, but good enough to use the drive for main saves if you were working on something. In common with other reviews, I found the transfer speed for lots of very small file to be quite slow. There's obviously more work involved in initiating and ending a transfer than in shifting the data itself.

Interestingly, I later added a site to my favourites (on my office comp) and IE automatically added it to the copied folder on the Gizmo. Not sure if that's evidence of synchronisation or not, but it's cool

I'll get a review on tonight if I have time, when I'll cover the software features, including the Secure Drive application.

I wouldn't bother with the 256MB version (in fact, I'm not sure you can get that size in v3 of the drive - which is what I've got). I got the 1GB drive direct from Crucial for £50 inc VAT and free postage. I noticed in getting that link that it's gone up to £58 inc VAT. I think Hexus.bargain is starting to have a slashdot effect.

[Ruggerbugger]

What's wrong with saying Powe******?

[directhex]

******s is pyramid scheme people were persisting in putting in signatures.