CFexpress is among the latest NAND flash-based high-speed memory cards to adopt the NVMe protocol over PCIe interface. Radically faster than other memory cards, CFexpress cards were originally developed to meet the storage and high-resolution demands of the latest mirrorless digital cameras to take advantage of advanced high-end camera features, such as 4K/6K/8K video capture, in-camera uncompressed video recording, and ultra-rapid burst modes.
CFexpress offers a new standard of performance, portability, and flexibility for removable media cards, making it suitable for industrial applications as well. Combined with features like rugged and sturdy construction, extended endurance, and reliable performance while operating under extreme temperatures, CFexpress cards are ideal for data logging, surveillance, automotive, and other demanding industrial applications.
CFexpress Types
There are three types of CFexpress cards. They are sized differently with each size supporting a specific number of PCIe lanes and thus, a different maximum theoretical speed. The following table compares Types A, B, and C.
ATP CFexpress Type B Card with PCIe Gen 3 x2 Interface
Available in capacities from 128 GB to 1 TB, the N651Si / N601Sc will sport the PCIe Gen 3 interface with two lanes (x2), thus surpassing standard configurations with its high-speed sequential read/write speeds of up to 3500/3200 MB/s.
ATP N601Sc is C-Temp operable at 0°C to 70°C while the upcoming N651Si supports the I-Temp range from -40°C to 85°C for reliable operation in extremely cold or hot environments. These CFexpress Type B cards are constructed for industrial/embedded, automation, networking, test and measurement, transportation, and other segments transitioning from storage using the SATA interface, such as CFast, to PCIe/NVMe. The new high-performance memory cards are also ideal for entry-level data loggers, high-end video cameras, and high-end digital cameras.
Although CFexpress cards were originally built for high-speed digital photography, video capture, and other consumer applications, CFexpress cards are fast becoming popular in industrial/embedded, automation, and other function-critical applications. The ATP N651Si / N601Sc CFexpress cards are in high demand as boot drives and removable data storage devices due to the benefits they offer, such as:
- Sustainable Low-Latency Performance. While the speed enhancement from previous-generation cards is definitely a plus, ATP’s CFexpress cards offer superior sustainable low latency performance – a must for applications requiring high reliability and endurance. The DRAM-less CFexpress cards feature Host Memory Buffer (HMB) support to improve random read performance. Tests also show a 58% drop in latency with HMB-enabled Quality of Service (QoS) writes.
- Durable Design. The sturdy construction makes the ATP N651Si / N601Sc resistant to shocks/vibrations, water and dust particles, as well as extreme heat and cold.
- Flexibility and Portability. As removable storage devices, the ATP CFexpress cards make it easy to transfer and access data to/from different host systems with or without network connection. Hot-plug/hot-swap capability also allows users to insert/replace the cards even while the system is running.
- Secure Storage. Optional features protect stored information from security breaches. TCG Opal 2.0 provides top-notch data encryption/decryption, while hardware write‑protection security prevents data tampering and unauthorized write access to the device.
Apart from speedy performance, ATP N651Si / N601Sc CFexpress cards come with the following advanced features to ensure data integrity, optimal sustained performance, and extended endurance.
- Power Management: Thermal monitoring and throttling mechanism
- Host Memory Buffer support
- Security
- AES 256 bit Encryption, TCG Opal 2.0 (optional)
- Hardware (HW) write protect (optional)
- Operating Temperature (Case, Tc)
- N651Si (upcoming): I-Temp -40°C to 85°C
- N601Sc: C-Temp 0°C to 70°C
- Software RAID 0, 1 compatibility
ATP N651Si / N601Sc PCIe Gen 3 x2 NVMe CFexpress Card Specifications
**CFExpress spec 4.0 for PCIe Gen. 4 is under IP review and will be released Aug. 24, 2023.
Conclusion
To keep up with today’s data storage demands, many segments are transitioning from SATA-based storage media to PCIe/NVMe-based ones. N651Si / N601Sc Series CFexpress Type B cards are ATP’s latest NAND-flash based high-speed memory cards to adopt the NVMe™ protocol over PCIe interface. Using the PCIe 4.0* x2 interface, they deliver superior, high-speed performance compared with other cards using the PCIe 3.0 x2 interface.
These cards offer extended endurance, reliable performance, low latency, low power consumption and other advanced features that make them excellent choices for demanding applications.
For more information on ATP N651Si / N601Sc CFexpress Type B memory cards, visit the ATP website or contact an ATP Representative.
