Other by stefan @ 2013-12-13
The Voyager GS is a very speedy USB 3.0 Flash Drive from Corsair which comes in three different capacity flavors: 64GB, 128GB and 256GB and sports a sleek brushed aluminum chassis for extra durability.
At first I would like to thank Corsair for sending a sample of their Flash Voyager GS 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive for testing and reviewing.
Meeting Performance Computing Demands since 1994
"Corsair is a global company bringing innovative, high-performance components to the PC gaming market. Specializing in very high performance memory, ultra-efficient power supplies, and other key system components, our products are the choice of overclockers, enthusiasts, and gamers everywhere.
Founded as Corsair Microsystems in 1994, Corsair originally developed Level 2 cache modules for OEMs. After Intel incorporated the L2 cache in the processor with the release of its Pentium Pro processor family, Corsair changed its focus to DRAM modules, primarily in the server market. In 2002, Corsair began shipping DRAM modules that were specifically designed to appeal to computer overclocking enthusiasts. From its roots in high-performance memory, Corsair has expanded its award-winning product portfolio to include ultra-efficient power supplies, builder-friendly cases, ground-breaking CPU coolers, blazing-fast solid-state drives, and other key system components.
Corsair has developed a global operations infrastructure with extensive marketing and distribution channel relationships. Corsair’s products are sold to end users in over sixty countries worldwide, primarily through leading distributors and retailers."
High performance, high capacity, and high style
Flash Voyager GS is a large-capacity, high performance USB 3.0 flash drive in a sleek, scratch-resistant brushed metal enclosure.
USB 3.0 speed and USB 2.0 compatibility
PCs and notebooks with USB 3.0 ports offer transfer speed that’s dramatically faster than USB 2.0, but not everybody’s there yet. Flash Voyager GS takes advantage of the faster USB 3.0 interface, while providing full USB 2.0 support.
Works with virtually any system
Flash Voyager GS is compatible with Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. No drivers are necessary… just plug it in. In short, if your desktop or notebook has a USB 3.0 or 2.0 port, it’s compatible with the GS.
Key ring compatible
The loop at the end allows for attaching to most key rings.
The latest Voyager GS USB Flash Drive series from Corsair comes packed inside a plastic/cardboard enclosure and we can see right from the start how the actual product looks like:
On the back side of the packaging we will get to see a comparison chart between the regular USB 3.0 Flash Drive speeds and this new model:
The chassis design is very similar as the one we have seen at the Patriot Magnum USB 2.0 drive, only this time both body and cap come with the same color. Both front and back sport the Corsair logo
The drive is both a bit wider and thicker than the usual drives and in the same time it is quite durable:
In the back we have a small loop where we can attach a lanyard:
After the removal of the cap, we will uncover the blue USB 3.0 connector:
A serial number and total storage capacity are laser-etched onto the connector:
The testbench was composed from the following hardware:
CPU: Intel I7 Retail @ stock
Motherboard: Foxconn BloodRage with G42 BIOS
RAM: 3x2GB Patriot PVT36G1600LLK 1600MHz
Video: Sparkle GTX 470 with stock and OMNI A.L.C.
Power Supply: Nexus RX-8500 850W modular
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200.11 & OCZ Vertex 4 240GB SSD
Case: Thermaltake Armor+ LCS, stock cooling
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64
ASUS U3S6
The Corsair Voyager GS 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive comes formatted FAT32:
To determine the flash drive read speeds, the HD Tune v5 utility was used:
To measure the real life performance, I have used the Total Commander application to copy to the flash drive and from the flash drive the same file and recorded the transfer speeds, when they have stabilized.
File Copy
File Read
The Flash Voyager GS from Corsair is one of the speediest USB 3.0 drives which has passed through our lab and is available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB versions. Its aluminum body is quite sturdy and the black plastic component allows mounting of a lanyard which is not included inside the packaging.
Because of the dimensions of its chassis, we might encounter some clearance issues when also trying to use the nearby USB ports, especially on laptops.
The product comes with a 5-year warranty and can be found online for about 110 Euros.
We would like to thank again to Corsair for making this review possible!