- This topic has 5 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated Jun 27-3:37 am by seaken64.
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blur13
Hi!
First time creating a live-usb and thought I’d ask those with experience what size USB flash drive is recommended for comfortable usage? Any other considerations? Read/write speeds? USB 3.x or 2.0?
Thanks!
olsztyn
I am using multiple usb sticks (mostly Cruzer Fit) on many laptops. My usb sticks are from 4Gb to 64Gb. I am running all without any persistence so any files I want to save, I save them in the ‘Live USB Storage’ or in data partition ‘USB Data’ created by Live USB Maker. Live antiX alone fits well below 4Gb, so the rest is for data. In my case I am comfortable with running any size of 4Gb and above, as I do not store huge data files on usb stick. On larger usb sticks, such as 32Gb or 64Gb I usually create multiple antiX Live installations with different purpose and boot whichever I need.
– Read/Write speeds: Going over usb sticks of different manufacturers I experienced huge differences in speeds, both read and particularly write. I do not have speed issues with Cruzer plugs, but PNY sticks is a different experience altogether. I used both USB2 PNY sticks and USB3 ones and both proved to be exceptionally slow. PNY tested were 16Gb and 32Gb variety.
– USB2 vs. USB3: For antiX I do not see much difference at all, because in my case Live antiX just reads, seldom writes, only if I want to save files. In normal operation, I/O is just read, never write, so the difference between USB2 and USB3 sticks is not noticeable in my case, running from USB2 port. On USB3 port ther is a bit of difference in boot time…- This reply was modified 11 months ago by olsztyn.
- This reply was modified 11 months ago by olsztyn.
Live antiX Boot Options (Previously posted by Xecure):
https://antixlinuxfan.miraheze.org/wiki/Table_of_antiX_Boot_Parameters
christophe
what size USB flash drive is recommended for comfortable usage?
I like a 16 GB size or larger. I have used as low as 4 GB, BUT that makes it hard to have room to remaster.
Are you using persistence? You’ll have maybe 2 GB for antiX full + additions. You’ll want perhaps a 2 GB persistence file. And maybe need 2 GB available to keep your customized system updated (if you don’t add much software) through remastering. If you don’t manage the “old” linuxfs & rootfs, deleting them after each remaster, then you eat up another 4 GB (in my example). So that uses 10 GBs already.How many files (video, audio, games, etc.) will you want on the stick (in Live-usb-storage)? Leave some room for those. Those things can all be managed & set lower, but you asked for “comfortable usage.” So, I say, if you can, go 16 GB as a minimum for “comfortable usage.” I’d say 32 GB or greater works even better (more room for data). If you have enough room to spare, you don’t have to delete the old remaster files & old persistence files – you just delete them automatically each time you remaster).
That being said, I have a customized 4 GB SD card that boots an old netbook that only plays streaming audio. I don’t use persistence on it (well, only “home persistence,” so if I make a tiny change like audio volume or wallpaper change, etc, it saves it). But that’s a niche case, I know. But there’s lots of ways to use antiX live.
Read/write speeds? USB 3.x or 2.0?
Read/write works pretty well for me on USB 2.0. I don’t any have 3.x ports (nor sticks). I like my antiX live better from hdd, but USB 2.0 works very well.
I like Sandisk brand best. Maybe other name-brands are good too, better than generics. The generics ones that I bought in the past were very slow. So now I stick to buying ones that I know will work well.confirmed antiX frugaler, since 2019
christophe
usb sticks (mostly Cruzer Fit)
Yes! Those are my favorites, too. 😉
confirmed antiX frugaler, since 2019
blur13
Thank you for the tips!
seaken64
I’ve used many 8GB USB2.0 drives over the years. Most of my machines do not have USB 3.0 anyway. But I do have two USB 3.0 drives setup with multiple versions of antiX and MX and for those I used 32GB and 64GB. They work good on my modern machines that have USB 3.0.
For the 4GB and 8GB size you need to be careful that you remaster often enough and delete the old files that are left over after the remaster.
Seaken64
- This reply was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by seaken64.
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