1TB and guaranteed writing speed of 800 MB/s: ProGrade updates the Iridium CFexpress 4.0 line

ProGrade Digital has announced two new CFexpress 4.0 Type A memory cards in the Iridium line, with capacities of 512GB priced at $569.99 and 1TB at $949.99. These capacities exceed those of the previous Iridium CFexpress 4.0 Type A cards, which were limited to 480GB and 960GB, and come with a dual certification of VPG400 and VPG800 designed to meet both current and next-generation camera needs.

The cards feature a PCIe Gen 4 interface with an NVMe 1.4c controller, providing maximum read speeds of up to 1,800 MB/s, burst write speeds of up to 1,700 MB/s, and sustained write speeds of 1,500 MB/s. The dual certification of VPG400 and VPG800 ensures that the write speed never drops below 800 MB/s, even under extreme prolonged stress, a typical condition for high-bitrate video recordings.

Compatibility: Ready for a standard that cameras do not yet have

The new Iridium cards are compliant with the CompactFlash Association 4.0 standard and support both Profile 4 (VPG200 and VPG400) and Profile 5 (VPG800). They remain backward compatible with the CFexpress 2.0 standard used by cameras currently on the market: at this time, no camera body fully supports CFexpress 4.0, and to truly leverage the higher speeds, a compatible CFexpress 4.0 reader combined with an appropriate USB cable is required.

Currently, no Sony camera that uses CFexpress Type A cards requires VPG800 for any video recording mode: thus, the new cards are already ready for requirements that no camera body truly imposes at this moment. Wes Brewer, CEO and founder of ProGrade Digital, commented: "Even though there are still no cameras that support both VPG Profile 4 and Profile 5, these new cards are designed to meet those emerging standards, ensuring full compatibility with today's cameras while also offering the performance and flexibility needed for the next generation of imaging technology."

Robustness designed for the most demanding shoots

The cards integrate a thermal throttling system against overheating and operate in a temperature range from -10°C to 70°C. Each unit has a laser-etched serial number for tracking internal components and is resistant to X-rays and shocks. The warranty is for three years.