Corsair Flash Voyager GT 2GB
Sun, 09/02/2007 - 06:32 — Tomas Hlatky
The 28th of February 2007, Corsair Memory Company released family of USB Drives named Flash Voyager GT, designed and built for speed. The Flash Voyager GT is ideal for users requiring highest quality. The Corsair Flash Voyager should optimize transfer rates of both reads 34MB/s and writes 28MB/s. We were trying to find out, if it is really like that, and how Flash Voyager stood the test against the last speed winner Kingston DataTraveler II Plus Migo and against PQI U339 Pro. In today's test you can find the results.
Chapters
1. Corsair Flash Voyager GT 2GB
2. Test configuration & programs used
3. IOMeter - Random read & write
4. Conclusion
Introduction
The Corsair Memory Company has become a leader in the design and manufacture of high-speed memory drives since 1994. Their focus has been on supporting the special demands of mission-critical servers, high-end workstations, as well as the demands of extreme gamers. The Corsair Memory, as an active member of JEDEC association, is developing future memory standards.
This was from PR agency, to introduce Corsair Company, for those who have never heard about it. In today's test we placed on a starting base following drives.
Corsair Flash VoyagerTM GT 2Gb
USB Drive is packed in a relatively big transparent plastic box, with all important detailed information for customers:
Functionality in Windows ReadyBoost is not mentioned on a packaging, as well as enclosed accessories, what are short-shielded USB extension cable and stylish coloured "lace" with metal clamp for fixing the drive - this is mentioned on a backside of a packaging. Regarding the warranty, I have to mention that for example AGEM Computers offers only three years of declared guarantee, comparing to ten years for Flash Voyager!
Backside of packaging informs about enclosed "lace". Also there is a well-arranged table - Flash Capacity Chart, with all the information about approximate number of photographs, mp3 music, video-clips in a MPEG-2, or MPEG-4 formats, which is possible to store in the drives depending on their size.
The USB drive has slightly bigger size than standard is. This is caused by its rubber construction, which makes it extremely durable and water and sleet proof. The size of Flash Voyager GT is 75 mm x 24 mm x 12 mm. It has an oval shape; therefore after placing it on a flat surface, it always outbalances the weight to the one side. There is a clear yellow mark Flash Voyager with GT written in red, in the front side of the drive. The same red colour has a top of USB connector, and lateral sides of the drive. There is a white logo of the Corsair Company on the top of the drive. Not very visible is a transparent little bubble, holding a blue diode signalizing when the drive is working. There is also a poorly visible sign 2 G placed on the little bubble, indicating that it is the 2GB version.
The backside seems to be noteless on the first sight, but the commercial section of Corsair Company broke in also this time, and placed URL Reference of the Corsair Company here. Now I would like to mention, what is not clear from the pictures. Firstly, I was surprised, that it is possible to straiten the part coming just after the connector, which makes approximately 1/3 of the body of the drive, by 2 mm - from each side of the drive. From my own experience with the older version of this drive, I can assume very quick consumption of the rubber material. Particularly, there is a possibility of getting unstuck of the rubber part from the body of the drive, which does not seem to be designed for rough handling. Then there is a little hooklet for holding a lace, placed at the end of the drive, which appears to me very brittle and breakable. My last objection would be concerning the red hood : -) on the top of the drive. From different reviews, I have learned that it is a little bit problematic part, and after some time it tends to come off. But not to be too much negative, I have to appreciate effort of the Corsair Company, in putting a several little grooves inside a red hood, what should help from not loosing a little cap for some time. From what I have mentioned, it is clear that the body of the drive made of rubber material is an advantage from one side, making it extremely durable. You really do not have to worry about loosing your data, if your key was dropped from a high or came in contact with water. On the other hand, rubber material requires better handling, and even when treated in a certain way, your drive is not completely protected and you cannot be sure with its long life without injuries :-).
Kingston DataTraveler II Plus - Migo Edition
The last test-Kingston 1GB Flash Disk Minitest- absolute winner is the Kingston DataTraveler II Plus - Migo Edition. Readers of web pages Pretaktovanie.sk should be already familiar with its specific features, so I am not going to write now again about its fast read speeds and moderate write properties. Only to complete, I will mention that with buying this drive, you are buying the five years warranty and complete protection of your data with a SecureTraveler software. Even if you work on any computer, when you return to your own PC, Migo software automatically synchronizes your work to keep your version current.
PQI U339 Pro
PQI Company has a stable place on the memory drive's market; even it is not one of the leaders like Kingston and Corsair Memory are. Into today's test we have involved two years old model U339 Pro, which is probably already familiar to our readers. Even it is the highest rating of the PQI Company USB drives, since it has been on a market already for two years, it has no chance to compete with Flash Voyager's GT speed. But regarding the very favourable price comparing with two others, U339 Pro still represents very speed USB drive, with data transfer rates indicated to be: read in 25 MG/sec and write in 17 MB/sec. U339 Pro has aluminium metallic casing and not very successful application called USB Notebook. This application is supposed to be kind of analogy of a U3 Launchpad, but apparently of much lower quality. The newer version of PQI U339 Pro key is probably supporting Windows Vista ReadyBoost, but I was not able to find it out with my drive. The U339 Pro's warranty is standard 2 years.
