SD Card Benchmarks

I tested all my SD cards using the recommended CrystalDiskMark using an internal card reader on my baseunit.  I also found a site that has bench marked some cards using the same program. The link to the Random Write 4 KB and my results are below.

http://www.tomshardware.com/ch.....,2717.html

HAMA high speed pro class 6 - 8gb

Posts: 1

Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:50 am

Rhyslimb,

Wordpress doesn"t like embedded uuencoded images, so, we can"t see your HAMA image. Please upload it using the "Insert/edit image" tool at the top of the comment editor field (between the omega symbol and film icons).

Thanks!

Regarding Sandisk Ultra v. Sandisk Extreme SD cards, see:

http://www.ehow.co.uk/about_61.....cards.html

yaconsult said:

Costco has the 16 GB Sandisk Ultra MicroSD Card with Adapter for $17.99 currently.  Gonna grab one today

The class 10 not working is probably due to "something the newest chips have". As a normal SD card has WAY more physical space than a microSD one, they are likely to use the newest chips in high-density microSD cards.

I'd bet that the microSD won't work.

But then again, until we really know why some modern (mostly class 10) SD cards don't work, it's difficult to predict.

I was just testing some class 4 PNY 8GB SDHC cards on my Pandaboard with Ubuntu Netbook image and I'm sad to report that usability is almost non-existent.

People clamoring on running a desktop environment on RPi (which is probably twice as slower than a Pandaboard) might experience the same thing.

You have been warned!

JollyRoger said:

Regarding Sandisk Ultra v. Sandisk Extreme SD cards, see:

http://www.ehow.co.uk/about_61.....cards.html

I would give the article more credibility if he had not messed up the terms so badly. Costco is selling the Ultra 16GB Class 6 cards, and they are marked SDHC.

He seems to have gotten Ultra and Extreme reversed.

Best description I have found on SDHC vs SDXC is:

http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answ...../related/1

(For the Belgian people)

SD card from Aldi:

TDK 16 GB class 4 (€ 12,99)

A good deal or not (I don't think so???)

Sequential Read :    14.525 MB/s

Sequential Write :     3.082 MB/s

Random Read 512KB :    13.935 MB/s

Random Write 512KB :     0.826 MB/s

Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :     3.711 MB/s [   905.9 IOPS]

Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :     0.007 MB/s [     1.6 IOPS]

Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :     3.774 MB/s [   921.4 IOPS]

Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :     0.005 MB/s [     1.3 IOPS]

I did a bit of reading up on benchmark tests for cheap Class 6 SD cards, and decided the Silicon Power 16GB seemed the best bang per buck.

It seemed to fair well in the tests, the 4K write speeds seem to be above other cheap class 6 cards, 0.6 / 0.7 as opposed to 0.17

That test was with a Cliptec external usb card reader.

Using my PC's internal card reader thats in a floppy bay on the front panel, I got better results.

Although even when testing the same reader a few times, I find the results tend fluctuate.

Sorry, made a mistake. Uploaded the wrong data.

I'll retest my cards and repost later

Edit:

Things are getting stranger and stranger:

CrystalDiskMark locks up on the last test (4k Random QD32) and blocks the reader. I can't even shut down properly, have to do a reset.

This happens with CDM 3.0.1a and c and on both my PCs with different readers.

Edit 2:

Here's some data, all performed with Levovo Thinkpad Edge11 internal Reader:

Sandisk 8GB µSDHC Class 4

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 x64 (C) 2007-2010 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World : http://crystalmark.info/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]

Sequential Read :    18.911 MB/s
Sequential Write :    15.346 MB/s
Random Read 512KB :    18.508 MB/s
Random Write 512KB :     4.114 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :     3.611 MB/s [   881.5 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :     0.044 MB/s [    10.6 IOPS]
Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :     3.701 MB/s [   903.7 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :     0.064 MB/s [    15.6 IOPS]

Test : 50 MB [E: 0.0% (0.1/7782.5 MB)] (x2)
Date : 2012/04/18 21:36:15
OS : Windows 7 Home Premium Edition SP1 [6.1 Build 7601] (x64)

