16 gig memory stick recommendations?

[Fnaar]

OK, so my 16 gig memory stick, 4 yrs old, make forgotten and not evident, has started playing up... 3 files I needed today were corrupted. Luckily I had back ups. Time to get a new one, so looking for recommendations for 16 gig sticks, pref ones I can order quickly on Amazon. Cheers all.

 

[marinyork]

Corsair Flash Voyager. Various versions available.

 

[Fnaar]

Looks good, thanks for the recommendation

A reviewer on Amazon says:
My dissatisfaction stems from the lack of detail in the listing as to the nature of the file system. I was expecting a FAT32 File Allocation Table as with my other USB flash drives. However, this drive has a default NTFS (which would not work with my Windows Vista) and the only other option was to reformat the drive to the new exFAT File Allocation Table.

Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks that I discovered with exFAT is that if you wish to store information in 'sub-folders' there is a maximum sub-folder size of 256MB and as I wanted to store data in larger quantities in sub-folders, this renders the devise completely unfit for purpose for me.

Does this any sense to anyone? I don't want to mess about formatting etc, and I have large numbers of subfolders (e.g. folders with 20+ subs, and subs within the subs... and contents of some are prob'ly over 256 MB). Never had a problem on any other sticks I've had...

 

[2Loose]

NTFS and exFAT are the only disk formats (that Windows can use) that can have a single 16gb size. If it was formatted as FAT, then the disk\stick would have to be partitioned into several chunks.

exFAT does indeed have a 256mb max size of sub-folder, but can store massive (easily fill 16gb with one file) sizes file in the root. FAT is limited to 4gb max partitions and approx 2gb(?) max file sizes.

NTFS has none of these limitations, and is almost ideal, which is why the stick is formatted as NTFS by default.

The only downside of NTFS is that it was designed for disk and can put more wear on a usb stick during a single operation than an exFAT formatted stick (exFAT was designed for usb sticks). Nonetheless, the Corsair stick should easily cope with the extra wear as it is a very high quality item.

It's as good a 16gb stick as you'll find and is set up by default to use imo.

 

[Fnaar]

Thanks folks. Will have a closer look tomorrow.

 

[delport]

there are more downsides,not just one.
if you do go for ntfs you'll find some difficulties using the stick as a media device for movies for example, as fat 32 is still more likely to be the better choice for movies and playback on plenty of devices.

fat 32 has a max file size of 4gb per single file,can't remember what the biggest size of partition can be, or if there is any restriction, [i should know this stuff as i did it for exams,benefits of fat 32 and ntfs etc..

Also that amazon poster isn't talking about xp, just vista, plenty of people are still using xp, and still on fat 32 or ntfs,their comments really aren't very relevant for xp users.

corsair make quality memory, they seem to have expanded in to all sorts of things in the last few years, including power supplies.

 

[Fnaar]

Any thoughts on this one, folks? I like the cut of its jib.

 

[2Loose]

Good points delport

there are more downsides,not just one.
if you do go for ntfs you'll find some difficulties using the stick as a media device for movies for example, as fat 32 is still more likely to be the better choice for movies and playback on plenty of devices.

True, my stereo's usb only supports FAT\FAT32 as does my mates TV.

fat 32 has a max file size of 4gb per single file,can't remember what the biggest size of partition can be, or if there is any restriction, [i should know this stuff as i did it for exams,benefits of fat 32 and ntfs etc..

32gb partition, 4gb files.

Also that amazon poster isn't talking about xp, just vista, plenty of people are still using xp, and still on fat 32 or ntfs,their comments really aren't very relevant for xp users.

I didn't understand that, XP and Vista supported NTFS out of the box, so no idea why the reviewer had a problem with NTFS anyway. I could understand if he had tried it as exFAT and then couldn't read the stick on XP because you need to install an addon to make it work on XP.

 

[delport]

Any thoughts on this one, folks? I like the cut of its jib.

