Editing CompactFlash (section)

====File systems====
CompactFlash cards for use in consumer devices are typically formatted as [[FAT12]] (for media up to 16&nbsp;MB), [[FAT16]] (for media up to 2&nbsp;GB, sometimes up to 4&nbsp;GB) and [[FAT32]] (for media larger than 2&nbsp;GB). This lets the devices be read by personal computers but also suits the limited processing ability of some consumer devices such as [[digital camera|camera]]s.

There are varying levels of compatibility among FAT32-compatible cameras, MP3 players, PDAs, and other devices. While any device that claims FAT32-capability should read and write to a FAT32-formatted card without problems, some devices are tripped up by cards larger than 2&nbsp;GB that are completely unformatted, while others may take longer to apply a FAT32 format.

The way many digital cameras update the file system as they write to the card creates a FAT32 bottleneck. Writing to a FAT32-formatted card generally takes a little longer than writing to a FAT16-formatted card with similar performance capabilities. For instance, the [[Canon EOS 10D]] writes the same photo to a FAT16-formatted 2&nbsp;GB CompactFlash card somewhat faster than to a same speed 4&nbsp;GB FAT32-formatted CompactFlash card, although the memory chips in both cards have the same write speed specification.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-6453-6837 |website=Rob Galbraith |title=CompactFlash Performance Database updated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518120000/http://robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-6453-6837 |archive-date=2013-05-18 |url-status=dead |date=March 22, 2004 }}</ref> Although FAT16 is more wasteful of disk space with its larger clusters, it works better with the write strategy that flash memory chips require.

The cards themselves can be formatted with any type of file system such as [[Extended file system|Ext]], [[JFS (file system)|JFS]], [[NTFS]], or by one of the dedicated [[flash file system]]s. It can be divided into partitions as long as the host device can read them. CompactFlash cards are often used instead of hard drives in embedded systems, [[dumb terminal]]s and various small form-factor PCs that are built for low noise output or power consumption. CompactFlash cards are often more readily available and smaller than purpose-built [[solid-state drive]]s and often have faster [[seek time]]s than hard drives.