Scythe Launches Interesting USB 3.0 Based Card Reader

News
By Niels Broekhuijsen
published

Scythe has released a card reader that is a little more exciting than we're used to from card readers.

While many people are switching over to the cloud for data storage and transfer, Scythe has decided to give those among us who still use memory cards and USB sticks some love. While we question the need for yet another 3.5" card reader, this is one that we can certainly welcome.

Scythe's Kama Reader 3, the SCKMRD3, is bringing some USB 3.0 goodness to built-in card readers. Previously, these card readers were limited to USB 2.0 speeds, but this reader would, of course, be a lot faster. While most cheap memory cards might have trouble saturating USB 2.0 bandwidth, there are a lot of photographers with much pricier, faster and bigger compact flash and SDXD cards that can go well over USB 2.0 speeds.

Scythe has even given us some benchmarks, showing more than double the read speeds on a 64 GB Transcend SDXC card.

So far there has been no word on US availability; however, the product has already hit shelves in Europe for a price of about €20, translating to roughly $27.

Niels Broekhuijsen
Niels Broekhuijsen

Niels Broekhuijsen is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware US. He reviews cases, water cooling and pc builds.

16 Comments Comment from the forums
  • bujuki
    Power Logic MediaPort 1000 Universal Card Reader is a another interesting product. Although its card reader uses USB 2.0 it has 4 USB 3.0 port. The price when I bought it was about 35 USD. I don't know if it's available in US though.
    Reply
  • agnickolov
    I wish somebody releases a card reader with integrated 2.5" to 3.5" disk adapter on the back. I've been looking for ages for one for my HTPC...
    Reply
  • samwelaye
    10685896 said:
    Power Logic MediaPort 1000 Universal Card Reader is a another interesting product. Although its card reader uses USB 2.0 it has 4 USB 3.0 port. The price when I bought it was about 35 USD. I don't know if it's available in US though.

    If the reader itself uses usb 2.0 then having 3 3.0s on it is a total waste. they will only run at the 2.0 speeds...
    Reply
  • drakepandor
    10686162 said:
    10685896 said:
    Power Logic MediaPort 1000 Universal Card Reader is a another interesting product. Although its card reader uses USB 2.0 it has 4 USB 3.0 port. The price when I bought it was about 35 USD. I don't know if it's available in US though.

    If the reader itself uses usb 2.0 then having 3 3.0s on it is a total waste. they will only run at the 2.0 speeds...

    I just looked into the Power Logic MediaPort 1000. It uses 1 full USB 2.0 connector as well as PCI-E x 1, which would be how it supports the USB 3 ports. I'm guessing though that the card slots run through the USB 2 connector.
    Reply
  • stuartl
    AFT has had a USB3 card reader available for over a year now.
    http://www.atechflash.com/AtechFlash_Product_PRO-57U.htm
    Reply
  • Non-Euclidean
    Just what I need, another card reader.

    Not to slam it, but I dont really need USB 3.0 speeds for the limited amount of transferring I do with cards.
    The only card I really transfer to is my phones internal, and I can access that fine with a Micro USB cable.
    But I could see the use if I was transferring a lot of stuff on/off a huge card...
    Reply
  • jn77
    I have had USB 3.x card readers for about 12 months now, not sure how this is news, I transfer multiple 32gb and 64gb CF cards weekly to the pc and NAS.
    Reply
  • thefiend1
    "people who still use memory cards and usb sticks" Um, last I checked MANY people use these as well. The cloud can suck it.
    Reply
  • dalethepcman
    Rosewill (newegg's in house brand) has had these available for well over a year, and while I like Scythe's products, the multi function card reader is a dying breed, as CF, SD, and mSD (and maybe memory stick) are widely accepted standards, where all other formats are obsolete / obscure.

    I would have prefered and update to the Kama 3 line of fan controler / card reader combo's.
    Reply
  • mynith
    Funnily enough I thought there were SATA-based ones as well. Wouldn't these be better still?
    Reply