Are they....FAKE?

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I bought a bunch of CF cards (all from the same guy), and I just got them today. The only one I've tried is the Ultra 512 (not II), and it seems to work alright, but I'm concerned that they might not be real Ultra/II cards. The thing that made me wonder is the position and appearance of the serial number. This is a shot I took of the stack (minus the 512 I tested to take the shot), with one of my 2gig Ultra II's that I had already, sitting on top. Now...the top one is shown obviously from the bottom edge, and the others are on the left side. No markings on the bottom edge of the new ones.

89856

They are, from top to bottom:

1 2gig Ultra II
5 1gig Ultra II's
1 512 Ultra II
3 512 Ultra

I've never owned lower than 2gig cards, so I don't know if this is normal. Got me worried, though. Whaddaya think?

Got 'em on FM, by the way.

[tommykjensen]

Well if the text we can see on the edge is supposed to be the serial number then it looks like You got multiple cards with the same numbers.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

That's what I was concerned about.

[Steve Parr]

Could that be a model or part number? If that was the case, it'd be a plus that all the numbers are the same...

[tommykjensen]

Unfortunately I don't have any 1 GB cards.

I just checked my extreme cards. 2 x 4GB and 1 x 2 GB and I don't think the text on the edge is a serial number as my 2 4 GB has the same number. (I am pretty sure they are not fake).

[Woolburr]

Here are some legit 2gb cards (bottom) and 1gb (top)http://www.pbase.com/woolburr/image/62619477/medium.jpg
and a legit 512....but notice the numbers
http://www.pbase.com/woolburr/image/62619546/medium.jpg

[In2Photos]

Ronald I have 2 1 GB cards and 2 512 cards, all Ultra II. My 1 GB cards have different numbers and are on the left side of the card if looking at the label straight on (cards were purchased from different stores at different times). The 512s have the same number and are at the same location you show (both purchased at the same time from the same store). I think you are OK.

[jfrancho]

My cards were all purchased at different times, and the info and location varies. They're most likely genuine.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

So it's not a serial number, but a part number? ...Where's the serial number, then? Aren't they supposed to have them, too?

[Woolburr]

No....those are the serial numbers...but according to SanDisk...they don't give individual numbers to the cards...but numbers to the batch of cards.

[tommykjensen]

I could not find any number that resembles a unique serial number on my cards.

[dewmuw]

Does it matter if they work OK? OK is matters if you paid a going rate for them, but if you got them really cheap and they work.........

Other than feeling ripped off by the seller - assuming he/she knew they were fake (if they are)

[Ronald S. Jr.]

The part I worried about was speed and reliability. The Ultra II's are fast (faster than most), and they're reliable. If it were a cheaper brand, I may not notice the speed difference until I was bursting, but what about errors and shock ratings and so forth? The cheap ones would fail. Good news is, I tried a burst on all of them, and they all seemed the same speed (per type).

[CyberDyneSystems]

Like Wollbur mentions,. those are "batch numbers" like yopu see opn bags of Potatoe Chips, etc...

Unlike other brands that put "45X" or "80x" on there cards so it's easy to know which are the newer faster models, the name "UltraII" has been stamped on Sandisk cards for many years now,. with no indication of the speed improvements visible to the owner. A 1GB card from 2003 will not be nearly as fast as one from 2006.. etc..

If you read up on the RG CF database,. you'll notte that the edge stamped "batch numer" is allways included for this reason.. to discern which model "UltraII" they are measuring.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

So you're saying that if these are a few years old, they're gonna be slow as hell in comparison to my new 2gig?

I guess if they're fast enough for me, it won't matter if one's slower than the other, though. ;-)

[IanD]

Ron,
If you send SanDisk the type and "batch" numbers, they will tell you if the are real or not.

[CyberDyneSystems]

So you're saying that if these are a few years old, they're gonna be slow as hell in comparison to my new 2gig?



Assuming that they are real.. no I'm not saying that.
I belive the first gen UltraII were in the 40X speed neighborhood.. I have a number of cards I still use rated between 40X and 52X that are plenty fast when compared to newer "80X and supoosed "120X" cards.

So at the slowest for a real Ultra II, regardless of year, I'd think about 40X-ish.

[IanD]

Ron,
Check out this web site. It might help.
http://martybugs.net/articles/fakesandisk.cgi

[joeseph]

Just had a look at my two 1G cards, they both have same number BB050619B & looking at the link above, look genuine to me. My only grumble is that they cost me twice what the current price is!

[Dandaman_24]

looks like my 2Gb card is a fake afterall. bummer
I cannot even tell the difference with my original 1GB sandisk, its the packaging that i found out.

[SuzyView]

I bought 3 1 gb cards at Costco and they must be the same batch BB0602G4B. Yours look good, Ronald, but I'd check if I were you. My cards have the number and MADE IN CHINA on the same line. Why don't I get a discount? I'm from China. Can we get these cheaper in China? Maybe I should plan a trip to the Olympics coming up. :) Can I change the subject of what?