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    USB 3 flash memory

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Geos1, Apr 3, 2012.

  1. Geos1

    Geos1 Notebook Geek

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    My laptops 7200rpm HDD is noisy so i would like to use a usb flash memory to boot windows or linux as another option. Will that make my internal HDD shut down or will it still spin? Will it also consume less power? Im looking for a USB 3 32gb stick no more than €50. For the time i have my eye on Welcome to the Transcend Info Website - Memory Modules,Memory Cards,USB Flash Drives,External Hard Drives,EOL Multimedia Products,Card Readers,Proprietary Memory ,Digital Music Players ,Solid State Drives,Industrial Products,Digital Photo Frames,Wire which specs for 70MB/s read 30MB/s write at €31. Is there anything else better? I could opt for 64gb too and a bit more of a budget as long as the speed is not like 8 read 4 write. I would only consider companies with good RMA reputation.
     
  2. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    I wouldn't run the OS you're going to sue on a daily basis on a flash drive, flash drives weren't meant to be used for something that does sustained read/writes. Your best options are to cope with the drive noise, get a new HDD or get a SSD.
     
  3. chimpanzee

    chimpanzee Notebook Virtuoso

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    I use a 4GB USB thumb for ReadyBoost and turn off page file. Which make my HDD spin less often(and reduce heat as well). Best 5 bucks I have spent for the old machine.

    But as mentioned above, booting from USB thumb is not supported by Windows other than the intial installation. Booting from USB thumb for linux is perfectly fine and have been used by many people for years.
     
  4. Geos1

    Geos1 Notebook Geek

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    Will that void my warranty?
     
  5. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    Getting a new drive? Of course not, but it will cost more than the flash drive probably. I've ran some variations of linux: backtrack, parted magic from a flash drive, but after the initial boot, pretty much everything runs from RAM just like it would from a live disc.