As the Overdrive name suggests, Crucial’s new pen drive is a good deal faster than traditional single-channel alternatives. In order to get some real performance figures we transferred a large 500MB file onto the drive and then back off it, timing how long the transfer took. We also ran HDTach tests as confirmation.
The Gizmo is far faster than its predecessor and the Transcend Jetflash alternative. It is also hot on the heels of the OCZ Rally drive which has been found to be the fastest pen drive on the market in a number of other reviews. I would say the extra couple of MB/s of the Rally is not noticeable, so which product you choose should be based on price rather than performance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Crucial Gizmo Overdrive is a significant upgrade to its predecessor both in size and speed. The dual channel memory controller makes it one of the fastest drives available, and a suitable competitor to the OCZ Rally drive. Unfortunately, at £32.89 from Crucial’s online store, it is more expensive than the OCZ Rally which costs £29.61 from www.chillblast.com. This is a better deal that it at first appears once you factor in that Crucial provides free shipping, but even after shipping is applied the Rally is still cheaper, faster and more robust thanks to its aluminium shell.
Pros:
- Very fast
- Well priced
- Security software included
- Lanyard included
- Lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Not quite as fast as the OCZ Rally Drive
- More expensive than the Rally
