Replace HD with CompactFlash memorycard

[Stephen Coates]

I wanted to do this, but decided that as I already had a working HD I might as well use that.

Someone on amiga.org posted about compact flash cards a while ago and said that it worked but you can have some problems.

CF cards are definately good. I installed MacOS 7 on one and used it in my PowerBook 1400 and it worked really quickly. Only real problem was that it was a 32MB card so had only enough room for a basic install of OS7 and ClarisWorks.

[Harrison]

32MB So a retro card for a retro OS!

[Submeg]

lol, perfect logic there....

[TiredOfLife]

ATA has upto PIO5 mode.
Don't see the point as flash cards only go up to 4gig at the mo.
HDs are cheaper, faster and have a bigger capacity.
There do seem to be a few people around using this method though.

[Submeg]

But for am Amiga, not based as your main PC, how big of a harddrive would you need?

[Teho]

OS3.1 and lower amigas can't use more than 4GB anyway. Plus, I saw 8GB cards when searching the net for info on them. And in my experience, this card isn't slower than the HD I used previously. But that was a very old thing, newer HDs may be faster I don't know. But, I hear newer HDs run very hot in an Amiga's cramped casing. That won't be a problem with a flash card. Also, it uses much less power than a HD, so is good for a system where power is in short supply.

The real problem with CF cards I've learned is the fact that they have limited read/write cycles. So their lifespan is relatively short compared to a good HD, depending on how you use it. They wouldn't be good to run an OS off of for example, especially if the machine sees a lot of use. But for just throwing your games, demos, mods etc collection on, it would be great. And for a guy like me who doesn't use the real amiga that often any more, having one as a main HD will work just fine for a long while apparently.

[TiredOfLife]

@Submeg
What do you mean?
How can the Amiga not be your main machine?
I suppose in that totally bizarre and unlikely situation, 4gig would be fine.


@Teho
Some flash cards are guaranteed for life, so I don't think that would be a problem.
OS3.0 can use drives bigger than 4gig, if using the right software or hardware.
Had a hd in a case for years with no heat problems.

[Stephen Coates]

The amiga is currently not my main machine, and as a result, it is fine with 1.5GB. Although I havn't been able to put much stuff on it due to lack of a CDROM drive and the awkward location that it is in.

I'll probably put my 20GB laptop HD in it though sometime.

[Harrison]

Don't see the point as flash cards only go up to 4gig at the mo. HDs are cheaper, faster and have a bigger capacity.

You can find CF cards up to 16GB easily these days, and I know of 32GB ones used in pro cameras and I'm sure you can get 48GB ones too from specialist places. Maybe even larger ones are available now.

I agree that HDs are bigger capacity for less money, but faster? The point of using solid state storage instead of a moving mechanism is that it has no moving parts so no seek times, making the data reading and writing much faster overall.

[Harrison]

OS3.1 and lower amigas can't use more than 4GB anyway. Plus, I saw 8GB cards when searching the net for info on them. And in my experience, this card isn't slower than the HD I used previously. But that was a very old thing, newer HDs may be faster I don't know. But, I hear newer HDs run very hot in an Amiga's cramped casing. That won't be a problem with a flash card. Also, it uses much less power than a HD, so is good for a system where power is in short supply.

The real problem with CF cards I've learned is the fact that they have limited read/write cycles. So their lifespan is relatively short compared to a good HD, depending on how you use it.

I hadn't thought of that. This used to be very true with memory cards only being good for a couple thousand read/write operations, but I don't think it is the case these days. After all people are using SD and Sony MS cards for MP3 players all the time and deleting and copying different songs without any issues. Also many cards have very long guarantees. For Example Sony Memory Sticks are under guarantee for 5 years and lifetime guarantee against defects.

OS3.0 can use drives bigger than 4gig, if using the right software or hardware.
Had a hd in a case for years with no heat problems.

If you use a third party file system then yes, you can use a drive larger than 4GB.

I've run a 3.5" HD in one of my A1200's for many years without any heat related problems at all.