What You Need to Know about High Capacity Flash Drive Options

The demand for ever-increasing amounts of data storage means that the need for a high capacity flash drive continues to increase. The technology for flash drives has advanced dramatically in recent years, and although a flash drive may not offer the same kind of capacity as a solid state drive (SSD) or a hard disk drive (HDD), there are some flash drives available with impressively large storage capacities. These flash drives are not typically designed for the average consumer, but instead are used in industrial applications—especially those that need to store a significant amount of high-quality video content or graphics.

What storage options do high capacity flash drives offer?

Currently, the flash drive format with the highest capacity can store 2TB of data. However, most flash drive users do not need that kind of storage space, even if they have a high demand for capacity.

For even most industrial flash drive users, capacities of 32GB to 64GB are sufficient. This is especially true of industrial grade flash drives that have integrated wear leveling, since this feature ensures that all available storage space is utilized as efficiently as possible.

What other factors affect flash drive capacity?

One important consideration that can have an impact on flash drive capacity is whether the drive uses SLC or MLC flash. SLC (single-level cell) flash technology stores a single bit of data per cell on the drive. It is commonly used in industrial applications, since it offers the highest possible level of data security and speed.

Many high capacity flash drives use MLC (multi-level cell) flash. With MLC flash, two bits of data are stored per cell, making it easier to offer higher capacities. When produced by a company that manufactures industrial grade products, it is possible to get a high capacity MLC flash drive that has other benefits of industrial products, such as a controlled bill of materials and plenty of options for customization.

Delkin’s customer team is experienced in helping users choose flash drives that meet their specific storage needs. Contact us today to discuss your high capacity flash drive requirements and find out which solution is the best option for your application.