Compact Flash vs HDD

Six6siX

Six6siX

Six6siX

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Bit of a random question...

I've seen some IDE - CF adapters around which let you use CF cards as a bootable device in a system.

How would, say a 1 or 2GB Type II CF card compare to a HDD in terms of transfer speeds and access times?

Cheers
 
Hmm slow transfer rates...

Doh hadn't seen those drives before :o

Though on that link, it says they improve boot up times???

Would it be of any advantage speed wise to install a stripped down version of windows on a CF card for a media center PC where there isn't going to be a lot installed besides key bits of software?
 
I'd say there would certainly be advantages in terms of noise, power, and longevity with only a slight hit for speed. As long as you had a conventional drive or network connection for media, it would work really well.

edit: Maybe a solid state drive with windows on permanent standby, no access time and little power consumption, coupled with instant on!
 
Thanks for the replies :)

I might give it a go with a decent speed CF card and adapter for the OS and software coupled with a regular HDD for music and stuff.

Be worth a test before thinking about shelling out for a solid state drive right now.
 
Right now these are more suited to laptops as they traditionally have 5400rpm drives so the transfer speeds are comparable to shoe of the solid state drives.

I'd quite like one for my lappy but I'm not paying the prices they're asking.
maybe in a year or two when the size and performance have increased as well as the price coming down.

PS - the thing that makes them appeal to me is that there are no moving parts, so they're more robust when being carried around.
 
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