Compact Flash Memory Cards

Compact Flash Memory Card are a mass storage device format used in portable electronic devices.

A Compact Flash memory card is a storage device format used in portable electronic devices, popular in digital cameras. They operate at either 3.3 or 5 volts. There are four main speeds: the original CF, CF High Speed, a faster CF 3.0, and the fastest CF 4.0. As of 2008, Compact Flash memory cards are generally available in capacities ranging from 512 MB to 64 GB. The largest Compact Flash memory cards usually are not the fastest ones. Compact Flash memory cards comes in two types, type I and type II. The only difference between the types is the size. Type I is 43mm x 36mm x 3.3mm, while Type II is a little thicker - 43mm x 36mm x 5mm.

In general, a Compact Flash memory card with higher storage capacity is more expensive. However there is a wide range of prices, dependant on a lot of things besides capacity. For example, Compact Flash memory cards come in a variety of speeds and a faster Compact Flash memory card will be more expensive.

Compact Flash memory cards are popular for their ruggedness and versatility. Compact Flash memory cards consume about 5% of the power used by a small disk drive, and a high speed Compact Flash memory card will still get a transfer rate of over 30/MBs. A cards speed is specified using the same time ratings as a CD-ROM (8x, 20x, 133x), but Compact Flash memory cards are able to cope with extreme changes of temperature. They can be can be used directly in PC Card slot with a plug adapter, and swapped from system to system.

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