[wellylug] Flash RAM/EPROM disks

[Pete Black]

This probably refers to the PCMCIA flash cards that were common before 
CF became the 'defacto stamdard', and the adapter most likely refers to 
a PCMCIA->CF adapter sleeve. Sounds old, clunky and pointless compared 
to the examples of the 'all-in-one' cf card + IDE adapter devices posted 
by Peter Jones.

As CF cards appear as IDE devices, you can add up to 2 per IDE connector 
- e.g. you could put 16GB worth of CF in a standard dual-IDE system, so 
'expandability' isn't really a big bonus for such an adapter.

As for 40 vs 44 pin, i believe the 44 pin adapters supply the power to 
the device using the 'extra 4' pins - The 44-pin cable is the standard 
used on laptop drives, and the connector is physically smaller. Adapters 
are available to connect a 44-pin laptop IDE connector to a PC 40-pin 
IDE connect + a molex power socket for a standard PC PSU.

Personally, while experimenting on a desktop PC i would go for the 
standalone IDE->CF converter e,g dick smith, since you can swap cards in 
and out while developing, but on a laptop i'd go with the 'all-in-one' 
44 pin unit.

Hope that helps

-Pete








>
> One advert on trademe (#26879407) makes me wonder about the difference 
> between "flash cards" and "compact flash cards" :
> "Up for auction here is a pair of IDE Solid State Data drives. They 
> take flash cards and can be used in place of an IDE hard drive. ...
> Size is the same as a floppy disk, can fit in the floppy bay on the 
> case. Connector at rear is the same as for any IDE disk, it also has 
> master/slave jumper. Compact flash cards can be used in these, with 
> the addition of a suitable converter."
> --> needs a converter for 'flash cards' as opposed to 'compact flash 
> cards' ??
>