Fastest CF card reader?

[Vertigo1]

I'm currently using a Sandisk USB2 CF card reader to offload data. Even with my 60MB/s cards, this is maxing out at 20MB/s.

My question is, what faster alternatives are there? Is the 20MB/s limit all this card reader can do or is it the limit of USB2 (yes I know USB2 is 480Mbits/s in theory but in practice it's far lower). Should I be looking at faster interfaces like Firewire (only have FW400) or USB3?

Basically I need something quicker as it takes half an hour to offload a whole 32MB card. I don't mind forking out for a new reader if it's going to be faster but don't want to find out that it's still limited to 20MB/s.

Anyone have any experiences to share?

 

[itsdavedotnet]

the fastest are the lexar firewire 800 ones (£55) or if you have an expresscard slot, the lexar expresscard reader (£20)

 

[JonathanRyan]

Get Photo Mechanic.

3 cheap readers are faster than 1 good one. Especially 1 X FW + 2 X USB

 

[whitey]

As said, Lexar firefire are great, I use one here and can download a card in no time

Sandisk also do a firewire one thats decent aswell, I used one of those before downgrading (then reupgrading with the Lexar)

 

[Deleted member 25799]

Another for Lexar.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lexar-Profe...5KRC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298228818&sr=8-1

Is what I have & it's very good!

 

[neil_g]

(yes I know USB2 is 480Mbits/s in theory but in practice it's far lower).

yeah but youll never get that transferring from a 60mbps card..

the sandisk sounds a bit slow, i get 30mbps out of my lexar pro USB2 from a 30mbps card.

 

[Vertigo1]

Another for Lexar.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lexar-Profe...5KRC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298228818&sr=8-1

Is what I have & it's very good!

Can I ask what cards you have and what speed you get out of it?

 

[Vertigo1]

yeah but youll never get that transferring from a 60mbps card..

Well in theory 480Mbit/s equates to the rated speed of the card of 60MB/s. USB2 never gets anywhere near this theoretical limit though.

the sandisk sounds a bit slow, i get 30mbps out of my lexar pro USB2 from a 30mbps card.

Interesting thanks - I doubt it'd get much faster than that tho via USB2.

 

[hollis_f]

Expresscard is just about unbeatable if you use a laptop. But 20 MB/s is still pretty slow for USB2, you're not going to get super-speeds, but the Lexar UDMA reader should give you over 30 MB/s with a UDMA card - possibly close to 40 MB/s.

 

[Dune]

Are you using a USb2 compatable lead, there is a difference.

 

[EdMoss]

I used to use a Sandisk firewire until I broke it, just bought the Lexar USB2 and it seems to take forever compared to the Sandisk.

So if it's speed you are after go for the Sandisk firewire 800 one.