#Usb 3.0 compact card reader windows 8#
The RDF8 reader had the latest firmware version TS22 already installed from the factory.Ĭhanging to Windows 8 we found improved read and write speeds, however the Lexar 600x card read speed was still abnormally slow. The normally fast Lexar 600x performed much worse (45.7 MB/s read, 34.8 MB/s write) while the normally "slower" Lexar 400x performed as it normally should (72.4 MB/s read, 43.6 write). Several cards tested 10-20MB/s slower read speeds in the RDF8 compared with other USB 3.0 card readers. Using Windows 7, benchmark testing using SD cards achieved a maximum sequential read of 86 MB/s and 74 MB/s write. Upon closer inspection, the fine print disclaims "Performance with Transcend 128GB CF1000x card." In Windows 8, we tested the Transcend 1000X 32GB CF card and it reached 154.3 MB/s read and 132.8 MB/s write, well above the claimed speeds. Transcend prominently displays 130 MB/s read and 95 MB/s write speeds on the front of its packaging. The fit is looser than necessary and extra care should be taken when inserting cards to avoid bent pins.
There is little up-and-down play however the card is able to move excessively side-to-side when inserting. Swapping a different USB 3.0 cable provided a more secure connection.Įven with its small overall size, the RDF8 has a deep CF card slot taking in nearly 7/8 inch depth of card in total. The connector could be inadvertently dislodged and even when it appeared to be connected correctly it would sometimes cause read and write errors. In addition, the unusually short short 15-inch cable exacerbated the issue. The supplied USB cable did not fit securely in the connector on the card reader. The case lacks any sort of rubber pads to hold it in place which results in it sliding around when inserting and removing cards. The case is made entirely of plastic resulting in an overall weight of only 32 grams (not including USB cable). The dedicated Memory Stick slot is positioned on the back of the reader to conserve space. The RDF8 reader is very compact, measuring only 2 5/8 x 1 3/4 x 5/8 inches (67.6 x 45 x 15.2 mm). The light blinks when the card is being accessed.
Transcend was founded in 1988 in Taiwan and produces a range of computer memory products and related devices.Ī bright blue LED shines through the top of the translucent black case when the reader is connected to a USB cable. It is the smallest and lightest multi-format reader we have tested. It features independent slots for Secure Digital, CompactFlash and Memory Stick. The Transcend USB 3.0 Multi-Card Reader RDF8 is an inexpensive multi-format memory card reader. Review: Transcend USB 3.0 Multi-Card Reader RDF8 Introduction