1. Corsair Flash Voyager GT 2GB
2. Test configuration & programs used
3. IOMeter - Random read & write
4. Conclusion
Introduction
The Corsair Memory Company has become a leader in the design and manufacture of high-speed memory drives since 1994. Their focus has been on supporting the special demands of mission-critical servers, high-end workstations, as well as the demands of extreme gamers. The Corsair Memory, as an active member of JEDEC association, is developing future memory standards.
This was from PR agency, to introduce Corsair Company, for those who have never heard about it. In today's test we placed on a starting base following drives.
- Corsair Flash VoyagerTM GT 2 GB CMFUSB2.0-2GBGT
- Kingston DataTraveler II Plus - Migo Edition DTII+M/1GB
- PQI U339 Pro BB23-1036R0131
Corsair Flash VoyagerTM GT 2Gb
USB Drive is packed in a relatively big transparent plastic box, with all important detailed information for customers:
- True Plug and Play - functionality in Microsoft Windows Vista, XP, 2000, ME, Linux 2.4 and later, Mac OS 9, X and later
- Data Security - TrueCrypt - this security application allows to create virtual encrypted drive using 256-AES encryption
- Fast and Easy Data Transfer
- Water Resistant
- Anti-Shock - Sleet proof
- Durable Rubber Construction
- GT Series - Accelerated Reads/Writes Speed
- 10 Years Warranty
Functionality in Windows ReadyBoost is not mentioned on a packaging, as well as enclosed accessories, what are short-shielded USB extension cable and stylish coloured "lace" with metal clamp for fixing the drive - this is mentioned on a backside of a packaging. Regarding the warranty, I have to mention that for example AGEM Computers offers only three years of declared guarantee, comparing to ten years for Flash Voyager!
Backside of packaging informs about enclosed "lace". Also there is a well-arranged table - Flash Capacity Chart, with all the information about approximate number of photographs, mp3 music, video-clips in a MPEG-2, or MPEG-4 formats, which is possible to store in the drives depending on their size.
The USB drive has slightly bigger size than standard is. This is caused by its rubber construction, which makes it extremely durable and water and sleet proof. The size of Flash Voyager GT is 75 mm x 24 mm x 12 mm. It has an oval shape; therefore after placing it on a flat surface, it always outbalances the weight to the one side. There is a clear yellow mark Flash Voyager with GT written in red, in the front side of the drive. The same red colour has a top of USB connector, and lateral sides of the drive. There is a white logo of the Corsair Company on the top of the drive. Not very visible is a transparent little bubble, holding a blue diode signalizing when the drive is working. There is also a poorly visible sign 2 G placed on the little bubble, indicating that it is the 2GB version.
The backside seems to be noteless on the first sight, but the commercial section of Corsair Company broke in also this time, and placed URL Reference of the Corsair Company here. Now I would like to mention, what is not clear from the pictures. Firstly, I was surprised, that it is possible to straiten the part coming just after the connector, which makes approximately 1/3 of the body of the drive, by 2 mm - from each side of the drive. From my own experience with the older version of this drive, I can assume very quick consumption of the rubber material. Particularly, there is a possibility of getting unstuck of the rubber part from the body of the drive, which does not seem to be designed for rough handling. Then there is a little hooklet for holding a lace, placed at the end of the drive, which appears to me very brittle and breakable. My last objection would be concerning the red hood : -) on the top of the drive. From different reviews, I have learned that it is a little bit problematic part, and after some time it tends to come off. But not to be too much negative, I have to appreciate effort of the Corsair Company, in putting a several little grooves inside a red hood, what should help from not loosing a little cap for some time. From what I have mentioned, it is clear that the body of the drive made of rubber material is an advantage from one side, making it extremely durable. You really do not have to worry about loosing your data, if your key was dropped from a high or came in contact with water. On the other hand, rubber material requires better handling, and even when treated in a certain way, your drive is not completely protected and you cannot be sure with its long life without injuries :-).
Kingston DataTraveler II Plus - Migo Edition
The last test-Kingston 1GB Flash Disk Minitest- absolute winner is the Kingston DataTraveler II Plus - Migo Edition. Readers of web pages Pretaktovanie.sk should be already familiar with its specific features, so I am not going to write now again about its fast read speeds and moderate write properties. Only to complete, I will mention that with buying this drive, you are buying the five years warranty and complete protection of your data with a SecureTraveler software. Even if you work on any computer, when you return to your own PC, Migo software automatically synchronizes your work to keep your version current.
PQI U339 Pro
PQI Company has a stable place on the memory drive's market; even it is not one of the leaders like Kingston and Corsair Memory are. Into today's test we have involved two years old model U339 Pro, which is probably already familiar to our readers. Even it is the highest rating of the PQI Company USB drives, since it has been on a market already for two years, it has no chance to compete with Flash Voyager's GT speed. But regarding the very favourable price comparing with two others, U339 Pro still represents very speed USB drive, with data transfer rates indicated to be: read in 25 MG/sec and write in 17 MB/sec. U339 Pro has aluminium metallic casing and not very successful application called USB Notebook. This application is supposed to be kind of analogy of a U3 Launchpad, but apparently of much lower quality. The newer version of PQI U339 Pro key is probably supporting Windows Vista ReadyBoost, but I was not able to find it out with my drive. The U339 Pro's warranty is standard 2 years.
