Photofast SSD

[Blazing fire]

Photofast (http://www.photofastssd.com/)is a Taiwanese based company. Besides SSDs, it also sells extremely fast, high capacity, type-1 compact flash (CF) cards at a low cost. It sells CF cards at a significantly lower price point that other flash memory companies like Lexar and Sandisk. Proof of speed and value for money of Photofast CF cards. (http://www.neutralday.com/photofast-gmonster-compactflash-533x-and-533x-plus-review/) Unfortunately, it is not readily available and hard to find. It is also a relatively new company and some question it's reputation and reliability.

Since Photofast is able to sell fast but cheap CF cards, it may mean it also sells flash memories like SSDs at a low price. Thus, it may be a viable alternative to intel's SSDs.

Anyone has experience with this company, and how does it compare with other SSDs?

[Evilsizer]

what i think is rather impressive is this
http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=dvnation&product_name=Photofast+CFAST+Gen1+32GB+Card&exact_match=exact
calling it the smallest SSD, rather cool, but the price is scary...

[Blazing fire]

Thanks for your reply, Evil! I agree that it is rather expensive for a 32GB "SSD".

I'm not entirely sure about Intel's SSD lineup so could someone confirm this please?

X25 refers to 2.5" form factor while X18 refers to 1.8" form factor.
"M" stands for mainstream and refers to MLC while "E" stands for extreme and refers to SLC.
"M" comes in 80GB and 160GB sizes, while "E" comes in 32GB and 64GB sizes.
"M" comes in 50nm and 34nm architecture, while "E" comes in 50nm architecture.

These are the models that Newegg sells as of 29th Novmeber 2009:

X25-E 32GB- $383 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167013&cm_re=intel-_-20-167-013-_-Product)
X25-E 64GB- $799 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167014&cm_re=intel-_-20-167-014-_-Product)

X25-M 80GB (34nm)- $215 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167016&cm_re=intel-_-20-167-016-_-Product)
X25-M 160GB (34nm)- $600 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167024)

X25-M 80GB (50nm)- $259 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167005&cm_re=intel-_-20-167-005-_-Product)
X25-M 160GB (50nm)- $569 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167015&cm_re=intel-_-20-167-015-_-Product)

X18-M 80GB (50nm)- $393 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167006&cm_re=intel-_-20-167-006-_-Product)

34nm and 50nm can be identified by the digit after "G" in the product number. 2 represents second generation and refers to 34nm, while 1 represents first generation and refers to 50nm. For instance,

X25-M 80GB (34nm)= SSDSA2M080G2XXX
X25-M 80GB (50nm)= SSDSA2MH080G1

50nm version has more black area than 34nm too.

[Evilsizer]

yea you got it right! :thup:

the only thing i can think of making it so costly for that small. is it is using some really dense NAND flash..

[vulcanman09]

i have already ordered 2 of those ssd sata adapters
( then come in 44 pin ide form too )
reviews say they fail at around 2 months of continuous write/read cycles:rain:

[vulcanman09]

here is the other card 44 pin eide with compact flash card ports
it even comes with the laptop hdd mounting frame

http://www.tweaktown.com/pressrelease/1687/transcend_releases_blazing_fast_600x_compactflash/index.html;)

[Blazing fire]

May I know why one would make CF cards into SSDs?

[Foolios]

I almost bought a package deal like that on eBay. I was wondering about them myself.

[vulcanman09]

cannot find the review now
but they said that windows boots to desktop in 13 seconds or something close to that
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/accelerated-compact-flash,1100.html

[Foolios]

HOLY !!!!!!!!!

From these adapters and those cheap little CF cards?

If you find that review, I'm in on that one then!

[visbits]

I almost bought a package deal like that on eBay. I was wondering about them myself.

I ran a 1gb CF card with an ide adapter in a smoothwall for over 2 years. Worked great! :thup:

[dito]

May I know why one would make CF cards into SSDs?

I don't get it either, cost is more than an SSD(from what i can tell), and speeds are slower...???

[vulcanman09]

these compact flash adapters are the 1st generation of ssd drives

[Blazing fire]

So are these SSDs comparable to intel's SSD?

[vulcanman09]

iam not sure
i have not seen any reviews on these new 600x compact flash cards
( hopefully there is some soon )