I know you are not keen on formatting, the corsair will be a good stick to buy.
Take a look at swiss knife [a free software] it formats drives to whatever you want it to ntfs/fat 32 etc..It's not very difficut to use, and formatting will take a minute or two.
Given the choice i'd rather go for a good brand and use swiss knife, as opposed to buying a less known brand already formatted to suit your requirements.

Not saying the transcend is bad, corsair have been around a long time, and have always made good products.

In response to another point commented on by another poster
Yes there are plenty of devices that won't work with ntfs, i think ps3 or xbox also have issues with these formats.
My pioneer dvd player, which isn't very old, and is for usb devices, refuses ntfs, wdtv on the other hand is fine with both fat 32 and ntfs.

 

[2Loose]

Not used Swiss Knife (I will be taking a look), but surely selecting the drive, Format and choosing the type you want from the drop down list is quite easy enough in windows?

I am now wondering if any of these devices can handle ext4/4 or XFS...purely for nerd interest.

 

[Fnaar]

Thanks folks... will prob'ly get the corsair... just waiting till I get paid...

 

[delport]

Not used Swiss Knife (I will be taking a look), but surely selecting the drive, Format and choosing the type you want from the drop down list is quite easy enough in windows?

I am now wondering if any of these devices can handle ext4/4 or XFS...purely for nerd interest.

it is easy enough in windows.Right click on the drive in windows explorer and it should format straight away.Swiss knife is good to fall back on if windows lets you down, and doesn't do what you want it to do.
Swiss knife gives a whole lot of other formatting options beyond what you would normally get within windows.

 

[Cardiac]

fat 32 has a max file size of 4gb per single file,can't remember what the biggest size of partition can be, or if there is any restriction, [i should know this stuff as i did it for exams,benefits of fat 32 and ntfs etc..

FAT32 partitions can theoretically be huge (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_Allocation_Table#FAT32 for the details) but Microsoft often limit the partition size that they allow to be formatted to FAT32 for various reasons. Most USB drives are supplied FAT32 formatted since that is also generally compatible with MAC OS, Linux, etc. As noted above, FAT32 does have file size limits which can present issues with large video files for example.

As for the OP - it's really unusal to buy a stick preformatted to NTFS, but it can easily be re-formatted.

My favourite drives - Sandisk Cruzer Blade (if on a budget) and Lexar Firefly if happy to spend a little more.

 

[delport]

FAT32 partitions can theoretically be huge (see http://en.wikipedia....ion_Table#FAT32 for the details) but Microsoft often limit the partition size that they allow to be formatted to FAT32 for various reasons. Most USB drives are supplied FAT32 formatted since that is also generally compatible with MAC OS, Linux, etc. As noted above, FAT32 does have file size limits which can present issues with large video files for example.

As for the OP - it's really unusal to buy a stick preformatted to NTFS, but it can easily be re-formatted.

My favourite drives - Sandisk Cruzer Blade (if on a budget) and Lexar Firefly if happy to spend a little more.

Yes it was the partition size i just couldn't remember, i was thinking back 8 years ago, we used to buy a spacious [for that era] drive and just format it to fat 32.I was changing computer hardware every few weeks at that time, so i'd buy many hard drives within the space of a year.
At that time i didn't know how to create multiple partitions, stuff like extended partions and baffling terminology went over my head, so in theory i must have had 40gb to 60gb partitions formatted to fat 32.

I'd agree that usb pen drives normally come already formatted to fat 32 .
Reading through the stuff in this thread i was wondering were things now changing, and drives are now being set for windows 7 use?Or was that amazon drive a one off, and set up in a different way?

 

[Fnaar]

Well folks, I went for the transcend in the end.
Not got it yet, but it's on the way. Glad I had backed up... I lost a few things, but nothing serious. I'd backed up just a few days before. Out of interest, why might a stick go bad? It's totally died now, not even recognized by any pc I've tried it on. I think I've had it 4 yrs, but it might only be three.
Thanks for all your suggestions, BTW, I'm very grateful. The Transcend just seemed to win, for me, ovr the Corsair.

Edit: just checked... twas only October 2008 I got it, so two and a half yrs... hmm...