The Lexar Gold Professional CFexpress Type-B cards are Lexar’s mid-tier offering, crafted to tackle challenging requirements with ease. With great read and write speeds, they are perfectly suited for handling high-resolution content and delivering reliable and fluid performance.
Lexar Gold Professional CFexpress Type-B Memory Cards
Lexar Gold 128-512GB CFexpress Type B
Tested Write: 1410 MB/s
Tested Read: 1525 MB/s
Tested Sustain: 1382 MB/s
Lexar Gold 1TB-2TB CFexpress Type B
Tested Write Speed: 1642 MB/s
Tested Read Speed: 1695 MB/s
Tested Sustain: 1582 MB/s
Warranty: Limited Lifetime
128-512GB
1TB-2TB
Key Features:
The Lexar Gold Professional CFexpress Type-B cards come in two capacity ranges, each with distinct specifications that primarily influence read and sustained write speeds. However, these differences are minimal when it comes to practical, everyday usage.
- Capacity: 128-512GB
- Read Speed: Up to 1750 MB/s
- Write Speed: Up to 1500 MB/s
- Sustained Speeds: 1000 MB/s
- Capacity: 1TB-2TB
- Read Speed: Up to 1900 MB/s
- Write Speed: Up to 1500 MB/s
- Sustained Speeds: 1300 MB/s
Note For Videographers: Some cameras like the Nikon Z8 and Z9 do a handshake with the cards when first initialized and they can limit the maximum bitrate recorded with ProRes or NRAW as a safety precaution. However, I do not see any video bitrate throttling with the Lexar Gold Cards. You will get the full 722MB/s when recording to NRAW with these cards.
The Rated Specs
The Lexar Gold Professional cards are available in two specification ranges. The 128GB to 512GB cards feature a read speed of 1750 MB/s and a sustained write speed of 1000 MB/s. Meanwhile, the larger 1TB to 2TB cards offer a read speed of 1900 MB/s and a sustained write speed of 1300 MB/s. However, in practical terms, these variations in speed do not significantly impact the in-camera performance with modern cameras.
Benchmarks – USB-C Speed Tests
I use the AJA System Test to emulate various video codecs, but currently use 16-bit RGBA. My testing involves 4GB files to capture peak performance scores, reflecting the common buffer size of many of today’s cameras. To accurately measure sustained speed, I perform several continuous tests with 64GB files, noting the minimum speed achieved.
These evaluations are conducted using the Lexar USB 3.2 2×2 CFExpress Type-B reader. Below are the results.
| Card Tested | Write Speed | Read Speed | Sustain Speeds |
| Lexar Gold CFeB 128GB | 1410 MB/s | 1525 MB/s | 1382 MB/s |
| Lexar Gold CFeB 2TB | 1642 MB/s | 1695 MB/s | 1582 MB/s |
Compare to other CFepxress Type-B memory cards.
Sustained Disk Writes
The Lexar Gold does not have the VGP-400 rating like the Lexar Diamond CFexpress Type-B card does, meaning it lacks the certification to guarantee a minimum sustained speed of 400MB/s. However, when testing the card, performance is very stable and I am able to continuously record NRAW 8k60p at 722MB/s to both capacity sets.
Lexar Gold 128GB Sustained Disk Writes
Using the AJA System Test, we can see the 128GB card has an average write speed of around 1400MB/s with a peak of around 1600MB/s and a low of around 1100MB/s.
Lexar Gold 2TB Sustained Disk Writes
With the 2TB card, we can see a bouncing performance from 1000MB/s to 1700MB/s. With the consistency, it would seem there is a fast buffer that fills and then dumps.
Compatibility:
The Lexar Gold cards, ranging from 128GB to 2TB, offer remarkable performance at their price point. They nearly match the speed and capabilities of the higher-tier Lexar Diamond series, with the only notable exceptions being the absence of VGP-400 certification and XQD backward compatibility—features that many photographers and videographers may find non-essential.
Durability:
Lexar Gold CFexpress memory cards feature a durable construction that offers enhanced resistance to the elements. This includes protection from extreme temperatures, shocks, and vibrations. With operating temperature ratings that are superior to many competing CFexpress Type-B cards, Lexar Gold Professional cards are an excellent choice for photographers who frequently work in harsh conditions.
Operating Temperature: 14 to 158°F / -10 to 70°C
Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty.
Conclusion:
Lexar Gold CFexpress Type B cards are an excellent choice for photographers seeking reliable midrange memory solutions. They offer superb value and are well-suited for daily use, ensuring consistent performance for both photography and videography.
