p.9 #1 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
If the adapter causes excessive heating only when writing to the card, I think I'll be good with it, as I intend to write to the card only in camera.
Thanks for testing this!
EB-1 wrote:
I'm seeing a temperature increase to 80°C after literally less than 3 minutes of sustained writing when the adapater is used. results were similar in two different types of Type B readers, so it appears the card+adapter is the issue rather than the reader. After 80°C speeds really slow down (throttling to protect). Using a cheapie Type A reader that has very limited heatsinking it writes about 80% (~8 minutes) before overheating.
I suppose they assume you only read from the computer and write in the camera. If cameras ever get to the full sustained CFe 4 speeds they will have to dissipate all that heat.
I have decent internal SSDs. A couple of years ago I used this array, but later upgraded.
p.9 #2 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
I think someone here got a response from OWC stating that the fw issue is only with prolonged use of the card, i.e. being constantly (or in total?) powered on for 56 days or so...
EB-1 wrote:
I contacted OWC last week on their site and provided the FW number. Today there was a reply that if I bought the card in 2025 it was good and that they needed the S/N. I feel they could have handled the whole situation much better by posting the info on the website by FW number and list of affected S/N range if they have that. The FW number should be definitive if that fixes the problem. I have write/verify read tested the card pretty heavily and run it to throttling multiple times in the A-B adapater. It is good so far and adequately tested IMO.
p.9 #3 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
j4nu wrote:
I don't think there is a type A 20gbps reader yet .
As for thermals, I don't know if the adapter contributes negatively - I'll have to check.
I didn't want to go into details, but if your PC doesn't have a USB 2x2 port built-in, then adding one through pcie / nvme can run into limitations of the pcie bandwidth / lanes shared between other devices . I want to find out if the OWC reader was not able to switch to 2x2 properly in my case or it's something other in my old pc (though I shuffled everything inside so that would be a surprise ) ...
p.9 #5 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
j4nu wrote:
Thanks! I'll probably try it to see how it compares to Lexar type B reader + adapter.
I remember thinking when this product first came out, why well regarded Anglebird would come with this Reader, up to "only" 20Gb/s for their new Type A. 4.0 cards, e.g., Prograde offers a USB4 up to 40Gb/s Type A Reader.
Clearly, I was caught up in the new "up 40Gb/s USB4 Reader" specs for Type A 4.0 for a few seconds vs actual Type A 4.0 card performance capabilities 🤓
p.9 #6 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
CFe4 Type A cannot use more than 20Gb speeds, but Type B can benefit.
That deeply recessed Angelsbird USB-C socket seems like a bad idea. The supplied cable is really short. Many USB-C cables would have plugs that are too short or too wide.
p.9 #7 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
EB-1 wrote:
That deeply recessed USB-C socket seems like a bad idea. The supplied cable is really short. Many USB-C cables would have plugs that are too short or too wide.
EBH
Rightly or wrongly, this product is designed and marketed as pocket-sized card reader, hence the shorter cable. The recessed cable socket seems like it could be a good design to protect the cable connection while in a pocket. Otherwise that short cable can be swapped with a longer cable for desktop ops.
" Protect your connection
The Solid Connect™ design features a recessed USB port within the drive's housing, protecting your connection for secure data transfer and reducing cable wear."
From my experience with their original CFexpress Type A Reader with that same recessed USBC socket design, I've not had any problems swapping the OEM USBC cable with a couple of other third party USB-C cables from OWC, Apple and some other generic USBC cables.
p.9 #9 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
EB-1 wrote:
Do you find it to better than the OWC reader?
EBH
Very different designs between the two. Both so far perform equally well on my Apple M1 Mac Studio computer with TB4 ports. However, I think having access to the card manufacturer's firmware updates, and maintenance software might at some point be a crucial benefit. IMO If you or anyone else is deciding on Reader type and bought these OWC cards, I'd nudge toward the OWC USB4 Reader for OWC cards and move quickly on the current un-advertised manufactured offered 50% Reader discount--IF they are still offering for those that already bought OWC cards.
Previously, of the up to 10Gb/s Cfexpress Type A 3.0 card Readers I tested, Sony, Prograde, Anglebird through Mac TB4 ports, while they are all fast, Sony was consistently the slowest Reader of the three brands, the multibrand CFexpress3.0 cards I tested ran consistently warmer/hot in the Prograde Reader and the Anglebird Reader was consistently slightly faster without the card heating up like the Prograde. The Prograde was faster than the Sony reader and at times right up there performance wise with the Anglebird Reader.
