Compact Flash or CF as it is also known is a popular type of flash based memory. It was developed and released by SanDisk in 1994. This small form factor device revolutionized the industry as at the time 3.5″ diskettes were the standard for the storage. This small device changed the landscape for which data could be stored. It was smaller and could hold more data, compared to the 3.5″ diskettes.
Types of Compact Flash Memory
There are two different categories of Compact Flash memory cards. These are the Type 1 card and Type II card. The differences between CF Type I and CF Type II cards are their thickness. The Type I card is 3.3 mm thick, while the CF Type II cards are 5mm thick. Type I cards will fit in both cards slot, while the Type II can only fit in its own slot.
Since 2008, CompactFlash cards are available in capacities from 512 MB upwards of 100 GB. Currently on the market, the biggest sized card available is 32 GB. Smaller capacity cards are still available below 512 MB, but these are considered to be obsolete.
Compact Flash Speeds
CompactFlash memory cards have different speed ratings. These are often designated by the “x” symbol.
Below is a table that will list the typical speed ratings for CompactFlash cards.
|
Rating |
Speed (MB/s) |
|
6x |
0.9 |
|
32x |
4.8 |
|
40x |
6.0 |
|
66x |
10.0 |
|
100x |
15.0 |
|
133x |
20.0 |
|
150x |
22.5 |
|
200x |
30.0 |
|
266x |
40.0 |
|
300x |
45.0 |
Compact Flash specifications
Known Names
Compact Flash is also known as a CF memory card.
Storage Size
CompactFlash sizes vary from 512 MB – 32 GB
Physical Dimensions
CF Type I
- 43mm (1.7″) x 36mm (1.4″) x 3.3mm (0.13″)
CF Type II
- 43mm (1.7″) x 36mm (1.4″) x 5mm (0.19″)
Weight
- 3.3 grams
Voltage
- 3.3 and 5 V
Write Protect Switch
No
Copyright Protection
No