SanDisk Compact Flash Extreme Pro 16 GB

SanDisk has updated its selection of high-end memory cards, and the Extreme IV range is making way for these new Extreme Pro cards.  As part of the update, the maximum speeds are said to have risen to 90 MB/s (600x) and an extend range of sizes is available, from 16 to 64 GB.

Be careful, though, because not all memory card readers will be able to support such high speeds.  An Express Card adapter which can handle UDMA 6 is also available and can plug straight into some laptops.  Another, for desktop computers, should arrive soon.  Because we didn't have either, we used a SanDisk Extreme FireWire 800 for our tests.

Speeds: a clear winner

Once again, SanDisk astonished us with record-breaking speeds.  Although this card didn't quite manage to reach the speeds promised in its specs, it got pretty close.  The Extreme Pro wrote photo files at 32.8 MB/s, which is 10 MB/s faster than its competitors.  For reading, the gap is even more noticeable.  SanDisk's latest card was at 60.5 MB/s, while others trail behind at 40 MB/s.

Sandisk CF Extreme Pro 32 GB Transcend CF 400x 64 GB