Sandisk Ultra SDHC 16Gb Class 6 30MB/s

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 x64 (C) 2007-2010 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World : http://crystalmark.info/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]

Sequential Read :    30.336 MB/s
Sequential Write :     8.363 MB/s
Random Read 512KB :    29.660 MB/s
Random Write 512KB :     3.319 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :     3.932 MB/s [   960.0 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :     2.136 MB/s [   521.4 IOPS]
Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :     3.947 MB/s [   963.7 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :     1.410 MB/s [   344.1 IOPS]

Test : 50 MB [F: 0.0% (0.0/14.8 GB)] (x5)
Date : 2012/05/10 20:05:52
OS : Windows 7 Ultimate Edition SP1 [6.1 Build 7601] (x64)

Thought I'd post my results for everyone's benefit. I tested these all on the same card reader and same computer. Short version, Sandisk Ultra 8GB is awesome.

512MB Sandisk

Sequential Read :    10.343 MB/s

Sequential Write :     2.960 MB/s

Random Read 512KB :    10.245 MB/s

Random Write 512KB :     1.873 MB/s

Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :     3.210 MB/s [   783.8 IOPS]

Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :     0.042 MB/s [    10.3 IOPS]

Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :     3.472 MB/s [   847.8 IOPS]

Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :     0.041 MB/s [    10.0 IOPS]

Test : 50 MB [E: 0.0% (0.0/483.6 MB)] (x5)

2gb atp max pro

Sequential Read :    18.636 MB/s

Sequential Write :    16.780 MB/s

Random Read 512KB :    18.613 MB/s

Random Write 512KB :     5.079 MB/s

Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :     5.218 MB/s [  1273.8 IOPS]

Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :     0.052 MB/s [    12.8 IOPS]

Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :     6.154 MB/s [  1502.5 IOPS]

Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :     0.055 MB/s [    13.5 IOPS]

Test : 50 MB [E: 0.0% (0.0/1962.1 MB)] (x5)

8GB Retailplus SDX10 Class 10 (SDHC)

Sequential Read :    19.342 MB/s

Sequential Write :    12.488 MB/s

Random Read 512KB :    18.875 MB/s

Random Write 512KB :     1.158 MB/s

Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :     3.716 MB/s [   907.3 IOPS]

Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :     0.014 MB/s [     3.4 IOPS]

Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :     3.790 MB/s [   925.3 IOPS]

Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :     0.014 MB/s [     3.3 IOPS]

Test : 50 MB [E: 0.0% (0.0/7613.0 MB)] (x5)

8gb sandisk Ultra Class 6 (SDHC)

Sequential Read :    19.425 MB/s

Sequential Write :     9.116 MB/s

Random Read 512KB :    19.217 MB/s

Random Write 512KB :     3.779 MB/s

Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :     4.251 MB/s [  1037.9 IOPS]

Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :     1.839 MB/s [   448.9 IOPS]

Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :     4.464 MB/s [  1090.0 IOPS]

Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :     1.562 MB/s [   381.3 IOPS]

Test : 50 MB [E: 0.0% (0.0/7572.0 MB)] (x5)

1gb Kingston  MicroSD

Sequential Read :    10.266 MB/s

Sequential Write :     3.942 MB/s

Random Read 512KB :    10.265 MB/s

Random Write 512KB :     2.557 MB/s

Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :     4.137 MB/s [  1010.0 IOPS]

Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :     0.053 MB/s [    12.9 IOPS]

Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :     4.609 MB/s [  1125.4 IOPS]

Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :     0.055 MB/s [    13.5 IOPS]

Test : 50 MB [E: 0.0% (0.0/982.2 MB)] (x5)

  2gb micro SD

Sequential Read :    16.090 MB/s

Sequential Write :     6.599 MB/s

Random Read 512KB :    14.827 MB/s

Random Write 512KB :     1.611 MB/s

Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :     1.395 MB/s [   340.5 IOPS]

Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :     0.089 MB/s [    21.7 IOPS]

Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :     1.555 MB/s [   379.5 IOPS]

Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :     0.080 MB/s [    19.6 IOPS]

Test : 50 MB [E: 0.0% (0.0/1905.7 MB)] (x5)

So, it looks like the fastest one is this guy? Did I find the right "2gb atp max pro"?
2GB ATP ProMax SDHC 2.0 Class 6 Secure Digital SD Cards 150X

Sandisk 8GB Class 4 SDHC £4.40
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000VUVA62/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

Sandisk_Class4_8GB.jpg (48.09 KiB) Viewed 2565 times

Sandisk 16GB Class 10 Extreme Pro 95 MB/Sec £30
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-Extreme-16GB-SDHC-Card/dp/B005LFT3MA/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1337038316&sr=1-1

Sandisk_Class10_16GB_ExtremePro_95MBS.jpg (48.24 KiB) Viewed 2558 times

Windows 7 64 Bit, SD Card Reader in Samsung Core 2 Duo Laptop

For what it's worth. Transcend 8 GB Class 6 microSDHC in Lexar USB->microSD reader

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 (C) 2007-2010 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World : http://crystalmark.info/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]

Sequential Read : 18.585 MB/s
Sequential Write : 11.373 MB/s
Random Read 512KB : 18.308 MB/s
Random Write 512KB : 1.546 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (QD=1) : 4.091 MB/s [ 998.9 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 0.013 MB/s [ 3.2 IOPS]
Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 4.222 MB/s [ 1030.7 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 0.029 MB/s [ 7.0 IOPS]

Test : 50 MB [E: 0.0% (0.8/7639.0 MB)] (x5)
Date : 2012/05/14 17:20:40
OS : Windows XP Professional SP3 [5.1 Build 2600] (x86)

Unbranded "SD-C02G TAIWAN" 2GB MicroSD in same Lexar USB reader as above.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 (C) 2007-2010 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World : http://crystalmark.info/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]

Sequential Read : 15.131 MB/s
Sequential Write : 2.988 MB/s
Random Read 512KB : 14.871 MB/s
Random Write 512KB : 0.816 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (QD=1) : 2.781 MB/s [ 679.1 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 0.007 MB/s [ 1.8 IOPS]
Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 3.016 MB/s [ 736.2 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 0.013 MB/s [ 3.3 IOPS]

Test : 50 MB [E: 0.0% (0.0/1857.7 MB)] (x5)
Date : 2012/05/14 17:58:57
OS : Windows XP Professional SP3 [5.1 Build 2600] (x86)

Transcend 4GB Class 10:

Code: Select all

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 x64 (C) 2007-2010 hiyohiyo
                           Crystal Dew World : http://crystalmark.info/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]

           Sequential Read :    19.228 MB/s
          Sequential Write :    10.903 MB/s
         Random Read 512KB :    18.697 MB/s
        Random Write 512KB :     1.223 MB/s
    Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :     3.708 MB/s [   905.2 IOPS]
   Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :     0.015 MB/s [     3.6 IOPS]
   Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :     3.741 MB/s [   913.3 IOPS]
  Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :     0.018 MB/s [     4.4 IOPS]

  Test : 50 MB [H: 0.0% (0.0/3831.0 MB)] (x5)
  Date : 2012/05/16 12:40:07
    OS : Windows 7 Ultimate Edition SP1 [6.1 Build 7601] (x64)


Transcend 8GB Class 10:

Code: Select all

 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 x64 (C) 2007-2010 hiyohiyo
                           Crystal Dew World : http://crystalmark.info/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]

           Sequential Read :    20.021 MB/s
          Sequential Write :    17.381 MB/s
         Random Read 512KB :    19.227 MB/s
        Random Write 512KB :     2.179 MB/s
    Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :     2.696 MB/s [   658.1 IOPS]
   Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :     0.024 MB/s [     6.0 IOPS]
   Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :     2.759 MB/s [   673.6 IOPS]
  Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :     0.035 MB/s [     8.5 IOPS]

  Test : 50 MB [H: 0.0% (0.0/7687.0 MB)] (x5)
  Date : 2012/05/16 12:58:48
    OS : Windows 7 Ultimate Edition SP1 [6.1 Build 7601] (x64)


Both Class 10 SD cards work fine booting OpenELEC in the R-Pi.

