X200 - What can the 5-1 card reader read???

I got the 5 in 1 option + modem, what flash memory cards can i read?

can i use flash memory for readyboost instead of a USB flash drive?

 

I have only verified that the 5-1 reader is able to read Secure Digital and Secure Digital High Capacity. Both it and the 3-1 reader can also read MMC. I believe that the additional two cards you can read with the 5-1 reader are Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro. Both SD and SDHC sit flush within the notebook and are ejected by pushing in on the card (it is spring loaded). I do not have a memory stick to test, but I think they might sit flush as well (they are longer however). If you need compact flash, xD, or some other format, you will need to buy an adapter (express card is usually the easiest).

You CAN use flash memory for readyboost instead of a USB drive. I would recommend that you get the fastest SDHC drive you can afford if you want to use readyboost, because most SD cards are pretty slow at sequential reads (very good at random reads/access time, and not bad at sequential writes, but easily outpaced by USB flash drives for reads in my testing).

 

memory stick works and also M2 (memork stick's micro version) with adapter of course. It actually sits flush as well.

For readyboost... did you end up getting the Intel Turbo Memory? If so use that for readyboost..

For SDHC... look for at least Class 6... you want the speed... but I would rather use the Intel Turbo Memory...

 

thanks guys.

i did not get the Intel Turbo memory. i'm not sure how much readyboost will help in addition to my 4gb of ram. i think it will be less than 1% performance increase overall and no noticable real-world benefits.

i'm asking just incase i find any old memory cards lying around.

if the 5-1 reader can read everything (+ 2 more) than the 3-1 (w/ no modem) why would anyone get the 3-1 option? are people serious when they say "because i want to save half an ounce of weight? lol

 

princple of the matter I suppose.

 

Hasn't the word spread, that ReadyBoost is the most useless "invention" since Windows ME?

 

readyboost actually does give good real-world performance benefits with older systems, or newer ones that are low on ram...

i'm just not sure how much it will help a modern system with 4gb of ram, or which flash memory card to use for it

 

I think readyboost was mostly useful for computers with under 2 gigs of ram. Everything else was diminishing returns.

 

I really don't know why anyone would choose the 3-1 reader over the 5-1. Maybe they are just cheap, or maybe they prefer a machine with blocked out ports over one with a modem. When I ordered, it was like $10 at most, so there was no logical reason not to get the 5-1 reader and modem (better to over provision now, than regret it later).

I am considering using Readyboost to a degree. I have little to no allusion that it will improve performance with 2GB+ of RAM, but I am wondering if it might help battery life. Vista has a bad tendency to thrash hard drives and prevent them from spinning down. Does Readyboost help to alleviate this? Does this yield any battery life gains? I will have a 8GB SDHC Class 6 card in my x200 at all times. The question is do I just use the card for removeable storage, or do I use some of it (256MB/512MB/2GB/4GB?) for Readyboost. Does anyone have any experience and or suggestions about this?

 

I went with the 3-1 since I have no need for a modem, don't want the driver software using resources, and no desire or need for old card format reading capabilities. SD is all I really need.

 

haters...

i have 4GB + 2GB of intel turbo memory with readyboost lol

if i say it helps, you guys will all flame me... if i say it doesn't help i don't give it justice in properly testing it...

so i guess it's just for kicks and knowing that i have it lol