Adata DashDrive Elite UE700 32GB Flash Drive Review

As was mentioned before the DashDrive Elite UE700 comes in a three capacities, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB.  USB 3.0 has unlocked these larger capacities due to the faster transfer rate.  That isn't to say a 16GB drive is worthless on USB 2.0 until you consider the time to transfer a file larger than 4GB.

Every UE700 comes with a machined aluminum case with a black anodized finish.  Weight is around 0.4oz and it is supported on all major platforms including Windows, Mac and any version of Linux with support for USB storage.

For these tests we tested read and write speeds using a MSI Big Bang Xpower II motherboard with the latest drivers and Core i7 3960X processor.  The tests are designed to provide a good cross section of devices so you can see where the UE700 falls when it comes to overall performance.

The real surprise there is not only that USB 3.0 is considerably faster than USB 2.0 but that in pure Read performance is about half that of a standard SSD connected via SATA6.  Another interesting thing to note is that Write speed over both USB 3.0 and 2.0.  While USB 3.0 is faster in Reads you'll notice that Write performance is almost flat across the board.  It's not until you move up to an external HDD that you begin to see better Write performance which is then limited by the physical drive.

Overall we are extremely impressed with the DashDrive Elite UE700 USB Drive, it preformed quite well in our Read and Write tests however we did notice that Write speeds are quite slow by comparison.  The stylish aluminum shell and black finish should do well to protect the drive from damage.  It may not last if abused under extreme stress such as being run over by a freight train but, a passenger car may prove to be ok.

For some Read and Write performance are not all that important when it comes to USB Flash media since many of us use the devices  to archive and transfer data.  With the advent of USB 3.0 we finally have the ability to expand how we use USB media beyond simple data storage.  For instance we can enjoy the extremely fast Read speed for things like movie playback and data serving since these can now be accomplished without having to transfer the data first.

Stylish Aluminum Shell
USB 3.0 Interface
Retractable USB Dongle
Blue Activity Light

None come to mind