X32 with CF IDE adapter - good idea?

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Medessec · #1 Post by **Medessec** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 6:00 am

Hello- I've recently had an idea with an X32 I'm getting a hold of... I wanted to try out installing Windows XP on with a CF card adapter in the IDE HD bay, and... I wanted to ask, for those who have attempted the same, are the results good? Is there any improvement over 5400RPM HDs?

I have a 32GB 300x CF card, which works out to ~50MB/s... I was reading through the forums on other inquiries about CF flash stuffs, and I also saw someone mention that CF cards perform poorly in Random I/O, being designed more for sequential read. Is this going to seriously impact performance on Windows to the point where using a CF card wouldn't be worth it in the end?

I'm asking because I have the CF card, and I'm wondering if I should buy an adapter to try this out, or just buy another IDE 5400RPM HD instead.

#2 Post by **Tasurinchi** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 7:35 am

I did a similar exercise some days ago. Albeit with an older 240 with Win98SE instead of an X32. If you have the card around and are willing to spend time and little cash I would say get a cheap adapter and try it.

I bought this one for 2.65 USD

Medessec · #3 Post by **Medessec** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 12:01 pm

Oh wow. I wasn't immediately aware they were so cheap.

I went ahead and bought two-one of those red ones with holes in them, so they can be mounted to a caddy, and the one you recommended. I imagine the one you recommended will ship faster, so as soon as I get it, and the X32 I'm getting, I'll try it out with Windows XP and share the results on here. I'll see if I can try out PassMark Performance Test on an X32 with a 5400 RPM HD, and compare it to the CF IDE configuration. It'll be interesting to get the results.

I've always wanted a 240.

#4 Post by **Tasurinchi** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 2:09 pm

Medessec wrote:I went ahead and bought two-one of those red ones with holes in them, so they can be mounted to a caddy

Can you post a link? Basically I decided to buy the model I linked because it can be easily put on the caddy, although there is no way to mount it with screws.

This is how mine looks attached to the 240 caddy:

Medessec · #5 Post by **Medessec** » Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:33 am

Hmm. alright. Yeah, I wasn't too worried about the adapter and CF card being loose inside or anything, just wanted to make it a bit more permanent in case I decide to sell the thing. Here's the pic of the one I picked up that had holes in it:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-CF-Compact-Fl ... 1c2abadf80

Also... I just received a PM from a guy on here who gave me a heads up that the caddies with the holes in them, (and I assume the one I linked to applies) doesn't fit at all with Thinkpad HD caddies, as it doesn't line up properly with the holes. I suppose since that red one is a dual-CF card adapter, it's not all a loss, as I can take advantage of that... but ah well. It's just $3.

But again, as soon as I receive this equipment, and the X32, i'll submit some statistics on the benchmark tests for HD usage in comparing how well it does with this CF adapter setup, and then a traditional 5400 RPM HD. Also-If I manage to come across a 4200 RPM drive, I'll see if I can incorporate those results as well. I've always wanted to know just how marginal the performance is between those two HD speeds.