Performance:
The test system used in this review was an HP 8200 Elite. The computer is equipped with an Intel Core i5-2400 CPU, 4GB of DDR3 1333MHz memory, Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3250312AS 250GB SATA 6 Gb/s hard drive, NVIDIA Quadro FX580 512MB PCIe graphics card, Intel 82567LM-3 gigabit network card and Patriot SuperSpeed USB PCIe host card. For the operating system, I installed a fresh copy of Windows 8.1 Enterprise.
To test the performance of the SanDisk Ultra +Cloud, I ran a series of benchmarks using CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1, HD Tach RW 3.0.4.0 and ATTO Disk Benchmark 2.46. To get a feel for the "real world" performance, I also copied and pasted 500MB of random files and directories in Windows Explorer.
CrystalDiskMark 3.0:
First, I ran a few quick tests using CrystalDiskMark. This benchmark tool measures the performance of a storage device by testing its sequential read and write speeds as well as its random read and write speeds using blocks 512K and 4K in size.
 SanDisk Ultra +Cloud - USB 3.0 |
 SanDisk Ultra +Cloud - USB 2.0 |
SanDisk doesn't really say what kind of speeds the Ultra +Cloud is capable of. Using CrystalDiskMark we can see that the drive is able to read at 110.9 MB/s and write at 50.72 MB/s when connected to a USB 3.0 port.
HD Tach RW 3.0.4.0:
Next, I used HD Tach to test the Ultra +Cloud's read, write and burst speeds as well as its seek times and CPU usage.
The Ultra +Cloud's performance was hit and miss when tested with HD Tach. While the drive was able to read at 96.6 MB/s, its write speed averaged out at only 7.1 MB/s. If I had to fathom a guess, I'd say that the Ultra +Cloud uses TLC NAND and the drop in performance is due to some sort of caching.
ATTO Disk Benchmark 2.46:
I also used ATTO Disk Benchmark to test the Ultra +Cloud's sequential read and write speeds. The test was run using blocks ranging in size from 0.5KB to 8192KB and the total length set to 256MB.
 SanDisk Ultra +Cloud - USB 3.0 |
 SanDisk Ultra +Cloud - USB 2.0 |
When tested with ATTO, the Ultra +Cloud's read speeds topped out at about 128 MB/s and its write speeds at 63 MB/s.
"Real World" Benchmark:
To test the "real world" performance of SanDisk's new flash drive, I copied and pasted 500 MB worth of randomly generated files and directories. All of the files are between 10 bytes and 32MB in size and no more than four directories deep.
| SanDisk Ultra +Cloud USB 3.0 |
SanDisk Ultra +Cloud USB 2.0 |
|
| Write: | 16 seconds | 35 seconds |
| Read: | 10 seconds | 26 seconds |
The Ultra +Cloud performed relatively well here, taking 16 seconds to write our test data and 10 seconds to read it back.
Final Thoughts:
As an enthusiast and someone who works in IT, I use a number of different storage solutions throughout the day. If I'm sharing files with a co-worker, using a high-speed flash drive is often the easiest method. Otherwise, if I'm sharing photos with my friends or family, the cloud is the way to go. With SanDisk's new Ultra +Cloud USB flash drive, you now have the flexibility to do either. And, with 128GB of total storage, you've got plenty of room to do both.
The Ultra +Cloud is very similar to SanDisk's normal Ultra USB 3.0 flash drive. In addition to having 64GB of storage, it sports a stylish, compact design with a retractable USB connector. Performance-wise, the Ultra +Cloud isn't the fastest USB 3.0 flash drive on the market. Nevertheless, it performed relatively well in our tests, reading at speeds as high as 128 MB/s and writing at more than 50 MB/s. When combined with SanDisk's SecureAccess software, the Ultra +Cloud also has the ability to protect your files against unauthorized access by storing them in an encrypted, password-protected "vault".
What really sets the Ultra +Cloud apart from other flash drives is that it includes 64GB of cloud storage for three years. Instead of building their own in-house cloud storage solution, SanDisk partnered with Bitcasa to provide this service. And, while lacking some of the bells and whistles available with OneDrive and Google Drive, this service works surprisingly well. In addition to a web-based interface, your +Cloud drive can be accessed from pretty much anywhere using SanDisk's desktop and mobile apps. The service also employs 256-bit encryption so that your data stays private while stored in the cloud. The only real complaint I have is that there is no way to automatically sync or mirror the files on your local hard drive.
The SanDisk Ultra +Cloud is available now and can be purchased from retailers like Amazon.com for about $30.
Highs:
- 128GB of flexible storage - 64GB on the flash drive plus 64GB in the cloud
- Good read and write speeds
- Stylish, compact design
- USB connector protected by sliding mechanism
- Cloud drive accessible from computers and smartphones
- Includes SanDisk SecureAccess software
- Three year warranty
- Reasonably priced
Lows:
- Desktop +Cloud client does not support mirroring
