XPG Xupreme 200X

A-DATA 32GB XPG Series Xupreme Flash Drive Review

Manufacturer:	A-DATA
Product:	AXPG032G200BR
Date:	Mon, Aug 17, 2009 - 12:00 AM
Written By:	Nathan Kirsch - nate@legitreviews.com
Share:

XPG series Xupreme Flash Drive

It has been a long time since we have looked at an A-DATA product and today we have the XPG Xupreme 200X flash drive on the test bench that was just launched last month. When it was launched, A-DATA claimed that it was the very first USB 2.0 flash drive that was compatible with Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit). We've never had any problems with a USB drive on Windows 7 though, so that is just a little marketing gimmick to make it stand out from the crowd. Proof of this is the fact that the retail box of the Xupreme 200x doesn't even have the Windows 7 logo on it.

The A-DATA Xupreme 200x USB 2.0 Flash drive series is available in 8GB, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities with each size drive having the same 200x speed rating.

• 
  
  8GB - XXPG-8G-CBR - $23.37
• 
  
  16GB - XXPG-16G-CBR - $53.95
• 
  
  32GB - XXPG-32G-CBR - $114.80
• 
  
  64GB - XXPG-64G-CBR - Price Unknown

Today, we are looking 32GB version of the Xupreme 200x USB 2.0 Flash drive series, which is plenty big for most consumers. The Xupreme 200x comes backed by a lifetime warranty, so if the drive ever fails during that time period you are covered. Other companies like Crucial, Transcend, and RiDATA offer just two year warranties and PNY offers just a one year warranty, so be sure to keep the warranty length in mind when pricing USB 2.0 Flash Drives. It is also good to point out that the warranty doesn't apply to data loss or recovery, so be sure to back your data up often on a drive of this size.

Inside the retail packaging of the A-DATA XPG series 32GB Xupreme USB 2.0 flash drive you will find information about the lifetime warranty, the drive itself and a practical leather strap for transporting the drive around.
A-DATA XPG Xupreme 200X Flash Drive Features/Benefits:

• Capacities – 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
  
• High Performance up to 30 MB/sec read speed
  
• Compatible with Microsoft Windows 7 and Vista
  
• Support Windows ReadyBoost
  
• Durable and lightweight dark metallic gray colored Aluminum casing
  
• Dimensions – 66.0mm x 19.0mm x 10.0mm (LxWxH)
• Weight - 15g
• Guaranteed – Lifetime warranty

The dimensions on all of the capacities of the Xupreme 200X are 66.0mm x 19.0mm x 10.0mm with a weight of 15g, which makes it a fairly small USB 2.0 Flash drive. The Xupreme 200X is clad by an elegant looking dark gray aluminum housing that has been brushed. Between the two aluminum housings is a small plastic strip that I thought would light up during use, but the drive has no activity light on it whatsoever.

Flipping the Xupreme 200X USB 2.0 Flash drive over we can see that the other side looks the same and only differs with the branding that has been silk screened on. The Xupreme 200X does not have a capless design as you can see in the image above. The drive also doesn't have any place to secure the cap during use, so you will have to hang onto it or set it someplace.

The A-DATA Xupreme 200X has a location on the end of it for a key chain ring or lanyard. A-DATA includes a practical leather strap for transporting the drive around, but it secures to a thin plastic bar at the end of the drive. It looks like it will work fine for general use, but for those that work in rugged environments you'll want to keep an eye on that.

Here is a shot of the A-DATA Xupreme 200X with the cap removed, so you can get a better view of the USB 2.0 connector. A-DATA claims that the Xupreme 200X can have read speeds of up to 30 MB/s, so let's take a look at a couple of performance benchmarks to see how the 32GB A-DATA Xupreme 200X USB 2.0 Flash drive does in read and write tests.