Transcend 8GB CF card

0gopogo · 11-18-05, 02:12 AM

I am in the market for a high-capacity high-speed CF card. There is not a lot of choice south of four digit dollars. The 80x Lexars require WA-enabled hardware, which I don't have. The speed without WA is probably slower than Ultra II i.e. the Lexars are simply expensive and slow. 8GB Ultra IIs are cheaper but still limited to sub 66x/60x read/write speeds. I want a card that performs better than that in a card reader - especially for writing - and well enough in the x50v - especially for reading.

A 4GB but no 8GB Extreme III exists. I have asked forum users to share their experience with 1/2/4GB EIII CF cards but apparently noone here has any.

Now there is a 8GB Transcend. At $500 it is significantly cheaper than the Lexars and Extremes and Ultras.

Did anyone buy this card? If so, how slow/fast is it in both PDA and card reader.

The 2GB and 4GB 80x versions should be comparable in terms of speed if those cards are formatted to FAT32 with 16k or 32k clusters. So, 2 and 4 GB Transcend CF 80x owners, please share your experience.

bill_n_opus · 11-18-05, 03:03 AM

You're certainly in the minority looking for super-high cap cards. I'm sorry, what is "WA-enabled hardware?"

In any case, if you are looking for personal experience and reviews/opinions about 4gb and up cap cards then I think you'd find more responses in a place like www.dpreview.com (check the storage forum) and the like. At least those guys use high cap/high speed cards since they are shooting continous RAW files and need the high cap/speed.

Good luck.

11-18-05, 03:26 AM

I use a 4gb Kingston and it works great, I don't notice any speed difference between that and other cards I have used, I use either lexar or Kingston, both are reliable and at the end of the day will only run as fast as the device they're in.

linksix · 11-18-05, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by bill_n_opus

I'm sorry, what is "WA-enabled hardware?"

Good luck.

Write-Accelerateion or something close to that - primarily found in professional level digital cameras, so that the camera can write to the card qicker, thus enabling a high fps.

Anyone know a more indepth description?

EngrPaul · 11-18-05, 12:22 PM

Ogopogo,

Here's what you want:

http://www.pretec.com/OnlineSales/SS...ah80X_12GB.htm

The larger type-II body will also help you with any potential lint buildup problems ;)

0gopogo · 11-18-05, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by bill_n_opus

You're certainly in the minority looking for super-high cap cards. I'm sorry, what is "WA-enabled hardware?"

In any case, if you are looking for personal experience and reviews/opinions about 4gb and up cap cards then I think you'd find more responses in a place like www.dpreview.com (check the storage forum) and the like. At least those guys use high cap/high speed cards since they are shooting continous RAW files and need the high cap/speed.

Good luck.

WA stands for Write Acceleration and is a technology found in the high end Lexar 80x cards. To get the 80x speed the device must support the technology.

Thanks for the dpreview link. I had forgotten about the forums on that site and shall give it a try.

0gopogo · 11-18-05, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by EngrPaul

Ogopogo,

Here's what you want:

http://www.pretec.com/OnlineSales/SS...ah80X_12GB.htm

The larger type-II body will also help you with any potential lint buildup problems ;)

The decimal place of the price for that card needs to shift one digit to the left before I am interested... ;)

Styles · 11-19-05, 07:19 AM

"$9999.00" You could buy several axim's for that price and a special belt to carry them on.

ruffman · 11-19-05, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by 0gopogo

The decimal place of the price for that card needs to shift one digit to the left before I am interested... ;)

Make that 2 digit left...no were talking.... :D :p

bill_n_opus · 11-19-05, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by 0gopogo

WA stands for Write Acceleration and is a technology found in the high end Lexar 80x cards. To get the 80x speed the device must support the technology.

Thanks for the dpreview link. I had forgotten about the forums on that site and shall give it a try.

No prob. Have you also gone to www.dcresource.com and Galbraith's site? http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/mul...e.asp?cid=6007

By the way, is that site you linked reputable? Haven't checked resellerratings yet ... but I did check out the Transcend online store and that 8gb 80x card is listed for 700 bucks. That's 200 bucks more ... quite a price difference.

0gopogo · 11-19-05, 06:20 PM

I am familiar with the CF database on Galbraith's site. A very good resource, however, their card reader test is one-directional only, and I doubt that the reader supports the Extreme III's CF 2.0 spec. Regarding the My Digital Discount, I have not bought from them before, and will have to do my research before placing an order with them...

As for the price, manufacturers recommended retail prices are typically inflated. Considering the 8GB UII sells for around $650 a price of $700 for a Transcend seems too high.

bill_n_opus · 11-20-05, 10:55 AM

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller2211.html

Not many reviews ... caveat emptor.

0gopogo · 12-10-05, 12:55 AM

That was one thing which held me back, too.

And now zipzoomfly.com now sells it for $459 and free 2 day shipping.

No more excuses... I bought.

bill_n_opus · 12-10-05, 12:59 AM

Originally Posted by 0gopogo

That was one thing which held me back, too.

And now zipzoomfly.com now sells it for $459 and free 2 day shipping.

No more excuses... I bought.

Wow, 8 gigs. Must be nice.

0gopogo · 12-10-05, 01:10 AM

I sure hope that it will perform well.

There's a 4GB Transcend SD card in my PDA now. Will adding another top capacity Transcend card turn it into a transcendental PDA???