|
|||||||||
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
September 28th, 2005, 11:12 AM | #1 |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 1,892
|
What you should know about 1G + flash drives!
After much aggravation and several conversations with B&H, Sandisk and ADS Tech (card maker), I was informed that all USB drives that are above 512 MB require additional power to operate with dedicated PCMCIA cards and combo cards (USB 2.0, 4 & 6 pin 1394). It's not the drive maker's or reseller's fault or responsibility but it is the card maker's. The typical voltage required to power a USB flash drive is 500 mA or 5v that comes from the PC and does power the 512 MB drives just fine in these combo cards but any drive above 512 MB is currently not supported with this current power output. The latest combo cards currently available such as the LaCie, ADS, IOGear, Medea, etc. do have a seperate power supply but it is 12v and only powers the 6 pin firewire port. The dedicated USB cards such as Linksys, Netgear and Belkin also have a power supply of 5v up to 10v to power these newer, high capacity USB drives but if you're in the field with no AC power, uh, your screwed. So, before you buy a combo card or dedicated USB card for use with a 1G + USB flash drive, make sure that it can power that device separately or carry an inverter or honda generator everywhere you go. If you have any further information or experiences such as solutions or workarounds with this issue please let me know.
Note: This information is accurate as of its post date Last edited by James Emory; September 28th, 2005 at 01:16 PM. |
September 28th, 2005, 02:06 PM | #2 |
Trustee
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: US
Posts: 1,152
|
Wow, I never heard about that limitation with flash drives. Thanks for the info!
|
September 28th, 2005, 02:58 PM | #3 |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 1,892
|
Well hopefully these card makers will find a power solution quick because these drives just keep getting larger and larger in storage capacity and are going to require more power. Also, from what I hear, USB 3.0 is just around the corner and is eclipsing 1394 so every new generation of portable devices with USB, such as laptops, is always going to be behind and need I/O adapter cards.
|
September 29th, 2005, 03:15 AM | #4 | |
Wrangler
|
Quote:
-gb- |
|
September 29th, 2005, 07:07 AM | #5 |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 1,892
|
The issue is only through PCMCIA slots and cards that don't provide power or not enough to these USB devices/drives. The USB ports that are built in get their power from the laptop and work fine with any drive as far as power requirements.
|
September 29th, 2005, 12:32 PM | #6 | |
Wrangler
|
Quote:
-gb- |
|
October 4th, 2005, 04:21 PM | #7 | |
Trustee
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: US
Posts: 1,152
|
Quote:
As for IEEE 1394, the IEEE 1394b standard not only provides for an 800Mbps transfer rate, but also 1600 and 3200Mbps (1.6Gbs and 3.2Gbs) as well (see http://kb.iu.edu/data/ahxe.html?cust=237485.42118.30). Thus, unless there is some truly blisteringly fast new version of USB on the horizon, IEEE 1394 is nowhere near being eclipsed. |
|
October 4th, 2005, 04:32 PM | #8 |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 1,892
|
I did know that 1394b is 800 Mbs but didn't know about it's faster speeds as you mentioned. I don't know much more about the other specs either. I heard what I stated from a tech head at Staples. He did say that it was about 8 months away though. He also said that he had seen information about a Sandisk 10 GB USB flash drive. I called Sandisk to find out about that and the sales rep didn't know anything about it. He said their highest capacity USB flash drive is currently 4 GB.
Thou shalt not shoot the messenger |
| ||||||
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|