Peripherals, drive, expresscard, flash, hard drive, lexar, lexar expresscard ssd, ssd, top

First Review: Lexar ExpressCard SSD

Lexar's ExpressCard solid state drive is an interesting proposition: 4 to 16 gigabytes of non-volatile memory in a slot form factor. That's not only more storage than typical USB flash drives can offer, but more than most based on microdrives can, too. For those with lappies with ExpressCard slots, it would seem like a sweet piece of storage, and even as a cache for Vista's ReadyBoost, since its not hanging off the side of a laptop like a USB thumbdrive would. So what's the catch?

Unfortunately, I found write performance to be a lot lower than I'd have liked.

It read a fair 15MB per second on several machines, confirmed using both synthetic and MP3 file copies. But only wrote at 3MB per second.

For comparison, the laptop drive in the DV9000 HP Pavilion churned about 30MB per second in both reads and writes, and the Lexar Lightning, the fastest USB drive I had on hand, scored 17MB and 14MB per seconds in reads/writes.

In a nutshell, write speeds really need to be much better before I can recommend it.

–Brian Lam

Home Page [Lexar]

9:02 AM on Mon Apr 23 2007
By Brian Lam
10,796 views
11 comments

Comments

strider_mt2k at 08:23 AM on 04/23/07
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 717
Brought to you by Acura TSX

Yowch!
That's dismal write performance, and the read speeds are only slightly better than my 4GB Sandisk Cruzer Micro!

I would be willing to wager that for these first editions they used off-the-shelf flash memory and that's what the limiting factor is.
It's certainly not the ExpressCard slot. ExpressCard is supposed to be capable of quite a bit from what I've read.

The only trouble there is that speedy speedy flash memory is at a premium right now so a version that performs better will fetch much more on the market.

That being said I'd still take one if it was priced accordingly, or if someone was say, giving away an old demo they weren't using anymore.
(Can't blame a boy for tryin', Giz.)
Having an ExpressCard drive might lend itself to some interesting applications.
robotstephe at 08:34 AM on 04/23/07
Reply by Email
*

But... there's a lighthing bunny on the card. That means it's FAST. Are you sure you ran the tests properly? Lightning-bunnies don't lie.
weatherman at 08:59 AM on 04/23/07
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 162
Brought to you by Acura TSX

I suppose it would make sense in some corporate environments (checking out a laptop for travel, for instance, but having all work on an SSD) but otherwise it seems of limited value. I have a brand-new business laptop and I don't have an ExpressCard slot and I imagine not a lot of others do either. There are likely even fewer desktops that have them. So what's the point of mobile storage if you can't connect it with anyone else's computer? The value of the thumb-drive is the ubiquitousness of the USB port.
bignaz2k at 09:22 AM on 04/23/07
Reply by Email
*

@robotstephe:
Sadly, the lightning bunny is just the logo for ExpressCard, and not indicative of the speed of the Lexar implementation.

I declare the logo on the card misleading! Shenanigans!
protozoider at 09:30 AM on 04/23/07
Reply by Email
*

Know what the catch is? Money. Bet anything this card will hardly be worth its price tag. If you haven't noticed, most expresscards worth buying are expensive. But if you want there are those WD iPod sized pocket drives that hold 80GB.
Bishma at 10:15 AM on 04/23/07
Reply by Email
*

Le sigh. I've been waiting for an affordable express card for ready boost... I guess I'll keep waiting.
brundlefly76 at 04:08 PM on 04/23/07
Reply by Email
*

This would be a waste for ReadyBoost as ReadyBoost can only use up to 4 GB.

Also, installing more onboard memory would work much better and likely be cheaper.

I have a 2GB Notebook and Desktop running Vista Ultimate and seriously I do not notice any difference with or without my 4GB ReadyBoost drive.

Its for folks with low memory.
jguidera at 07:48 PM on 04/23/07
Reply by Email
*

Of course, the expresscard spec calls for the card to protrude from the lappie by about a half inch or so (to promote easy insertion and removal) so it about hangs out as much as a small USB drive...

Sorta defeats the purpose of leaving it in all the time, dontcha think? Ahh the joys of good old carbus and pcmcia (at least that sat flush with the side of the laptop).
irock at 12:58 PM on 04/25/07
Reply by Email
*

The card is obviously borrowing the USB interface hardwired to the ExpressCard slot. All the manufacturers are doing this because it makes economical sense to adopt the cheaper, common USB flash controller, market it as a ExpressCard product and then give it a premium price tag. The speed really has nothing to do with the interface whether it be Firewire, USB or ExpressCard as NAND memory is still slow compared to any of these interfaces.
mdabir at 02:34 PM on 08/08/07
Reply by Email
*

Quality is questionable; does give read error .

But most imnportant never trust the Lexar mail in Rebate. I had a bad experience on the 1GB purchase; its been 8 months and the $20 rebate is still on its way(supposedly). I guess thats how they make their money-on interest! Total rip off.
fillrobs at 06:12 AM on 09/12/07
Reply by Email
*

SSD will change the world in IT terms - imagine the heat and power saving in computer rooms, the use of them in cars due to the shock resistance. The final slow part of a PC has now evolved and is coming soon. Readyboost drives are the start. Check out the video click on my site for the benefits of speed of a SSD installed laptop over standard IDE at [www.futurestorage.co.uk]