Performance in FC-Test

FC-Test 1.0

FC-Test will help us examine the flash drives under real-life conditions. We'll use two versions of this test utility, but they share the same general principle.

The program writes and reads a few file-sets and measures the time it takes to perform each operation. This helps calculate the speed of the drive and see how it depends on the number and size of the processed files. We use three file-sets that differ in the size (1, 10 and 100MB) and number (1, 10, and 100) of files included. Practice suggests that a 100MB file is large enough to reveal the maximum performance of a USB flash drive and using a larger file doesn't affect the results much.

The Transcend JetFlash 185 is beyond competition when reading 1MB files. It is almost two times as fast as its closest pursuer. The TwinMOS X4, Filemate Mini and Filemate Mini Pro are losers here.

The test of writing the 100x1MB pattern produces more pleasant results. Most of the drives deliver acceptable speed, six of them surpassing the 20MB/s mark. Both drives from Super Talen and the ATP Petito are in the top three. They are followed by the Transcend JetFlash 185 and JetFlash V90, and the A-Data T730 "Mickey".

The speeds get higher when the drives have to write ten files, 10MB each. Flash memory works better with larger files. However, we've got the same winner, the Transcend JetFlash 185 that has no real opponent. The SanDisk Cruzer Titanium U3 stands out among the others, though. The TwinMOS X4, Filemate Mini and Filemate Mini Pro are the slowest drives again.

The read speed grows higher with larger files, too, but not as much as at writing. There are the same six drives reaching 20MB/s as in the 100x1MB pattern.

The drives deliver their highest speeds when writing one 100MB file. The Transcend JetFlash 185 is still on top, while the TwinMOS X4, Filemate Mini §Ú Filemate Mini Pro are very slow in comparison with the others.