Page 2 - A Closer Look, Test System
As promised, we are back again with another USB flash drive review after the Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G2 32GB review a couple of weeks ago. The Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 G3 32GB is unlike any other drive we have seen in the past; its solid metal construction with a plastic center casing is definitely a thing of its own. One of the metal blocks is actually designed to slide along the plastic rail engraved into the plastic center casing to reveal its USB 3.0 connector. When I first used the DT Ultimate 3.0 G3, it somehow reminded me of my old Nikon point and shoot film camera back in the days, haha. My only complaint is the metal parts are quite susceptible to fingerprint marks, as you can see in our photo above.
A quick glance at the specifications table pits this portable storage device at 68.40mm long, 22.76mm wide, and 11.6mm thick excluding the keyring at the back. Compared against its predecessor, the DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 G2 32GB sized at 73.70mm long, 22.20mm wide, and 16.10mm thick, it is definitely quite an improvement. This is not to mention the G3's construction is of much higher quality. With that in mind, the Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 G3 32GB will fit nicely on your keychain or pocket, but probably not your wallet. Yes, it has slimmed down a bit, but it is still quite a bit chunkier than the Patriot Supersonic Magnum 64GB at 78mm long, 27mm wide, and 7mm high. Its two block metal construction with a plastic center for a sliding center is definitely an unconventional approach in designing a product in this area. In my personal opinion, it is a significant improvement in look and feel compared to the last generation.
Kingston does not specify the weight of the DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 G3 32GB, but a quick trip to our precision scale here at APH Networks told us it is 32g. It is quite a bit heavier than products with plastic enclosures, so if size or weight is a concern to do, be sure to evaluate accordingly. Meanwhile, a blue LED is used to signify drive activity. It flashes blue behind when something is going on, and remains off when it is idling. The LED is not particularly bright, but being on the front face of the DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 G3, it is hard not to see it in action.
Flipping the Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 G3 32GB around, we are now greeted with a completely blank side. The unit itself physically symmetrical on nearly all axes. The opposite side shows Kingston's logo and the DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 G3 32GB brand laser marked, shown on the first photo of this page -- whereas this side, all you have is absolutely nothing. Just for your information, the other USB flash drive shown in our photo above is the Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G2 32GB, which we have recently reviewed.
As aforementioned, the metal enclosure of the Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 G3 32GB slides along the plastic rail to reveal its USB 3.0 header. I am a big fan of capless flash drives, since you will not need to worry about losing its cover during usage. A metal keyring attached at the back allows you to roll it along with your keys. The USB connector is blue with gold contact pins to signify its SuperSpeed compatibility. Overall, I think the DT Ultimate 3.0 G3 is definitely a winner in industrial design, although it is a bit chunkier than I would have liked it.
Our test configuration as follows:
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K @ 4.50GHz
CPU Cooling: Thermaltake WATER2.0 Pro (Noctua NF-F12)
Motherboard: ASUS P8P67 WS Revolution
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws-X F3-14900CL9D-8GBXL 4x4GB
Graphics: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7870 2GB OC
Chassis: Lian Li PC-B12
Storage: OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS 240GB; Western Digital Caviar Blue AAKS 500GB
Power: PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk III 1200W
Sound: Auzentech X-Fi Bravura
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional x64 SP1
Compared Hardware:
- Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 G3 32GB (USB 3.0)
- Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G2 32GB (USB 2.0)
- Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 64GB (USB 3.0)
- Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 G2 32GB (USB 3.0)
- OCZ Rally2 Turbo 4GB (USB 2.0)
- OCZ Vertex 2 60GB 34nm (SATA 3Gb/s)
- Patriot Supersonic Magnum 64GB (USB 3.0)
- Patriot Supersonic Rage XT 32GB (USB 3.0)
Page Index
1. Introduction and Specifications
2. A Closer Look, Test System
3. Benchmark: AIDA64 Disk Benchmark
4. Benchmark: ATTO Disk Benchmark
5. Benchmark: Crystal Disk Mark 3.0
6. Benchmark: HD Tach 3.0.1.0
7. Benchmark: HD Tune Pro 4.60
8. Conclusion
