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Review: Lexar Professional Workflow CFR1 CompactFlash CF Card Reader USB 3.0

Lexar Professional Workflow CFR1 ComapctFlash Card Reader

Introduction

The Lexar Professional Workflow Secure Digital CFR1 is a single slot CompactFlash card reader. As its name implies, this reader is aimed at professional photographers. It can be used as a standalone reader or inserted into the 4-bay HR1 reader hub. It uses a USB 3.0 interface and is reverse compatible with USB 2.0 ports.

The Lexar CFR1 has the latest UDMA7 compatiblity for fast transfers using cards such as the Lexar 1066X CompactFlash. When a card is inserted a bright blue LED light shines from the front of the reader. The light flashes when the card is being accessed.

Lexar Professional Workflow CFR1 CompactFlash Card Reader Back with USB 3.0 standard-B connector and cable

Lexar Professional Workflow CFR1 CompactFlash Card Reader Bottom
The CFR1 has a very studry build, with a thick plastic case. The case has a high gloss front and back while the sides are textured. The reader uses a full-size USB 3.0 standard-B connector, rather than the tiny micro-B found on many other USB 3.0 readers. A rubber pad on the bottom holds the reader in place on a table or desk. A translucent rubber hood is included to cover the front when not in use.

Cards slide easily into the reader while the final 3mm is firm as the card seats on the pins. The card inserts to a total depth of just over 3/4 inch (20mm) to assure the card is properly alinged without worry of bending pins.

Lexar Professional Workflow CFR1 CompactFlash Card Reader with Card

Compatibility is listed as Mac OS X 10.6+ and Windows 7/8.

The Lexar CFR1 and Professional Workflow products are covered by a two-year limited warranty.

Made in China.

Performance

The Lexar CFR1 reader bprovided very fast read speeds using the latest UDMA 7 CompactFlash cards. The CFR1 reached 162.3 MB/s sequential read and 151.8 MB/s sequential write using a Lexar 1066x 32GB CF card. Benchmarks run with Windows 8.1 were marginally faster than those measured in Windows 7 with the same hardware. Under Windows 7 the SanDisk Extreme Pro 160MB/s measured 152.0 MB/s sequential read, while the Lexar 800x and 1066x CF cards provided 149.6 and 149.3 MB/s read speeds, and the Transcend 1000x 32GB CF card reached 150.0 MB/s sequential read. Windows 8 provided about a 10 MB/s faster read speeds.

Reader: Lexar Professional Workflow CFR1
Benchmark: CrystalDiskMark 3.0.3 x64
Program settings: 1000 MB, 5 passes, random test data
Operating system: Windows 10 Pro
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H
Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K @ 4.40GHz
RAM: 32GB DDR3 1600

Lexar Professional Workflow CFR1
Card Benchmarks
Sequential
Read
(MB/s)
Sequential
Write
(MB/s)
Lexar Professional 1066x 64GB162.620151.616
Lexar Professional 800x 64GB162.52077.534
Lexar Professional 1066x 32GB162.268151.792
SanDisk Extreme Pro 160MB/s 32GB161.468147.979
Lexar Professional 800x 32GB160.94845.924
Transcend 1000x 32GB159.820133.628
PixelFlash SuperSport 1000X-PRO 128GB159.261138.903
Lexar Professional 1066x 128GB159.237149.540
SanDisk Extreme Pro 160MB/s 256GB158.779141.013
Komputerbay 1066x 128GB158.683147.148
Toshiba Exceria Pro 1066x 32GB158.611147.086
Transcend 1000x 128GB158.371143.092
Toshiba Exceria 1000x 32GB158.252110.586
SanDisk Extreme Pro 160MB/s 128GB158.037143.366
SanDisk Extreme Pro 160MB/s 64GB157.942145.333
Toshiba Exceria 1000x 64GB157.090117.068
Toshiba Exceria Pro 1066x 64GB151.070144.531
Kingston Ultimate 600x 32GB131.483111.278
SanDisk Extreme 120MB/s 32GB123.98968.284
SanDisk Ultra 50MB/s 32GB54.75631.446

Compare prices on the Lexar Professional Workflow CFR1 reader. The lowest prices are highlighted in the table below.

Card ReaderConnectionModel NumberPrices
AmazonB&H PhotoAdorama
Lexar Professional Workflow CFR1USB 3.0LRWCFR1RBNA$75.00Check priceCheck price