This difference in price is because the actual quality of the flash memory is different or offers different features. Grade A, B, and C flash memories are all really common in the USB market and it is really hard to tell what quality of flash memory is in your USB drives. Generally performing a speed test can give you an indication of which type you have. Grade A flash memory has the highest performance, and Grade C has the lowest performance.

Well below are a couple programs you can download to help you benchmark just how fast your particular USB flash drive is as well as give you insight into exactly what grade of flash you received.

Check Flash is a unique Benchmark tool that allows you to see multiple results. First and foremost, Check Flash will run read/write sequences on the USB flash drive to determine just how fast it can read information, and write information. An added bonus to Check Flash is that if there are any errors in the read/write process, it will display them. This can alert you to problems with the flash drive itself.

Check Flash can be downloaded for free and runs as an executable so no installation is required.

HD Speed is another USB Benchmarking tool that is super easy to use. Simply download the software, plug in your USB flash drive, run the program, select your drive, and hit Start. This program displays a graph detailing the USB drives performance throughout the testing procedure. As an added bonus, you can use this tool to test other forms of storage devices including hard drives and CD/DVD drives.

HD Speed is only compatible with Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista.

Flash Memory Toolkit is unfortunately not an entirely free benchmarking program, but is still useful nonetheless. It is a fully functional multi tool that allows users to not only benchmark their devices, but it allows them recover lost files in the event of hardware failure, accidental deletion, or formatting.

The free software version allows a user access to several parts of the program, but not all. With the free version, users may see read speeds, but not write. Program is 766KB and requires installation to run.

Crystal Disk Mark allows you to benchmark multiple storage devices to determine their speed, but what makes it unique is that it allows you to perform multiple different tests on your drives. You can do a sequential read/write test, random 4k/512k read/writes, and text copy. Each result is displayed in a very simple user interface that is easy to read and understand.

Crystal Disk Mark is only 396KB in size and runs as an executable so no installation is necessary. Compatible with Windows Vista, XP, and 2003.

HD Tune is similar to Flash Memory Toolkit in that it has a free and paid version. With the free version a user can test their device and be shown the read results, but not the write. This tool is still really handy and easy to use even if you don’t purchase the paid version.

However with the Pro version of HD Tune you unlock new features that some users may find extremely useful. The pro version allows users benchmark their devices and displays the maximum, minimum, and average transfer speeds along with the burst rate and access time.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the world’s supercomputers have attempted to juice their performance capabilities with the help of graphics chips or DRAMs (dynamic random access memory chips).  DRAMs act as transitional storage for supercomputer data.  However, research suggests that flash memory, or solid-state drives (SSDs) could replace DRAMs due not only to their space saving size, less expensive price point and minimal energy use, but also for helping supercomputer data transfer faster and more efficiently.

Two examples of testing and flash memory prototypes for supercomputers can be found at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and UC San Diego.  Livermore’s facility uses 100 terabytes of flash memory that can transfer data at 320 gigabytes per second.  UC San Diego received a $20 million grant to develop a supercomputer with more than 250 terabytes of SSD.  Coupled with DRAM, San Diego’s supercomputer plans to compute a trillion calculations of data per second.

It’s hard to quantify such technological speeds, as the addition and multiplication of those digits are enough to make your head explode.  However, the work of these supercomputers translates into applications that could likely touch some aspect of your everyday life.  According to UC San Diego researchers, this kind of high-performance flash memory may serve to be useful in combing through massive amounts of data inherent to the science of data mining (which extends to business, engineering, security, finance and healthcare industries) and even earthquake prediction.

In a technological era where we’re constantly bombarded with more data as everything in our world transforms from paper, people, places and things into a digital render; solid-state memory in supercomputers could help keep our technological galaxy spinning in proper orbit.

Do you think flash memory is a viable option for supercomputers?  Weigh in on the future of supercomputers and SSDs.

So why the sudden turn in flash memory pricing? Well there could be many other reasons, but the primary reason is that Samsung announced that is expanding and building a 560,000 square meter manufacturing facility in Hwaseong South Korea. This new facility is Samsung’s 16th facility and has the capability to produce about 200,000 12-inch wafers starting in 2011 as well as many other technologies. For those that do not know, a single wafer can contain thousands of computer chips; which are a component in the modern USB Flash Drive.

To add to this falling price effect, these computer chips are sold and traded on the Hong Kong Stock Market. Normally in the last couple years, manufactures would only put out a certain amount of chips that the entire world needed. Apple did not help with prices either when they would order massive amounts of chips each year for their developing technology. But this simple supply and demand meant that prices would rise relative to the increasing demand. However, partly thanks to Samsungs announcement, prices have begun to fall.

This is especially good for USB consumers because here at Premium USB, we always keep our USBs at competitive prices; which means as the prices come down, you can expect to see those savings passed right onto you. No one wants to pay more than they have to, and we have committed ourselves to providing our customers with the lowest price on the market.

Nothing makes a strong first impression like a USB drive in a completely new shape. People really notice when you break away from traditional “bar” and “stick-shaped” drives. Maybe that’s why custom shaped USB drives are one of today’s fastest growing promotional tools.

That’s where Premium USB comes in. We can take your idea for a custom shaped USB drive and make it a reality! Even if it’s just a simple sketch on a napkin, we can produce your drive in a unique 2D or 3D shape.

Imagine a phone-shaped drive to represent your communications business, or a pill to represent your medical or pharmaceutical business. Any number of designs are possible, made from a variety of materials.

We know it sounds a little unusual to be talking about USB drives in the shape of batteries, airplanes, or cars…but it does work! Your customers will be very impressed when you hand them a custom USB drive that they can hang on to.

Once you have their attention, you can load the drive with an interactive presentation, photo slideshow, a video tour, price lists, and all kinds of other information for your audience.

For more information about our custom shaped USB drives, please visit us online at PremiumUSB.com or call us at 877-992-3766.