Corsair's 128GB Flash Voyager GTR thumb drive takes USB 2.0 to new heights

Who needs USB 3.0 adapters when you've got Corsair, right? In a feat of engineering that can only be described as earth-shattering (or supercalifragilistic, if you prefer), said outfit has somehow created a USB 2.0 flash drive that not only beats the competition in head-to-head speed tests, but obliterates it. The 128GB Flash Voyager GTR utilizes a fancy quad-channel architecture in order to deliver read speeds up to 34MB/sec and write speeds up to 28MB/sec, which is around six times faster than some mysterious competitor that the company pit its drive against. There's no mention of a price or release just yet, but at least you can put off the inevitable leap to SuperSpeed USB for a few more months, right?

[slaydemon Posted Mar 3rd 2010 12:46AM]

well usb 3.0 adapters shouldnt be an issue as the bottleneck is the flash drive itself and not the usb bandwidth.... just sayin.

[jackleboul Posted Mar 3rd 2010 3:54AM]

@slaydemon
Yes, as long as it is based on USB flash drive tech, the interface (USB 2) is not the bottleneck. Would be interesting to see when these guys would use SSD drives in a USB 3 thumb format. The new OWC SSD have 260/270 MB/sek compare this with the 34/28 MB/sek.

[One Love Posted Mar 3rd 2010 10:10AM]

@slaydemon : I wish they would also take some time to redesign the cap so you won't lose it. That's why I like my scandisk retractable.

[YpoCaramel Posted Mar 3rd 2010 12:49AM]

34MB/s is not bad as USB2.0 goes, adequate for a 128GB flash drive. Still, it's not amazing - my gigabit NAS does at least that, USB3.0 drives claim 90ish MBps and eSATA HDs go 100-200+

[emopoops Posted Mar 3rd 2010 12:53AM]

@YpoCaramel well id 3.0 claims 90 i dont think these 2.0 usbs are giving the 3.0s a run for their money. this is still just a 2.0 :[

[shadowj0 Posted Mar 3rd 2010 1:32AM]

@YpoCaramel

Who cares? It's a 128GB flash drive! Keyword is 128GB!

[Zdrummond Posted Mar 3rd 2010 12:50AM]

Want it. Need it. Must have it.

[abedinthehouse Posted Mar 3rd 2010 12:57AM]

Better idea to just wait it out instead of spending money on this and then again spending money on a 3.0 version once it becomes standard...but it is a great improvement for 2.0 though....if only this came out a few years ago when it would have been a REAL treat for consumers.

[abedinthehouse Posted Mar 3rd 2010 12:58AM]

This tech is too little too late....should have been made years ago

[kmorris97 Posted Mar 3rd 2010 12:59AM]

I think my 4GB USB drive will work fine for me...

[GWEEDOspeedo Posted Mar 3rd 2010 1:08AM]

Do want.

[tbon3 Posted Mar 3rd 2010 1:12AM]

Yours for just $500!

Not kidding that is the 'in stock' price. See http://bit.ly/bVFBRC

[bebop Posted Mar 3rd 2010 1:29AM]

Sponsored by Caterpillar.

[questionexclamation Posted Mar 3rd 2010 1:39AM]

USB 3.0 please. Transferring 128 gigs would take forever through usb 2.0

[KAL326 Posted Mar 3rd 2010 10:05AM]

@questionexclamation let me introduce you to pointless. pointless, questionexclamation, now that that is taken care of lets move on.

[einhanderkiller Posted Mar 3rd 2010 1:51AM]

I don't like how Corsair thumb drives look.

[shithead Posted Mar 3rd 2010 3:02AM]

can engadget buy me one?

[st1300a4 Posted Mar 3rd 2010 2:35PM]

Available right now for under $400 from Provantage....

http://www.provantage.com/corsair-cmfvya128gbgt2~7CSMC0CK.htm

[Michael Pollard Posted Mar 3rd 2010 2:45PM]

The article writer sound precocious.