A flash memory format introduced in 1994 by SanDisk Corporation, Milpitas, CA (www.sandisk.com). At 36.4 x 42.8 x 3.3 mm, CompactFlash (CF) cards are larger than other flash formats, but have become very popular for storage in digital cameras. Appearing to the camera as a hard disk, CompactFlash uses the PC Card/ATA interface, but with 50 pins instead of 68. Cards support both 3.3 and 5v operation. CF cards plug into a CF socket or, with an adapter, into a standard Type II PC Card slot.
Type II Cards Are Thicker
Type II CompactFlash (CF2) cards are the second-generation format, which increases the thickness from 3.3 to 5mm. The extra thickness allows for more electronics; for example, IBM's Microdrive houses a hard disk in the CF2 format. In 2004, Pretec Electronics Corporation (www.pretec.com) introduced a 12GB CF2 memory card. See Microdrive.
What Does the X Mean?
The write speed of CompactFlash cards is designated as a multiple of 150 kilobytes per second. For example, 40x = 6MB/sec; 60x = 9MB/sec; 66x = 10MB/sec and 80x = 12MB/sec.
CompactFlash Module
CompactFlash modules have become very popular as storage for "digital film." See flash memory for size comparison.
Type II Cards Are Thicker
Type II CompactFlash (CF2) cards are the second-generation format, which increases the thickness from 3.3 to 5mm. The extra thickness allows for more electronics; for example, IBM's Microdrive houses a hard disk in the CF2 format. In 2004, Pretec Electronics Corporation (www.pretec.com) introduced a 12GB CF2 memory card. See Microdrive.
What Does the X Mean?
The write speed of CompactFlash cards is designated as a multiple of 150 kilobytes per second. For example, 40x = 6MB/sec; 60x = 9MB/sec; 66x = 10MB/sec and 80x = 12MB/sec.
CompactFlash Module
CompactFlash modules have become very popular as storage for "digital film." See flash memory for size comparison.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
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