[SOLVED] flash drive vs portable HDD @ USB 2.0

[box o rocks]

Which would be faster at storing backups; a portable HDD or a flash drive if both are connected to a USB 2.0 port?
Secondly, which would have the longer lifespan?
(Both are USB 3.0 devices, but the port used is only USB 2.0)

 

[USAFRet]

1. The USB 2.0 interface is probably the slow thing in the chain.
2. It depends on what type of "backup" you're doing.
3. Flash drives are not really good for real backups.
4. Backups are generally done in the background, so speed sort of does not matter.

 

[box o rocks]

It's a backup of a portion of the HDD in my NAS. It only has a single USB 2.0 port for backup to another device. I've been using flash drives for years, but they eventually all fail at some point. I was wondering if using a portable drive would be faster and have a longer lifespan.

 

[USAFRet]

"a flash drive" is quite generic.
Some are 'faster than others.

Just like a portable HDD/SSD.

But the USB 2.0 interface, and the actual content you are backing up has a LOT to do with this.