Question 1

Why does sandisk refer to this as solid state when it is really just a fast flash drive, and why the critical reviews?

Accepted Answer

SanDisk refers to this as a solid state drive because it is a solid state drive in a flash drive form factor over a USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface.

This device uses a SSD controller over an SCSI-to-USB bridge. A typical flash drive uses an eMMC controller, which optimistically has similar peak read speeds but falls flat with writes, complex workloads, and extended continuous use.

For an example of this distinction in practice, a USB SCSI device such as this can be configured for direct access by a Windows Hyper-V hypervisor. Most USB SSD devices support TRIM and all that I'm aware of support SMART.

As a cautionary note, there are some products that support flash drives that won't support this device or similar. For instance, I once attempted to use a similar device with a printer/copier that could print from flash drives, but the printer didn't support USB SCSI and failed to mount the drive (formatted with a single exFAT partition). It was able to print from an exFAT traditional flash drive.

Question 2

Since this usb is 3.1, will the speed be less if I'm using it on the usb 3.0 port on my pc? If yes, by how much?

Accepted Answer

Short answer - No.  Per USB.org, the terms "USB 3.0" and "USB 3.1 Generation 1" are "synonymous" for the same 2008 technology.  The change from "USB 3.0" to "3.1 Gen 1" was just a (very confusing) marketing/licensing rebranding issue.  So USB 3.0 = USB 3.1 Gen 1 = max 5 Gigabits per second (Gbps) = 625 Megabytes per second (MBps).  Simple ... until 2013 when they introduced the next generation technology at double the speed as "USB 3.1 Gen 2" = max 10 Gbps.  Note the "Gen 2".  So now if you want the older 5 Gbps, look for "USB 3.0" or "USB 3.1 Gen 1" or just plain "USB 3.1".  But if your PC supports it and you want to make sure you're getting the new 10 Gbps technology, absolutely look for the additional "Gen 2" or don't buy it.

Question 3

How does the slider on top of this usb stick lock? Do you have to press the slider down or something to move it up and down?

Accepted Answer

You can extend the connector whether or not you press down on the button.  Once extended, the connector locks in place requiring you to press down on the button to retract it.  However, it's pretty easy to accidentally press down on the button while inserting the drive to your computer or usb hub.  So you must avoid that if you want to insert it easily.  Hold it along the edges or wrap your finger across the back and down the side and you can insert it easily.

Question 4

Does this need to be reformatted to store a large single file greater than 4gb

Accepted Answer

Actually the 256GB arrived exFAT, allocation unit size 1024k, probably ideal for large files such as video. The down side is that if you try to store a large number of files, such as 245,000 jpg that are about 130GB total on my computer, Windows 10 would report not enough space!
The simple solution is to reformat in exFAT with an allocation unit size of 128k or less. Then everything fits since not so much wasted space of each file.

ASIN	B01N7QDO7M
Additional Features	Lightweight
Best Sellers Rank	#1,813 in USB Flash Drives
Brand	SANDISK
Built-In Media	SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB USB 3.1 Solid State Flash Drive
Color	Black
Compatible Devices	Compatibility: Based on 4K video transfer (4GB) with USB 3.1, Gen 1 or USB 3.0 host device. (COMPATIBLE WITH USB 3.0 AND 2.0 PORTS)
Connectivity Technology	USB
Customer Reviews	4.6 out of 5 stars 3,458 Reviews
Flash Memory Type	USB
Global Trade Identification Number	00619659152826
Hardware Connectivity Technology	USB Type A
Hardware Interface	USB
Item Type Name	SanDisk SDCZ880-256G-G46 Extreme PRO 256GB USB 3.1 Solid State Flash Drive
Item Weight	18.14 g
Manufacturer	Sandisk
Memory Storage Capacity	256 GB
Mfr Part Number	SDCZ880-256G-G46
Model Name	SanDisk Extreme PRO USB 3.1 Solid State Flash Drive
Model Number	SDCZ880-256G-G46
Number of Items	1
Number of Packs	1
Read Speed	420 megabytes_per_second
Special Feature	Lightweight
UPC	619659152826
Unit Count	1 Count
Warranty Description	Lifetime Limited Manufacturer Warranty
Write Speed	380 MB/s

SanDisk 256GB Extreme PRO USB 3.1 Solid State Flash Drive - SDCZ880-256G-G46, Black

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