Pretec has introduced a new type of media card based on the Compact Flash form factor that boasts speeds around 300% faster than the fastest CF cards currently available.
Identical in size and shape to a standard CF card, the CFast storage card uses a SATA interface rather than the PATA type used currently, enabling transfer speeds of up to 375MB/s. (Pretec’s current fastest card offers around 160MB/s).
The CFast card is not yet compatible with any current cameras but is seen as the first in a new generation of faster cards designed for digital photographers and others with a need for fast, high volume digital storage.
Despite the current lack of compatibility, a 32GB CFast card will be available next month (no price details yet) with a 64GB card to follow shortly. For more details visit www.pretec.com
Press Release
Pretec Unveils CFast Storage Card, the Smallest SATA SSD in the World
Las Vegas, USA. January 8th 2009 –– Pretec, as the 2nd in the world to offer CF card (1995) and the producer of the world’s largest capacity CF card (64GB), proudly unveils at CES 2009 today the Pretec CFast™Storage Card, another breakthrough in the flash. Pretec CFast™Storage Card is a revolutionary product with CF card sized form factor incorporating the key strength of high speed SATA interface.
Pretec 333X CF card, the highest speed CF card in the world released on September 2008 at Photokina is running at the speed up to 50MB/s, such traditional CF standard adopts PATA standard with maximum transfer speed of 133MB/s, will soon become the bottleneck for the ever increased speed demand of SSD. CFast™is developed by CompactFlash Association (www.compactflash.org) to break the speed limit from 133MB/s (PATA) to 375MB/s (SATA) while keep the small and popular original CF mechanical form factor. Pretec CFast™Storage Card contains a single chip controller and flash memory module(s) in a matchbook-sized package with a 7+17-pin connector that consists of a SATA compatible 7 pin signal connector and a 17 pin power and control connector. This single chip controller interfaces with a host system allowing data to be written to and read from the flash memory module(s). Measured only 36mmX43mm, Pretec CFast™Storage Card is the smallest SATA interfaced SSD in the world.
The transfer speed of 1st generation Pretec CFast™Storage Card is up to 160MB/s, about 300% faster than the fastest CF card today. Merited to such hasty speed & small size offered by Pretec CFast™, professional photographers can now make the best use of high-end cameras and ultimate technology image devices by relishing continuous shots without waiting time for catch up; Industrial, embedded or PC users such as IPC, Mobile Internet Device (MID), and Ultra-Mobile Personal Computer (UMPC) can now simultaneously obtain the desirable features of next generation fast, small and reliable mobile storage.
Pretec CFast™Storage Card is available now in 32GB and will be demonstrated to customers at CES at Las Vegas by appointment only, general sampling will start from next month with 64GB capacity to be released soon.
Pretec CFast™Storage Card, Revolution in Storage!
About Pretec
Pretec™ (http://www.pretec.com) offers a complete spectrum of small form factor memory cards and card readers such as CF, SD/MMC, USB Flash Drive, and wireless communication devices for digital imaging, mobile communication, and industrial flash markets. As the 2nd company in the world to offer CF cards since 1995 and the company to create CF I/O and SD I/O cards since 1998, Pretec has consistently demonstrated the highest capacity flash cards in the world: such as CF 3GB, 6GB, 12GB, 16GB, 24GB, 48GB and SD 4GB, SDHC 8GB and 16GB; the fastest flash card in the world: such as CF 80X and 333X, SD 133X, USB 166X, and SSD (IDE/SATA) 400X. With more than 200 patents granted or filed, Pretec has also been offering the smallest USB flash drive in the world with unique technology: such as i-Disk Tiny (“Best Gear of 2003” by TIME Magazine) and i-Disk Diamond; the most reliable flash card in the world: such as rugged PCMCIA, rugged CF card, and i-Disk Bulletproof, a water-proof, fire-proof, and bullet-proof USB flash drive.
*For more information, please visit www.pretec.com