| Everyone knows the routine about shopping online. | | | | are inside the flash drive. Most companies won't say |
| Usually, the first step you have to do is your research | | | | what kind of chip set they use on their website but for |
| and that is when the problem starts. Nobody likes to | | | | your reference there are only two types that are used |
| research on their own time because it takes too long. | | | | which is MLC and SLC. MLC stands for Multi Layer |
| Not everyone is like that but, in general, it is very time | | | | Cell where three bits of information is stored into one |
| consuming to mix and match your options while | | | | cell while SLC (Single Layer Cell) stores one bit of |
| checking out the prices. Well, that's what this guide is | | | | information in each cell. You may be thinking, "shouldn't |
| for but for USB flash drives. With this guide, you can | | | | MLC be faster than SLC?" Well it's really the exact |
| shave some time off your research by knowing what | | | | opposite. Think of it as if there are three cars going to |
| to look for when you start reading the description or | | | | one destination: there will be traffic to see which one |
| specification sheets online. | | | | would go first but on a smaller scale. Compared to |
| The first thing to look out for is the transfer rate of the | | | | only one car going to one destination, there is very little |
| drive that you are interested in. With each transfer, | | | | traffic for that information to get through. If you're |
| there is a read and write speed that each USB can | | | | looking for fast transfer speeds, make sure it has SLC |
| achieve depending on the chip set and the computer | | | | inside it. |
| that is being used. Generally, some websites will not | | | | The last aspect you should look for is the design of |
| have that kind of information on their website but most | | | | the flash drive. There are all sorts of kinds from the |
| do have it. As a rule of thumb, most flash drives | | | | extremely tiny ones to the ones that have your |
| average about 10MB/s read speed and a 3MB/s write | | | | favorite Star Wars character on them. Some of them |
| speed for the lower end models (I will refer the first | | | | even have a retractable heads for a cap-less design |
| speed as read and the second one as write.) For the | | | | or a swivel design that act's like a pocket knife without |
| higher end models, it can vary from 16MB/s and 10MB | | | | the danger. Whichever one you choose may be too |
| s to 32MB/s and 20MB/s. Keep in mind that these can | | | | large to fit in the back of the computer. You may want |
| change from each manufacturer so take some time | | | | to consider the size of the drive before you purchase, |
| to see what you want out of your flash drive. | | | | just in case it doesn't work out. |
| Another thing to look out for is the type of chips that | | | | |