Also, I don't think the OWC 960GB card w/ A-B adapter ran hot to the touch in the OWC USB4 Reader even during the ATTO 32GB test you asked me to perform when run through the mac's TB4 port.
p.9 #10 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
I have Angelbird dual SD and CFExpress B readers with the recessed USB ports. I use 2m long aftermarket cables I bought from amazon to reach my PC and the plugs fit fine. I'm not saying all USB cables would fit. But I haven't run into any that didn't.
The firmware update dependency on brand matching card readers is not obvious when first considering which cards to buy. It only becomes an issue later when you need to do updates. Angelbird and Prograde have the same requirement to use their readers to update their respective cards.
Now I'm looking at memory cards and readers as a "system" just like cameras and lenses. Mixing and matching isn't always going to work. If I invest in new cards, I'm factoring new readers into the total cost. I will only buy cards where the manufacturer offers their own readers too. We're seeing that all the reputable brands do that now.
p.9 #11 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
Looks like OwC made a change to adapter when you buy the reader not the card like before
OWC Atlas CFexpress 4.0 Card Reader
USB4 + USB-C / Mac / PC / iPad / Chromebook / Tablet / Smartphone
Maximize your productivity with ultra-fast ingest speeds, broad compatibility, and compact, bus powered convenience. With up to 5000MB/s data transfers, this is the perfect reader for CFexpress Type A and Type B memory cards with large files that must be transferred quickly to save time and stay on budget. Combine this reader with an Atlas CFexpress 4.0 memory card to put the power of OWC’s Capture to Completion™ ecosytem to work for you, and enjoy the highest level of workflow efficiency and reliability.
Includes CFexpress Type A to Type B Adapter – achieve maximum speed when reading CFexpress Type A memory cards.
p.9 #13 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
I ordered the card reader and there is no Type A to Type B adapter. The description on the reader says there is one included as well as the video of the card reader. Oh well looks like I'm about to be on hold while I try to get this sorted out.
p.9 #14 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
I have been going back and forth with OWC about my purchase of the dual reader SD and CFExpress and a 480 card, neither of which came with the adapter. Very nice customer service person that was not at all helpful other than to tell me the card only comes with the reader most of you bought. It also doesn't come with the memory card so at this point I would urge people to not buy their reader.
Fortunately an adapter came with the card I purchased from BHPhoto so I'm fine...just annoyed.
p.9 #17 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
Critters wrote:
I have been going back and forth with OWC about my purchase of the dual reader SD and CFExpress and a 480 card, neither of which came with the adapter. Very nice customer service person that was not at all helpful other than to tell me the card only comes with the reader most of you bought. It also doesn't come with the memory card so at this point I would urge people to not buy their reader.
Fortunately an adapter came with the card I purchased from BHPhoto so I'm fine...just annoyed.
It looks like OWC stopped shipping the adapter with the card. I looked at the current 480GB card listing on the site and there's no mention of it, whereas there was a mention of it a month ago on the site (courtesy the Wayback Machine)
For example, on the current site:
Shoot, Store, and Swap… Anywhere
Atlas Pro CFexpress cards can shrug off the toughest environmental challenges, including x-rays, UV rays, shocks, drops, and extreme temperatures. Go ahead…shoot, store, and swap with total peace of mind. Atlas Pro CFexpress cards have your work – and your back – well protected.
On the archived site from a month ago:
Shoot, Store, and Swap… Anywhere
Atlas Pro CFexpress cards can shrug off the toughest environmental challenges, including x-rays, UV rays, shocks, drops, and extreme temperatures. Work anywhere with any gear with the included Type A to Type B adapter. Go ahead…shoot, store, and swap with total peace of mind. Atlas Pro CFexpress cards have your work – and your back – well protected.
I assume it's a cost saving thing (which I won't begrudge them since the card is very well priced already). You might want to put out a call on the B&S for anyone who has spares and could send you one for shipping cost. I might have a spare once I've determined my workflow when traveling but until then I'm hanging onto both mine (bought just a few weeks ago)
.
. I want to find out if the OWC reader was not able to switch to 2x2 properly in my case or it's something other in my old pc (though I shuffled everything