ProGrade Digital Gold CFexpress Type B 4.0 Card Tested

The ProGrade Digital Gold CFexpress Type B cards use the latest CFexpress 4.0 card specification, offering twice the read and write speeds of previous ProGrade Gold Series CFexpress 2.0 Type B memory cards. After testing the 512GB version of the Gold card in my Nikon Z8 and Canon R5 Mark II for several months of wildlife photography travel, I used my usual speed tests to see how the performance matches up to ProGrade’s claims.

Disclaimer: ProGrade Digital provided the 512GB Gold Series card for testing. No money changed hands, and they were not allowed to see the content before it was published.

Specifications

• Card Type – CFexpress Type B
• Card Specification – CFexpress 4.0
• Model # – PGCFX256GATBH, PGCFX512GATBH, PGCFX1TBATBH, PGCFX2TBATBH
• Capacity – (256GB possibly discontinued), 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
• Max Read Speed – 3400 MB/s (all capacities)
• Max Write Speed – 3000 MB/s (all capacities)
• Sustained Write Speed – 850 MB/s (256GB and 512GB models) / 1500 MB/s (1TB and 2TB models)
• VPG Rating – None
• Protection – Shock / Vibration / X-Ray Proof
• Operating Temperature – -12°C to 72°C (10 to 162°F)
• Storage Temperature – -20°C to 85°C (-4 to 185°F)
• Features – Laser-Etched Serial Numbers and Refresh Pro ready
• Warranty – 3-years
• Price – $149.99 / $199.99 / $329.99 / $549.99 at review time – Check current price

CFexpress 2.0 Vs. 4.0

The ProGrade Digital Gold CFexpress Type B card tested in this review uses the CFexpress 4.0 specification. As the CFexpress card standard continues to evolve, so do the specification and maximum performance attributes. CFexpress 4.0 cards superseded 2.0 cards in 2024. At review time, no cameras support the 4.0 standard. However, photographers and filmmakers can use CFexpress 4.0’s speed by pairing a 4.0 card with a 4.0 card reader–including ProGrade’s own USB4 CFexpress 4.0 reader– resulting in much faster file ingests at the end of a day of shooting.

If you’re looking to buy a ProGrade Gold card, be aware that, at review time, ProGrade continues to sell Gold Series Type B cards built on the older CFexpress 2.0 platform. Given the minor price difference between the 2.0 and 4.0 versions, I do not recommend buying the old 2.0 cards. I’m sure they will be discontinued soon. Ensure that you purchase the 4.0 cards by looking for the 4.0 logo on the card or packaging and double-checking for the faster read speeds. You can also use the links at the end of the review.

ProGrade Gold Type B 4.0 Speed Tests

This card’s speed testing was performed using the ProGrade Digital Type B USB4 card reader. Note that if you use a USB 3.2 reader, your card speeds will be slower, and your download times will be longer. The read speed of a CFexpress Type A 4.0 card is far beyond the throughput capacity of USB 3.2. Buying a CFexpress 4.0 card without a card reader that can deliver the card’s maximum performance would be somewhat pointless. At review time, this means purchasing a Type B card reader that offers USB4, Thunderbolt 4, or Thunderbolt 5. I recommend already-mentioned ProGrade USB4 reader or the previously reviewed OWC Atlas USB4 reader.

Test Results

As a reminder, ProGrade claims that the 512GB Gold Type B card can reach a maximum read speed of 3400MB/s, maximum write speed of 3000MB/s, and a sustained write speed of 850MB/s.

Result Discussion – Good or Bad?

The test results for this card are a little curious. They’re not bad, but the massive fluctuations in sustained write performance are highly unusual. Likewise, so is the fact that I saw faster sustained write speeds on the larger 4GB test than the smaller file 1GB test- something I’ve never seen before. The maximum read speed is good and sustains itself well during longer runs, which is excellent for offloading large files or large numbers at the end of a day’s shooting. Sustained write speed doesn’t fall below 800MB/s until you push into the massive 64GB test, and even here, it barely dips below, while my overall average result for that test was above, at 808MB/s, indicating good thermal control during long file transfers. That said, ProGrade claims a sustained write of 850MB/s, which I did not see in anything beyond the 256MB file test- a little disappointing.

Remember that these Gold Series cards are not VPG-rated and offer a much lower $/GB ratio than ProGrade’s VPG-rated Iridium cards. Having tested them, I can see why they aren’t VPG-rated. VPG (Video Performance Guide) tests are strenuous tests that guarantee a minimum write speed. If a card drops below a threshold, 200MB/s for VPG200 and 400MB/s for VPG400, even for a split second, it’s ineligible for the VPG rating. These ratings are intended for video shooters, ensuring no dropped frames or other recording issues.

For stills photography, the VPG rating is irrelevant. Still photos are stored in the camera’s buffer and then transferred to the memory card. If the sustained write speed fluctuates for a fraction of a second or even a few seconds during that transfer operation, it won’t have a noticeable effect. In that case, it’s the average sustained write speed that still photographers should focus on.

One thing to underline is that the 512GB card I’m testing has a claimed sustained write speed of 850MB/s, while the larger capacity 1TB and 2TB cards claim to offer 1500MB/s. The 512GB card costs $199.99 at review time, while the twice-as-big and faster 1TB card only costs $329.99. In other words, think about how much capacity you need. The larger 1TB and 2TB cards offer better value for money.

Alternative CFexpress Type B Cards

Compare the ProGrade Digital Gold Series CFexpress 4.0 Type B 512GB card to my other recommended card options in 2025.