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Mac Forum / Country Specific / UK Mac Group / May 2008CF card readers
A while back I posted about CF FireWire card readers, prompted by the sluggish performance of my Lexar: Multi-Card USB 2.0 Card Reader http://www.lexar.com/readers/multi.html Thanks to Peter for a pointer to this cheap reader which arrived this morning: Dane-Elec - USB 2.0 15in1 Memory Card Reader/Writer <http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_6&products_i d=102176> A quick test downloading approximately 2GB of NEFs from a Crucial CF card gave Lexar - 14m 23s Dane-Elec - 2m 38s So all USB2 readers are not equal. Stuart  Signaturecut that out to reply > A while back I posted about CF FireWire card readers, prompted by the > sluggish performance of my Lexar: [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > So all USB2 readers are not equal. Blimey, I didn't know they could be that slow. It sounds more like it's actually working at USB 1.1 speeds (some devices do this if they are plugged in with other devices on a hub that are USB 1.1). I've had lots of card readers over a few years, and even the cheapest ones haven't been as slow as to take 15 minutes to download a card full. Even the xD cards take only a minute or so (1GB). SignatureAndy Hewitt <http://web.mac.com/andrewhewitt1/> > Blimey, I didn't know they could be that slow. It sounds more like it's > actually working at USB 1.1 speeds (some devices do this if they are > plugged in with other devices on a hub that are USB 1.1). Can you tell via System Profiler if a device is going to run at 1.1 speeds? Cheers, Chris > > Blimey, I didn't know they could be that slow. It sounds more like it's > > actually working at USB 1.1 speeds (some devices do this if they are > > plugged in with other devices on a hub that are USB 1.1). > > Can you tell via System Profiler if a device is going to run at 1.1 speeds? Yes, look in the USB tab, and all your USB devices should be listed there, along with the ports. They'll have a variety of information next to each, and you can see the speed they'll run at. If it says 480Mb/s then it's USB 2.0. If it says 12Mb/s or 1.5Mb/s then it's USB 1.1. SignatureAndy Hewitt <http://web.mac.com/andrewhewitt1/> > > > Blimey, I didn't know they could be that slow. It sounds more like it's > > > actually working at USB 1.1 speeds (some devices do this if they are > > > plugged in with other devices on a hub that are USB 1.1). This was plugged straight in on a MacBook and Quad G5. Its sloth only became really noticable as the CF cards got larger. > > Can you tell via System Profiler if a device is going to run at 1.1 speeds? Reported as USB 2.0 > Yes, look in the USB tab, and all your USB devices should be listed > there, along with the ports. > > They'll have a variety of information next to each, and you can see the > speed they'll run at. If it says 480Mb/s then it's USB 2.0. If it says > 12Mb/s or 1.5Mb/s then it's USB 1.1. The Lexar is quite old (Rev A) but has its latest firmware. I'd assumed that all USB 2.0 card readers would give more or less the same speed. I think they are at Rev C now - probably quicker. Stuart Signaturecut that out to reply > > They'll have a variety of information next to each, and you can see the > > speed they'll run at. If it says 480Mb/s then it's USB 2.0. If it says [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > that all USB 2.0 card readers would give more or less the same speed. I > think they are at Rev C now - probably quicker. I have tried a variety of them, and even the cheapest branded '7dayshop' one I had was certainly workign at expected speeds. I'd suspect it may have had a fault. SignatureAndy Hewitt <http://web.mac.com/andrewhewitt1/> > I have tried a variety of them, and even the cheapest branded '7dayshop' > one I had was certainly workign at expected speeds. > > I'd suspect it may have had a fault. Quite possible. I'm glad I didn't cough up for a FireWire reader, if only because I'd have been left thinking that USB 2.0 readers are by nature *much* slower. Oddly, transfers from the D300 via USB are slow too which added to the muddle. Stuart Signaturecut that out to reply > > I have tried a variety of them, and even the cheapest branded '7dayshop' > > one I had was certainly workign at expected speeds. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > have been left thinking that USB 2.0 readers are by nature *much* > slower. It depends on the data being transferred, short bursts should be quicker with USB 2.0, with it's 480Mb/s rate over 400Mb/s for FW. FW can maintaain a much better overall rate with larger transfers though, and is still the best option for things like hard drives and high end DV. As I said, I have also seen some reports that some devices may switch down to USB 1.1 speeds if another 1.1 device is sharing the hub. > Oddly, transfers from the D300 via USB are slow too which added to the > muddle. Downloading from a camera is usually slower than a card anyway, some of the newer ones are better though. My old Olympus E500 was terrible - half an hour to download 2GB, but the E510 has true USB 2.0 and is almost as quick as a card reader. The most painful is the Mju500 with its xD card, that is *really* slow, and can take 5mins for 1Gb even in the card reader. SignatureAndy Hewitt <http://web.mac.com/andrewhewitt1/> |
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