Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Penn State
Posts: 116

Updated

I just tried a simple speed test myself. I used Memplug(ver 1.3) and MatchBookDrive(the original one, with software from Kopsis ver. 1.4.1). I used Lexar reader/writer(2 in 1).
I used a Mr.Flash 64mb SM card from newegg.com and a Kingston 64mb CF card.

1.The writing speed for Lexar is very different for CF and SM card. I copied 61mb large files (each file is larger than 7mb) to CF(3min 2sec) and SM (6min 34sec). I also copied smaller files with a total of 27.2mb (72 files) to CF (1min 30sec) and SM (3min 12sec).

2.Then I copied two large files(totally 5.85mb) from CF to RAM (3min 1sec) and from SM to RAM (3min 50sec).

3.I copied 42 smaller files(totally 3.18mb) from CF to RAM (1min 35sec) and from SM to RAM (2min 10sec).

4.The most significant difference is about directory sorting. I put 72 files in root directory. CF only needs 1 second to sort the directory. Memplug needs 8 seconds to do the same.


5.I copied two large files(5.85mb) from RAM to CF (2min 58sec) and from RAM to SM (10min 28sec).

6.I copied 42 smaller files(totally 3.18mb) from RAM to CF (1min 56sec) and from SM to RAM (10min 14sec).

7.I deleted 42 files(totally 3.18mb) in the root directory of CF (6.5sec) and SM (85sec).

8.I deleted 2 large files(totally 5.85mb) in the root directory of CF (24sec) and SM(28sec).



The more subdirectories you have, the things will get even worse.

I hope PIT can work on this issue to improve the speed.

BTW, this is not a scientific conducted test, don't ask me about error. Comments welcomed.

Hsin

Last edited by hxh167 on 06-14-2001 at 01:35 AM

Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

Grrr. You got your Dual Slot Lexar USB reader to work Mine doesn't. And I just got it too! What OS are you using? I've been on hours with their tech support who have not been able to help me If you have any tips on how to make it work with Windows 2000 please e-mail me. [email protected]

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-miradu

Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

Grrr. You got your Dual Slot Lexar USB reader to work Mine doesn't. And I just got it too! What OS are you using? I've been on hours with their tech support who have not been able to help me If you have any tips on how to make it work with Windows 2000 please e-mail me. [email protected]

P.S. NICE RESULTS! It's not too surprising to seethat SM is a slower media.. hmm. Somebody should write a little app that does Official Benchmarks.

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-miradu

Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 594

Definitely useful data. Thx.

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"Great Spirits Have Always Encountered Violent Opposition From Mediocre Minds." -- Albert Einstein

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Chicago
Posts: 10

Good info, but what about a comparison of battery drain? How does either the SM or CF options compare to the 8 or 16MB flash modules? I currently own Prism and the 16MB Hagiwara card, and I am looking for a larger memory option while sacrificing as little battery-life as possible.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Penn State
Posts: 116

The battery drain is too complicated for CF solution. Some CF cards are good, some CF cards are battery eater. To make things worse, CF card brands are not suitable to judge whether this CF card is friendly to battery or not. SM cards should be very battery friendly. If you don't care about speed and the only thing you care is battery, I would suggest you go with Memplug. If you care about speed more the battery drain like I do, go with a CF adapter with Kopsis' software.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Penn State
Posts: 116

The issue is more than just the speed difference between CF and SM cards. Because Memplug uses a software controller(using the power of the Dragon Ball CPU in our Visor) compared to CF's hardware controller(built inside CF cards), they(Memplug people) really need to put more efforts to optimize their driver software. I think if they have the will and ability to do this, the speed of Memplug will be greatly improved.