Hello all, I need some advise on a external data storage device/medium. I need to transfer approx 10Gb of files onto an external drive/USB memory at the fastest possible writing speed. This is due to a time sensitive issue that means I cannot leave a standard USB memory stick plugged into the device for long periods of time. Any advice on something that might work? I have tried a “fast” SanDisk USB drive, but it is too slow…Thanks!
FBI open up! It sounds like trying you’re to steal lots of data in a few seconds before either the computer kicks you out, or someone returns to their desk. If you’re not staring in a “hacker” movie, 10GBs on a modern usb stick should only take a few minutes, go get a coffee or something while you wait.
For purely educational purposes, If a 3.0 usb drive isn’t fast enough you’ll need an external SSD which will have significantly faster write times. Be wary of vauge marketing like “fast”, 30MB/s was “fast” 20 years ago. You want the actual to find the spec for write speed, simply put, a higher number is better. Find the highest number, but also be wary of absurd claims. Try to find independent tests/research that support a manufacture’s claim.
That being said, you’re also limited by the computer’s usb capabilites and whatever drive that has. Make sure you’re plugging into a usb 3.0 port or better. Additionally, if the data is on a slow drive, there’s nothing you can do about that. If the data is comprised of a lot small files, it will be slower to copy as the system has to process each one.
I hope you enjoyed this educational exercise; and remeber kids, don’t do crime and if you get caught, you don’t know me!
NVMe SSD in a USB 3 enclosure is about as fast as you’re going to get.
I have one of these! It’s great. I made it back when SSDs were cheap—256GB external NVMe was like 60USD counting the enclosure.
Even a SATA SSD with a USB enclosure has incredible and consistent speed compared to any flash drive one can reasonably get.
Flash drives are SLOW. Like others have said, use a USB-attached SSD.
Does the machine have thunderbolt? You can put a fast NVME SSD into a thunderbolt/USB 4 40gbit enclosure and write basically as fast as the SSD can.
Even a normal USB 3 10/20gbit adapter will be infinitely faster than any USB stick. They put the worst flash imagineable into USB drives. Sure they read fast, but outside of their cache they’re painfully slow.
If you really insist on a USB “thumb stick” I’ve had good luck with the “SanDisk Extreme PRO USB 3.2 Solid State Flash Drive” they write infinitely faster than most junk you’ll find.
I have a Samsung X5 SSD with a TB3 connection. It copies 10GB in about 5 seconds, but all devices involved would need a TB3 port.
If you are desperate for transferring files swiftly you can use your phone’s internal memory. If it’s UFS it will be pretty fast
