The Slug Race Part II: storage cards (SD, xD, etc)

**pepst** · 05-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by mciahel

Any questions?

Michael

The 4K & 4KQD32 results may not look pretty, but in real life use, the card is pretty fast (usable in 5 exposures RAW+JPG bracketing mode).
Here is the Atto Disk Benchmark test:

**Seán** · 25-07-2012

While looking for something in the attic, I came across an old 256MB Compact Flash card:

256MB_CF_Card.jpg

It was 2/3 filled with photos dated between July and September 2004 and impressively, every single one was intact.

For curiosity, I ran a surface scan in HD Tune and this was all positive:

256MB_CF.png

While it ain't fast by any means, but still has 512K and 4K write figures that rival many cards today. For some reason CrystalDiskMark stopped responding during the 4K threaded test, so this is as far as it got:

256MB_CF_CDM.png

**Seán** · 25-07-2012

I also found a 1GB FujiFilm type 'H' card after digging out an old memory card reader to read a visitor's Sony card:

FujiFilm_Type_H_1GB_Image.jpg

Again, it was 2/3 filled with photos going back to October 2008, but unlike the above card, Windows photo viewer kept hanging while trying to open the pictures. As I was not fully sure whether I had them all on my PC, I copied the full card across. This was a pretty slow process, with the transfer rate varying between below 1MB/s and 3MB/s:

FujiFilm_Type_H_1GB.png

Quite surprisingly when I disconnected the card reader, plugged it in again and tried another copy, it went much faster, so it seemed like the card done some sort of background process to improve the stored data. Then again, when I ran a full HD Tune scan (using the full read option), it had a few slowdowns during the read process and an interesting change of throughput about 2/3rd way through the read process where the stored data appears to end:

FujiFilm_Type_H_1GB_HD_Tune.png

Finally for a CrystalDiskMark test:

FujiFilm_Type_H_1GB_CDM.png

This is the first card that I'm aware of that clearly improves with threaded IO operations, but then again even the 4K QD32 test is tiny compared to what many modern cards can deliver. The 4K read performance results (both single and threaded) are the lowest I've seen of any card, e.g. compare these to the 256MB card above.

**DoMiN8ToR** · 12-08-2012

This is pretty much the first time I used a SD disk (it's actually from my girlfriends camera and I copied the pictures she took from the disk to my PC)

I decided to run an ATTO test and it seems to be pretty fast right? It's a Sandisk Ultra 30 MB/s SDHC I 8 GB card...

**deanwitty** · 13-08-2012

Yes, that would be fast

. Very nice to see Sandisk living up to their claimed speeds. That is a keeper.

And thanks for the heads-up on this one. I've been shopping for a faster card for my camera than the class 10 PNY card I've been using. You've made my shopping a bit easier

.

Here's a bench of that PNY class 10:

*DrageMester* · 13-08-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by deanwitty

And thanks for the heads-up on this one.

You should realize, if you don't already, that components in flash memory products such as USB keys and SD cards can and will change without notice, so even though you buy a product with the same product number, it might have different performance characteristics - something I've experienced several times.

**deanwitty** · 13-08-2012

Thanks for the reality-check, Drage

I too have found some variation in supposedly identical flash products. In this case, though, even a slightly sub-par specimen of that 30MB/sec card should take me quite some distance down the upgrade path

.

**Arachne** · 08-09-2012

Decided to do a quick'n'dirty test of the little Kingston 2GB SD card I keep in my camera:

**DoMiN8ToR** · 11-09-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrageMester

You should realize, if you don't already, that components in flash memory products such as USB keys and SD cards can and will change without notice, so even though you buy a product with the same product number, it might have different performance characteristics - something I've experienced several times.

I'm curious if there is a pattern to be found. Like with optical discs where some of the 'experts' here were able to determine if a disc was good based on e.g. the packaging...

Too bad I threw it away already. But I have to go to the same store again, so I could take a look if required

I'm also curious what has been the fastest card so far...

**Arachne** · 12-09-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoMiN8ToR

I'm curious if there is a pattern to be found. Like with optical discs where some of the 'experts' here were able to determine if a disc was good based on e.g. the packaging...

