Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 8GB USB Flash Drive

Kingston DataTraveler Flash Drives Go HyperX

Back in 2002, Legit Reviews was one of the first publications to look at the Kingston HyperX memory series and it seems now in 2008 the HyperX series has expanded into USB Flash Drives. With the success of the HyperX series it would only make sense to keep the branding the same across different product series as the public now knows that the HyperX logo is reserved for the fastest products from Kingston Technology.

The Kingston DataTraveler HyperX USB Flash Drives have a read speed of 30MB/s and write speed of 20MB/sec so they certainly deserve the HyperX name as it is hands-down the fastest USB Flash drive that Kingston offers. The DataTraveler HyperX gives enthusiasts the power they want from a portable flash storage solution, while enhancing the looks of the capless Flash drive to make it more appealing to enthusiasts.

The Kingston DataTravler HyperX USB Flash drive that we are looking at today is the 8GB version, but Kingston offers the drive with different capacities at various price points, so if you want a HyperX USB Flash drive you can pick from a 2GB ($54.99), 4GB ($99.99) or 8GB (189.99) capacity. Kingston warranties the original end user customer of the Kingston DataTravler HyperX for five years, so during that period you are covered when it comes to defects in material and workmanship. Of course if you experience difficulty during the installation or subsequent use of a Kingston product, you may contact Kingston’s Technical Support department for free at any time. With a five year warranty and free technical support you can sleep at night knowing you are covered. It should also be noted that the drive comes with a World of Warcraft internet shortcut on the drive that allows you to sign up and download a free 14 day trail for those that are interested in trying out WoW.

The DataTraveler HyperX features a capless design with a nifty looking metallic blue case and black rubber grips for easy handling that looks great. The image above shows the drive shows that in the storage state the USB connector is hidden safely in the housing, but for use it can be extended with the slider on the side of the housing. The blue LED activity indicator can also be seen on the side just above the capacity markings. To use the Flash drive, just plug DataTraveler HyperX into an available USB port and you are on your way to transferring photos, videos, music and data to carry with you to your second system, notebook or fellow enthusiasts system. It works with Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac OS 10 and Linux 2.6 and above. If youre running Windows Vista, then it should be noted that the Kingston DataTraveler HyperX is enhanced for Windows ReadyBoost too.

At 2.76 x 0.88 x 0.44 (70.0mm x 22.4mm x 11.3mm) the Kingston DataTraveler HyperX is not going to win awards on being small, but it is gets the job done.

Features/Specifications:

• Capacities 2GB, 4GB, 8GB
• Dimensions 2.76 x 0.88 x 0.44 (70.0mm x 22.4mm x 11.3mm)
• Fast data transfer rates of 30MB/sec. read and 20MB/sec. write
• Enhanced for Windows ReadyBoost on Vista-based systems
• Operating Temperature 32 to 140 F (0 to 60 C)
• Storage Temperature -4 to 185 F (-20 to 85 C)
• Simple just plug into a USB port
• Guaranteed five-year warranty

If you are curious how this will work on a key chain, then fear not as it comes with everything you need! Overall, the Kingston DataTraveler is what you would expect. It features a clean capless design, fast transfer speeds and the blue HyperX branding that has been around for nearly six years now! Let’s take a look at the drive performance against several other common flash drives.