XQD Memory Card Format Announced

The CompactFlash Association has announced the new XQD(TM) specification as a new memory card format, smaller than Compact Flash, but larger than SD memory cards. Cameras that will support this new memory card format have not yet been announced.

From Compact Flash: XQD Introduces Industry Leading Performance

Cupertino, California – Dec. 7th, 2011 - The CompactFlash Association (CFA) is pleased to
announce the release of the XQD specification as a new high performance memory card. This
XQD specification is based on the PCI Express® specification, which provides a solid base for
future performance scaling.

The CFA has adopted a new card specification with exciting performance and storage capabilities.

The key features of the XQD format include:

Optimized form-factor

• Dimensions : 38.5 x 29.8 x 3.8mm
• Durable & Robust

Scalable High Performance Interface

• PCI Express: 2.5Gbps today and 5Gbps Future

Actual Write Speeds

• Target 125MB/sec and Higher

To distinguish the new memory card format, an XQD compatibility mark has been created as
shown above.

“The XQD format will enable further evolution of hardware and imaging applications, and widen
the memory card options available to CompactFlash users such as professional photographers,”
said Mr. Shigeto Kanda of Canon, chairman of the board, CFA.


XQD cards will be shown at the CompactFlash Association booth at CP+ 2012, February 9-12 in
Yokohama, Japan.

Licensing for CFA members will start in early 2012. Please contact the CompactFlash office for
more information.

The CFA (logo), CF (logo), CF+ and CFast are trademarks of the CFA and are licensed royalty free to its members. The CFA is a licensee of the CompactFlash® and XQD trademarks and in turn will license it royalty free to its members. The PCI Express® design mark is a registered trademark of PCI-SIG.