Quick Look: Kingston DataTraveler Max USB 3.2 Gen 2 Flash Drive

[VSG]

Kingston uses an external SSD controller and fast flash memory to make what is one of the fastest USB drives on the market today. The new DataTraveler Max series ships in 256/512/1000 GB capacities and uses a Type-C connector paired with USB 3.2 Gen 2 I/O for up to 1000 MB/s transfer speeds.

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[newtekie1]

I know it's probably not the popular opinion, but USB-C kind of kills this for me. I know USB-C is the new hotness, and it is awesome in a lot of uses. However, on a USB flash drive, I want to be able to plug it into any computer I encounter, and in the front ports, and USB-C kills that. It doesn't kill the form factor of a drive like this to have a USB-A port, so I see no real reason to go with USB-C.

 

[Mussels]

Typo in front page: "1000 Mbps"

MegabBytes, for that one

I know it's probably not the popular opinion, but USB-C kind of kills this for me. I know USB-C is the new hotness, and it is awesome in a lot of uses. However, on a USB flash drive, I want to be able to plug it into any computer I encounter, and in the front ports, and USB-C kills that. It doesn't kill the form factor of a drive like this to have a USB-A port, so I see no real reason to go with USB-C.

You do realise that USB A to USB C cables exist, and come with the products?
You still can connect it to all the same things, you can just now do C at both ends for future devices

Also, you're thinking of USB type B, or micro B on the device end. Theres just a standard cable on the device end now, instead of type B, micro B, mini B, etc

 

[VSG]

Typo in front page: "1000 Mbps"

MegabBytes, for that one

Megabytes, yes. I've corrected it accordingly, thanks!

 

[newtekie1]

You do realise that USB A to USB C cables exist, and come with the products?
You still can connect it to all the same things, you can just now do C at both ends for future devices

Yeah, because I love carrying around a cable with my USB flash drive. That's so convenient.

Also, there is no USB-A to C cable including with the drive.

Also, you're thinking of USB type B, or micro B on the device end. Theres just a standard cable on the device end now, instead of type B, micro B, mini B, etc

I'm trying to wrap my head around this sentence but just can't. USB-B has nothing to do with this. The ports on most computers are USB-A the drive is USB-C. Why are you bringing USB-B into this?

 

[Mussels]

Oh for farks sake i got this mixed with the NVME enclosure review i read at the same time, which needed a cable

 

[Haldi]

Beware... do NOT buy this Bullshit!
At least the 256GB is utter trash das does NOWHERE near 900mb/s write... more like 45-90mb/s

First i tried to copy a Game Folder...

After the Cache is full it drops to utterly slow speds.

So let's check that via Terry Copy how Long/Slow exactly...
86mb/Sec

Okay... maybe many small files are not a fair comparison? let's check 4gb chunks...
That looks better but is not really any faster... 97mb/s

Just for confirmation... i use an internal 2TB Adata SX8200Pro nvme Drive... no limit there! Read and Writespeed 456mb/s

So something is clearly broken right? let's Benchmark that!
Atto at 32mb File Size does fairly well.. 850-900mb/s write speed.. so my USB Port is not limiting, nor any other Problem with my Computer.

P.S yeah. i used the Port which had the 10GB/s written beside it...
Port Nr 7.

increasing FileSize to 32gb we can see the speed dropping to 550mb/s but still... that woulkd be kinda OK....

so what does AS SSD Benchmark say?
Yeah... thats more like RealLife experience.... 111mb/s

HD Tune says the same...
Writespeed of 84mb/sec

So yeah.... i wrote to the seller and he was "oh, we checked with the manufacturer, seems like you got a broken unit, here is your money back".
Like how? Did a few NAND get squashed while transport or what?
No... IMHO either the controller can't fully show his potential with only 256gb nand because there are not enough channels connected, or they changed NAND after the first few Reviews and now it's utter trash.
So i bought the 512gb version which was on sale for 41.- to check if it has the same issue... brb few hours, edit inc.


P.S just in case anyone thinks the stick overheats.... no, after each test i put the stick in the Freezer for 5 minutes and let it acclimate for 10 minutes with room temperature.
So IF the stick overheats then that happens during the benchmark session itself. which makes the stick kinda Useless.
Room temperature is a few degres over optimum 21°C but that shouldn't really affect testing at all.

P.P.S
Does anyone now of Software to read Nandchips that works with USB sticks and the Silicon Motion SM2320 SSD controller.
isn't that all nvme based?

 

[Haldi]

Well well well.... the 512gb version doesn't look any better...

Atto? yay

AS SSD bench? pretty good!

HD-tune?
writes 45gb Cache at 900mb/s and then drops to 100mb/s

Short Stroke test for the half drive does well until 90GB and then drops to 35mb/s

And thats EXACTLY what happens in real world Benchmarks... average 119mb/sec..... far away from the advertised 900mb/sec...

The test with bigger files does not help in any way.... 102mb/s average.. and that was with a little boost at the beginning.

btw, Temperature during Copying is kinda high... So i can see why this USB stick Fails....