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Sandisk Extreme Card Readers - Mini Review
I just thought I would do a quick review of the Sandisk Extreme Card Readers, There are 2 versions of interest.
1. Firewire Extreme Reader
2. USB 2.0 Extreme Reader
Packaging Contents.
The Firewire reader come packaged with the reader body for CF I/II cards and a FW800 socket on the back, FW800 to FW400 cable, FW800 to FW800 cable, and a copy of Rescue Pro Deluxe.
The USB 2.0 reader came packaged with the reader body for CF I/II, SD, SDHC, MMC, MS Pro Duo cards and a Mini USB socket on the back, USB Mini to USB 2.0 cable, copy of Rescue Pro.
Performance.
This is the interesting bit, how the 2 perform against each other, The test was carried out using a Mac G5 Quad, with the readers connected by each of their own cables, An Extreme 3 or 4 CF or SDHC card was loaded with 136 RAW files to total 1GB of data and that data was downloaded to the MAC 3 times with each set up and the average time taken (rounded up to nearest second).
Firewire Extreme Reader with FW800 Cable
Extreme III Compact Flash
Download times
1min 13sec
1min 12sec
1min 13sec
Time taken 1min 13sec
Extreme IV Compact Flash
Download times
33sec
33sec
33sec
Time taken 33sec
Firewire Extreme Reader with FW400 Cable
Download times
1min 12sec
1min 12sec
1min 13sec
Time Taken 1min 13sec
USB 2.0 Extreme Reader with USB 2.0 Cable
Extreme III Compact Flash
Download times
1min 31sec
1min 32sec
1min 32sec
Time Taken 1min 32sec
Extreme IV Compact Flash
Download times
53sec
52sec
53sec
Time taken 53sec
Extreme III SDHC
Download times
1min 53sec
1min 53sec
1min 53sec
Time Taken 1min 53sec
Conclusion.
Not a lot in it speed wise.If you use CF cards only and have a Firewire connection spare and don't mind spending the extra money get the Firewire Extreme Reader. But if you dont mind the slightly longer download time and use SD cards or the other types get the USB 2.0 version and save some money, you wont be disappointed.
Firewire Extreme Reader approx £ 35 - 40
USB 2.0 Extreme Reader approx £ 12 - 15
Update Note
Tests now run with Extreme IV Compact Flash Cards.
I just thought I would do a quick review of the Sandisk Extreme Card Readers, There are 2 versions of interest.
1. Firewire Extreme Reader
2. USB 2.0 Extreme Reader
Packaging Contents.
The Firewire reader come packaged with the reader body for CF I/II cards and a FW800 socket on the back, FW800 to FW400 cable, FW800 to FW800 cable, and a copy of Rescue Pro Deluxe.
The USB 2.0 reader came packaged with the reader body for CF I/II, SD, SDHC, MMC, MS Pro Duo cards and a Mini USB socket on the back, USB Mini to USB 2.0 cable, copy of Rescue Pro.
Performance.
This is the interesting bit, how the 2 perform against each other, The test was carried out using a Mac G5 Quad, with the readers connected by each of their own cables, An Extreme 3 or 4 CF or SDHC card was loaded with 136 RAW files to total 1GB of data and that data was downloaded to the MAC 3 times with each set up and the average time taken (rounded up to nearest second).
Firewire Extreme Reader with FW800 Cable
Extreme III Compact Flash
Download times
1min 13sec
1min 12sec
1min 13sec
Time taken 1min 13sec
Extreme IV Compact Flash
Download times
33sec
33sec
33sec
Time taken 33sec
Firewire Extreme Reader with FW400 Cable
Download times
1min 12sec
1min 12sec
1min 13sec
Time Taken 1min 13sec
USB 2.0 Extreme Reader with USB 2.0 Cable
Extreme III Compact Flash
Download times
1min 31sec
1min 32sec
1min 32sec
Time Taken 1min 32sec
Extreme IV Compact Flash
Download times
53sec
52sec
53sec
Time taken 53sec
Extreme III SDHC
Download times
1min 53sec
1min 53sec
1min 53sec
Time Taken 1min 53sec
Conclusion.
Not a lot in it speed wise.If you use CF cards only and have a Firewire connection spare and don't mind spending the extra money get the Firewire Extreme Reader. But if you dont mind the slightly longer download time and use SD cards or the other types get the USB 2.0 version and save some money, you wont be disappointed.
Firewire Extreme Reader approx £ 35 - 40
USB 2.0 Extreme Reader approx £ 12 - 15
Update Note
Tests now run with Extreme IV Compact Flash Cards.