Updated 8/26: New tests reveal Verbatim’s $40 CameraMate ExpressCard 34adapter as the new CompactFlash reading champ.
Delkin Devices, the original maker of the CardBus CF Card adapter, has a crop of new PC card readers supporting UDMA transfer speeds, and testing shows they are the virtual equal of FireWire 800 readers.
I put the CardBus 32 UDMA adapter ($40) through its paces with 15 different UDMA-enabled CompactFlash cards, and it achieved average throughput of 32 MB/sec — just a shade slower than the 33 MB/sec of the three FireWire 800 readers I frecently tested. Fastest was the Hoodman RAW 2GB card at 37 MB/sec, with the Pretec 233x 4GB card the slowest at 27 MB/sec.
Delkin also makes an ExpressCard 54 UDMA adapter ($50) for newer-style card slots. While the ExpressCard specification provides support for both USB 2.0 and PCI-Express transfers, the Delkin ExpressCard 54 adapter utilizes the USB 2.0 bus and is thus limited to USB 2.0 speeds. It is therefore roughly the equivalent of a USB UDMA reader in the 24-25 MB/sec range.
Delkin’s ExpressCard 34 adapter ($50) while not advertising UDMA capabilities, has a virtual identical 25 MB/sec speed.
Note: The CardBus 32 adapter requires drivers which must be downloaded from Delkin’s web site.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Ben Curtis // May 7, 2008 at 4:07 am
Hi,
Have you had the chance to try the Cardbus 32 UDMA adapter with any Sandisk Extreme III or IV cards? I saw a posting here:
http://www.prophotohome.com/forum/digital-photography-accessories-technology/76300-warning-about-delkin-cardbus-adapter-udma.html
…that cited some incompatibilities. Otherwise it looks like a great device, I’ve had the older non-UDMA Cardbus 32 adapter for a couple years and it’s been fantastic.
I was tempted to try an Expresscard adapter (my laptop has both slots) but I don’t like the idea of the card sticking out of the laptop when inserted.
Cheers,
Ben
2 The Sports Photo Guy // May 7, 2008 at 6:32 am
My SanDisk Extreme IV and Ducati cards work just fine with my Cardbus UDMA adapter. Delkin must have fixed whatever incompatibilities there were.
3 peter // May 28, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Hi there. Just wondering if you tested the Delkin CardBus 32 UDMA adapter with the Lexar Professional UDMA 300x CF cards. I just got one, and it is repeatedly making my Win XP Pro SP2 system choke and crash. Hard reset required.
I have used the Delkin CardBus adapter with non-UDMA cards without a problem, and the Lexar Professional UDMA card works fine in a non-UDMA CardBus adapter (16-bit).
Any thoughts?
4 Jer // Aug 20, 2008 at 8:47 am
I’ve noticed that the 32 is no longer available (?) with a 34 out with UDMA capabilities. Any chance of a new review?
5 The Sports Photo Guy // Aug 20, 2008 at 10:07 am
I’ve had the ExpressCard 34 from Delkin for a while (it’s USB-based) and just got in the Verbatim ExpressCard 34 (which is PCI-E based) and plan to do a comparison soon. It’s a shame that Delkin opted for a USB interface, because it won’t be able to match the speed of the CardBus 32.
6 The Sports Photo Guy // Aug 26, 2008 at 6:01 pm
The results are in for the new adapters: the Verbatim is a screamer!
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