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    Compact flash for solid state drive?

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by Springfield, Oct 15, 2009.

  1. Springfield

    Springfield Notebook Deity

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    Has anyone tried using a compact flash card with adapter to IDE as a substitute for a HDD? Looks like the 16GB CF cards go for $42 or so online, much less than a true solid state drive. Seems it could be more rugged and less power hungry than a rotating HDD. Tried searching around NBR but nothing conclusive, just wondering if anyone here tried that yet?
     
    Springfield, Oct 15, 2009
    #1
  2. Alex

    Alex Super Moderator

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    I do not recommend the compact flash cards as they have unacceptable transfer rates

    There is two or three forum members here that have ide type ssd drives in their Toughbooks though
    I would like to know what they have used and what if any performance increase that they have found
    The sata ssd drives that I use in my cf-19 and cf-30 have very good performance


    Alex
     
    Alex, Oct 15, 2009
    #2
  3. Toughbook

    Toughbook Drop and Give Me 20!

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    This has been discussed before... I think "NO" is the usual answer...
     
    Toughbook, Oct 15, 2009
    #3
  4. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    It might take a few minutes for Firefox to load off of a CF...
     
    Greg, Oct 15, 2009
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  5. Karma16

    Karma16 Notebook Geek

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    HI,
    This is not the same but I use a 64 GB thumb drive to store my large mapping programs. It works great. Very fast.

    My machine will not allow booting from a USB device so booting is not an option.

    Sparky
     
    Karma16, Oct 16, 2009
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  6. mnementh

    mnementh Crusty Ol' TinkerDwagon

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    Yup -

    Every month or two we have this same idea comes up; believe me, you're not the first. The general consensus (among those who've actually done it) is that it CAN be done... but for overall performance, a regular old IDE drive beats the setup all hollow.

    Windows generally is pretty picky about it's swapfile; it needs BOTH fast random-access and fast sequential-access in that arena; flash memory cards (no matter what the format) simply aren't very good at BOTH at the same time. Yes, you CAN disable the swapfile; no, it's not a good idea, it causes more trouble than it's worth.

    Your BEST use for unused flash RAM is as a ReadyBoost drive; it DOES make a good 4th/5th level cache device.

    Once you've tried a REALLY GOOD and properly optimized SLC SSD, you'll understand why I tell you NOTHING LESS is worth the hassle; CF cards and MLC SSDs are CHEAPER FOR A REASON.

    You want to run an adware kiosk or replace the HDD in your router cheaply? The CF adapter is a good choice. Otherwise, stick with the HDD or save up you shekels for a good SLC SSD. I'd much rather have a 32GB SLC than a 128GB MLC SSD; but remember too that unless you have a machine with SATA, you're not going to see the full potential of either drive, speedwise.

    mnem
    I got road rash on the Information Superhighway...
     
    mnementh, Oct 16, 2009
    #6