CompactFlash
CF=CompactFlash 
Developed by SanDisk.
Is compatible with PC Card ATA with a simple passive adapter.
| Type | Thickness | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| I | 3.3 mm | Flash memory |
| II | 5.0 mm | Microdrive |
Pinout
50 PIN ??? MALE at the controller.
50 PIN ??? FEMALE at the peripherals.
| Pin | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GND | Ground |
| 2 | D3 | Data 3 |
| 3 | D4 | Data 4 |
| 4 | D5 | Data 5 |
| 5 | D6 | Data 6 |
| 6 | D7 | Data 7 |
| 7 | /CE1 | Card Enable 1 |
| 8 | A10 | Address 10 |
| 9 | /OE | Output Enable |
| 10 | A9 | Address 9 |
| 11 | A8 | Address 8 |
| 12 | A7 | Address 7 |
| 13 | VCC | +5V |
| 14 | A6 | Address 6 |
| 15 | A5 | Address 5 |
| 16 | A4 | Address 4 |
| 17 | A3 | Address 3 |
| 18 | A2 | Address 2 |
| 19 | A1 | Address 1 |
| 20 | A0 | Address 0 |
| 21 | D0 | Data 0 |
| 22 | D1 | Data 1 |
| 23 | D2 | Data 2 |
| 24 | /WP:/IOIS16 | Write Protect : IOIS16 |
| 25 | /CD2 | Card Detect 2 |
| 26 | /CD1 | Card Detect 1 |
| 27 | D11 | Data 11 |
| 28 | D12 | Data 12 |
| 29 | D13 | Data 13 |
| 30 | D14 | Data 14 |
| 31 | D15 | Data 15 |
| 32 | /CE2 | Card Enable 2 |
| 33 | /VS1 | Voltage Sense 1 (GND) |
| 34 | /IORD | I/O Read |
| 35 | /IOWR | I/O Write |
| 36 | /WE | Write Enable |
| 37 | /READY:/RDY:/IREQ | Ready : Busy : IREQ |
| 38 | VCC | +5V |
| 39 | CSEL | Cable Select |
| 40 | /VS2 | Voltage Sense 2 (Open) |
| 41 | RESET | Reset |
| 42 | /WAIT | Wait |
| 43 | /INPACK | Input Acknowledge / DMARQ |
| 44 | /REG | Register Select |
| 45 | /BVD2:SPKR | Battery Voltage Detect 2 : SPKR |
| 46 | /BVD1:STSCHG | Battery Voltage Detect 1 : STSCHG |
| 47 | D8 | Data 8 |
| 48 | D9 | Data 9 |
| 49 | D10 | Data 10 |
| 50 | GND | Ground |
Interface Modes
| Mode | Transfer Rate |
|---|---|
| PIO Mode 0 | 3.3 MB/s |
| PIO Mode 4 | 16.7 MB/s |
| MDMA Mode 2 | 16.7 MB/s |
| UDMA Mode 4 | 66.7 MB/s |
| UDMA Mode 6 | 133 MB/s |
| UDMA Mode 7 | 167 MB/s |
Speed Ratings
| Rating | Speed | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| 133x | 20 MB/s | Consumer cameras |
| 400x | 60 MB/s | Pro cameras |
| 600x | 90 MB/s | High-end cameras |
| 1000x | 150 MB/s | Professional |
| UDMA 7 | 167 MB/s | Top-tier |
1x = 150 KB/s (CD-ROM speed)
Capacity
| Generation | Max Capacity |
|---|---|
| CF 1.0 | 128 GB (28-bit LBA) |
| CF 2.0 | 137 GB (48-bit LBA) |
| CF 5.0 | 128 PiB (48-bit LBA) |
Practical cards up to 512GB available.
Physical Dimensions
| Parameter | Type I | Type II |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 42.8mm | 42.8mm |
| Width | 36.4mm | 36.4mm |
| Thickness | 3.3mm | 5.0mm |
Power Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 3.3V or 5V |
| Current (active) | 50-100mA |
| Current (standby) | <1mA |
IDE Compatibility
CF cards are electrically compatible with IDE/ATA:
- Direct connection with passive adapter
- Pin-compatible with 44-pin IDE
- Can boot computers as hard drive
Successors
- CFast: SATA interface, 600 MB/s
- CFexpress: PCIe/NVMe, 2000+ MB/s
See Also
Contributions
- Joakim Ögren
- Dennis Engström
Sources
- CompactFlash Association - Official specifications and standards
- CF+ and CompactFlash Specification Rev 3.0 - Official CFA specification (PDF)
- SanDisk CompactFlash Product Manual - Manufacturer datasheet (PDF)
- WinSystems CompactFlash Datasheet - Industrial CF card datasheet (PDF)
- AllPinouts - CompactFlash - Pinout reference
- PinoutGuide - CompactFlash - Pinout reference
- pinouts.ru - CompactFlash - Pinout reference
- Wikipedia - CompactFlash - General overview
- Delkin Technical Guide for CF Cards - Technical reference
- WD CF Card Speeds and UDMA Information - Speed specifications