INTRODUCTION

   A couple of weeks ago we tested the latest Kingston DataTraveler Micro 128GB model a very compact (tiny really) USB 3.1 Gen 1 USB flash drive which produced very good read performance but was nowhere near as impressive at write. Unfortunately as mentioned back then technology has yet to reach a point where high-end components can fit inside such tiny enclosures so a hit in write performance is to be expected right from the start. Of course for the majority of the consumer base USB flash drives like the DT Micro are more than enough but since there are always those who demand the best in both read and write performance larger (and more expensive) USB flash drives like the HyperX Savage or the Mushkin Impact are far more suitable. Today we'll be testing one such model and more specifically the latest SuperSonic Magnum 2 256GB USB 3.1 Gen 1 flash drive by our friends over at Patriot Memory.

   Patriot designs, manufactures and markets high performance, enthusiast memory modules, flash memory, and mobile accessory products. Patriot products have become world renown for their extreme performance, reliability and innovation. Patriot sells its products through original equipment manufacturers, retailers, e-tailers and distributors throughout the world with operations in North America, Asia and Europe. Patriot Memory LLC was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Fremont, California, USA. All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability, and specifications are subject to change without notice. All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability, and specifications are subject to change without notice.

   Thanks to its somewhat large enclosure Patriot was able to squeeze the Phison PS2251-08(PS2308) dual-channel ultra-high-speed USB 3.0-to-Flash micro-controller chip (supports wear-leveling for increased durability) along with Toshiba MLC NAND flash inside the SuperSonic Magnum 2 256GB USB 3.1 Gen 1 flash drive so once again we see a similar high-end configuration just like the HyperX Savage by Kingston and the IMPACT by Mushkin. Unfortunately since USB 3.1 Gen 2 flash drives haven't made their debut yet in the market (the Samsung T3 and SanDisk Extreme 900 are pretty much regular sized SSDs) we expect to record similar read & write performance levels as the two mentioned models from the SuperSonic Magnum 2 (with 400MB/s read and 300MB/s write advertised speeds that's not really a bad thing). The only question is whether or not the SuperSonic Magnum 2 will be faster (or slower) so time to test it and see.