Too bad I threw it away already. But I have to go to the same store again, so I could take a look if required

I'm also curious what has been the fastest card so far...

Good points DoMi

Same with memory sticks - I wonder if there's anything on the packaging that would tell? Sadly I too have none of the original packaging anymore.

**Seán** · 10-01-2013

Samsung 32GB UHS-1 Class 6 MicroSD, bought during the Amazon Black Friday

I bought this as storage for Android. I haven't seen great performance from MicroSD cards in the past, but then again, we're talking about a memory card that fits on a fingertip.

However, this one is no slug...

CrystalDiskMark:
Samsung 32GB UHS-1 Class 6 MicroSD CDM.png

ATTO:
Samsung 32GB UHS-1 Class 6 MicroSD ATTO.png

Makes my full size "Class 10" SD cards look like slugs.

**Seán** · 10-01-2013

Now for a Lexar Class 10 High Speed MicroSD card...

CrystalDiskMark & ATTO:

Lexar 32GB Class 10 MicroSD ATTO.png Lexar 32GB Class 10 MicroSD CDM.png

It may meet Class 10 on sequential write, but goes to show that the Class number, "High Speed", etc. ratings are little other than marketing hype...

Compare the 512K and 4K write figures to my Samsung MicroSD card in the post above - This sure is a slug in comparison.

**pepst** · 13-01-2013

Kingston 1 GB MicroSD (about 7 years old).

**pepst** · 19-01-2013

PNY SDHC Standard 16GB

**pepst** · 3 Weeks Ago

Verbatim Micro SDHC 16 GB

13-08-2012	#32
deanwitty Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The 10th city outside the 2nd City, U.S. Posts: 2,698	Thanks for the reality-check, Drage I too have found some variation in supposedly identical flash products. In this case, though, even a slightly sub-par specimen of that 30MB/sec card should take me quite some distance down the upgrade path . __________________ Currently installed for testing: Lite-on DH20A4P-04(9P54) + Sony Optiarc AD-7200A(1.Z3) x2 "You want WHAT? OK, I can do that". + AD-7200S(1Z2) + AD-5280-CB-PLUS(1.Z7) + BenQ DW1650(BCIC) + BenQ DW1640(BSLB) x2 + Lite-on iHAS324-08 A(BL1H) + Asus DRW-24B1LT@iHAS424(ZLC1) + Asus DRW-24B1ST@iHAS324(BL1H) + Plextor PX-760A(1.03) + LG BD-RE WH10LS30(1.00) + Lite-on iHES208(8LOC) + Sammy SH-BO83L(SB01) + Pioneer BDR206(1.05) + Lite-on iHBS112-29(CLOK) + Pioneer BDR-205(1.12) + LG WH12LS39(1.00) + Lite-on iHBS212@Plextor PX-LB950SA(1.02)

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25-07-2012	#27
Seán Senior Administrator & Reviewer Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Republic of Ireland (North West) Posts: 9,644	While looking for something in the attic, I came across an old 256MB Compact Flash card: 256MB_CF_Card.jpg It was 2/3 filled with photos dated between July and September 2004 and impressively, every single one was intact. For curiosity, I ran a surface scan in HD Tune and this was all positive: 256MB_CF.png While it ain't fast by any means, but still has 512K and 4K write figures that rival many cards today. For some reason CrystalDiskMark stopped responding during the 4K threaded test, so this is as far as it got: 256MB_CF_CDM.png

10-01-2013	#36
Seán Senior Administrator & Reviewer Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Republic of Ireland (North West) Posts: 9,644	Samsung 32GB UHS-1 Class 6 MicroSD, bought during the Amazon Black Friday I bought this as storage for Android. I haven't seen great performance from MicroSD cards in the past, but then again, we're talking about a memory card that fits on a fingertip. However, this one is no slug... CrystalDiskMark: Samsung 32GB UHS-1 Class 6 MicroSD CDM.png ATTO: Samsung 32GB UHS-1 Class 6 MicroSD ATTO.png Makes my full size "Class 10" SD cards look like slugs.

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