Here’s one of the long-overdue product reviews that I mentioned in one of the recent Weekend Roundups. As some of you might know, I received a few products from Kingston Technologies that I was supposed to review last year. But due to some unexpected circumstances that affected my work schedule, I wasn’t able to publish those reviews.
One of the proucts sent to me by Kingston was the 128GB version of the Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 or also known as Kingston DT HyperX 3.0. Below are some of its technical specifications:
- 8-Channel Architecture
- ReadyBoost Support
- Backwards Compatible – with USB 2.0
- Speed – USB 3.0: 225MB/s read and 135MB/s write
- Speed – USB 2.0: 30MB/s read/write
- Compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 & 8.1; Mac OS X 10.+
PRODUCT PHOTOS
Before we proceed with the test results and review, check out this product video from Kingston:
BENCHMARK TESTS
First, I tested it using the CrystalDiskMark, a disk benchmarking software that allows users to test the performance as well as measure the sequential and random read/write speeds of hard drives and USB drives . Below are the results I got from the tests:
50 MB
1000 MB
These are like SSD drive performance numbers and even slightly faster than the advertised read and write speeds of 225 MB/s and 135 MB/s.
I also tested it on UserBenchmark, a website that helps users test and benchmark different computer components such as USB drives. Below you’ll see the result I got for the Kingston DT HyperX 3.0 :
Based on the tests and results above, the Kingston DT HyperX 3.0 is a pretty good and reliable USB drive with very fast data transfer speeds. Some users have reported transferring files as large as 25GB in under 2 minutes!
REVIEW
The Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 is a solid and rugged USB drive that has a nice, hardened rubber shell that keeps it protected from accidental drops and bumps. It is plug-and-plays so you don’t have to worry about having to install USB drivers before you can start using it. It also has a lanyard loop so you can keep it safe and avoid losing it. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the cap which isn’t attached to the USB drive and can get easily misplaced or lost.
From my personal experience using and trying out this USB device, the Kingston HyperX DT 3.0 worked best when transferring large files (4GB or bigger) and when using a USB 3.0 port/connection. I’ve also used the Kingston DT HyperX 3.0 to transfer files to and from my Android devices via an OTG cable and it worked flawlessly.
Another worthy feature especially for Windows users is that it supports ReadyBoost so it can be used as a hard-drive memory cache to help speed up the computer. One more thing to like about this product is that it comes with a guaranteed 5-year warranty and free technical support so you know you’re covered in case you encounter some issues.
PROS
- Fast data transfer speeds
- Ready boost support
- Solid and durable
- Plug and play
- Backwards compatible with USB 2.0
CONS
- Bigger/fatter than regular USB drives
- Cap/cover isn’t attached and can get lost or misplaced easily
- Lanyard loop is made of plastic
- Slow data transfer speeds for USB 2.0 and files smaller than 4GB
CONCLUSION
If you’re someone who constantly works with large files like RAW image formats, HD videos, disk images (ISO), database backups, etc. then this is something that you’d want to have. However, if you’re a regular user who will only use a USB drive for transferring files smaller than 4GB and if your computer only has USB 2.0, then you’re better off with a regular USB drive.
The Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 is available in three variants – 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB and you can purchase it from the Kingston website or other places such as Amazon.com, Newegg.com, TigerDirect.com, and Rakuten.com. Last time I checked, the best prices I found were from Amazon.com and Newegg.com so if you’re planning on getting one, check them out first.
