card reader speed vs cradle

[HighFive]

Hi,

I would like to speed up the data transfer to my SD card by using a card reader with my PC in stead of the iQue cradle.

I see two options:
1) a PCMCIA card reader
2) a USB 2.0 (mutli) card reader

What is the (practical) difference in transfer speed between these two and the USB 1.0 cradle and what is your recommended card reader brand?

Cheers,
HighFive

[Peztone]

I can only speak for myself.

I have a PCMCIA card reader in my laptop, and a USB2.0 multi card reader on my PC.

I got a Kingston 512Mb cheapie SD card for MP3's and the only thing that will write to it without complaint is the PCMCIA card in the laptop.

So, if I'm writing to my Lexar it goes in the USB2 card reader attached to the PC, if I 'm fighting with the Kingston off to the laptop I go..

As far as speed goes I think both the USB2 and PCMCIA interfaces are faster than the SD card maximums, so it doesn't matter which you use.

USB2 is typically 40x faster than USB1.

[jonasolof]

I had to take my Belkin USB2 PCI card out, because it killed my dual screen display. Two digital screens on a Matrox G550 card. No apparent conflicts. I gathered the time I'd loose in figuribng out what went wrong would hardly be regained by faster card transfers, especially since I only load maps once in a while.

[HighFive]

Thanks for your replies. Since the card access speed is the limiting factor, I've decided for a USB 2.0 multicard reader. It goes well with my CF card as well.

Originally posted by jonasolof
I had to take my Belkin USB2 PCI card out, because it killed my dual screen display. Two digital screens on a Matrox G550 card. No apparent conflicts. I gathered the time I'd loose in figuribng out what went wrong would hardly be regained by faster card transfers, especially since I only load maps once in a while.

Maps I don't change a lot, but MP3s I do.

I have a theory that says that computers always present you with problems at your own level. In the end, you spend as much time on a computer than a novice without your knowledge. Sounds familiar?

Cheers,
H5

[rjack22]

I have a USB card reader and and Kingston SD card and it works quite well. I haven't had any problems.