EggXpert

Im wondering whether or not it would be worth it to get the turbo memory or just use a flash mem card or usb stick...ive heard many things about them and alot of them contradict each other...ive also read somewhere that it is possible to use both at the same time (512 for turbo and "x" for flash).

They are used for different things. "Turbo memory" is basically just a RAM add-on, (you mean the Intel notebook thingies, right?) while flash memory sticks (usually USB-based) are used for mobile and secure storage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Turbo_Memory

haha i guess i should reiterate...im speaking as far as the use of readyboost and readydrive because turbo memory is used as a cache while the flash can also be used as a cache...i just want to know which is better for performance and/or battery life...or if it is better to use them in conjuction

I see now. All this is doing is putting page file resources on flash memory, which is faster than an HDD. I would say that connecting that particular Intel product (can you buy it anywhere?) via a PCI or PCIe lane would be much faster than connecting via USB.

but that still doesnt answer my question about which is more useful

Um, yes it does: PCIe is faster than USB. Using a PCIe based memory enhancement system will work better than using a USB-based system. Both do nothing more than increase the size of your page file and run it on a flash drive, so the only difference would be how the flash drive connects to your comp. Using both should be no trouble, though where you're going to buy the PCI-based model I don't know.

OK...PCIe had 8 or 16 lanes. USB has 1.

Also, PCI is part of the north bridge, the fast part of the computer

so then is that to say that the turbo memory is connected through pci?...also...what is the difference in data rates between pci and an integrated flash memory reader...another thing to consider is with the limit on turbo memory being at 1 gig...would it be more beneficial to get a SD at like 2 gigs plus or would that not matter

Well, an integrated flash reader would probably run off SATA or IDE if you're unlucky, but both of these standards would still be slower than PCIe. I'm not sure by exactly how much, or if flash memory can fully saturate SATA. I'm sure that IDE or USB would be a bottleneck on the performance of a flash drive. I can't tell you whether 1gig in PCIe would be more beneficial than 2gigs in USB; I haven't tried either. Read the developer's FAQ here for a few pointers. (SD card readers are not supported, apparently)