I started this thread 2 months ago with the hope of identifying an SD card that would optimise the RasPi performance... and I thought we had found one... a SanDisk Ultra class 6 card available from Costco, which had great 4k random r/w times.

Last week my RasPi finally arrived and I decided to do an unboxing video showing how easy it is to go from unboxing to online... but that's not quite what happened! You can see the results at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doCZ5SyVjYc but the spoiler is that the problem was the above mentioned SD card.

Over the years I have collected 8 SD cards from different manufacturers, classes and capacities... and they all work with the RasPi except for the above SanDisk. Even class 10 and microSD cards in adapters all worked!

Ironically, from a real world perspective my favourite card so far is a Kodak 4Gb Class 2(!!!) card. Go figure!

Has someone yet some 16GB SD Card, which:
- works without problems on RaspPi
- has "better" Random Read/Write 4KB

Because I can't find...

I don't have Windows on my machine, so I can't run the CrystalDiskMark benchmark that other people are using, but I got these numbers from the palimpsest benchmark tool in Debian Linux with my SanDisk Ultra SDHC Class 6 4GB card (advertised on the box as "Up to 30MB/s - 200X"):

Minimum Read Rate: 10,8 MB/s
Maximum Read Rate: 11,3 MB/s
Average Read Rate: 11,2 MB/s
Minimum Write Rate: 3.2 MB/s
Maximum Write Rate: 8,4 MB/s
Average Write Rate: 4,2 MB/s
Average Access Time: 0,9 ms

wow, great numbers... If it had more capacity, it would be perfect sd card for me...

Mega disappointed with all my sd cards pretty much, especially my Sandisk, a real disappointing buy that was. I know they are class 4, but I expected a better random 4kb write speed than any of them have really offered. Unfortunately, the best I have I had purchased as a MicroSD for my mobile phone, so what do I do? Buy another? Or maybe buy a class 6 Lexar which I've seen popping around.

Dissapointed dot com!!

Speeds:

Sandisk Blue 16GB Class 4 (£8 from play):
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 x64 (C) 2007-2010 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World : http://crystalmark.info/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]

Sequential Read : 11.915 MB/s
Sequential Write : 8.393 MB/s
Random Read 512KB : 11.664 MB/s
Random Write 512KB : 0.713 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (QD=1) : 2.407 MB/s [ 587.8 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 0.606 MB/s [ 148.0 IOPS]
Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 3.108 MB/s [ 758.8 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 0.104 MB/s [ 25.3 IOPS]

Transcend MicroSD 32GB Class 4 (£12 from ebuyer)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 x64 (C) 2007-2010 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World : http://crystalmark.info/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
* MB/s = 1,000,000 byte/s [SATA/300 = 300,000,000 byte/s]

Sequential Read : 23.498 MB/s
Sequential Write : 4.777 MB/s
Random Read 512KB : 22.011 MB/s
Random Write 512KB : 0.609 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (QD=1) : 3.192 MB/s [ 779.3 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 1.388 MB/s [ 338.8 IOPS]
Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 3.089 MB/s [ 754.2 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 1.476 MB/s [ 360.2 IOPS]


Really disappointed with some of those read speeds, although the transcend is better. I have a lexar class 4 card that has excellent random read speeds at around 6mb but it's write speeds are pathetic clocking in around 0.27.

also have another one. I'll put some more results on.

Very very very disappointed so far. Perhaps a lexar class 6 4gb I've seen for 5 pounds would be better!

Advice ?

Bit of an update, I noticed a slight performance increase using the Sandisk over the Lexar which had much better read speeds than the Sandisk, I just wonder if those increased write speeds make a difference. Unfortunately, none of them excel across the board. The Sandisk seems kind of poor across the board with it's only decent feature being the reasonable write sequential speeds and good random write speeds, the Lexar has stunningly fast sequential speeds and excellent read speeds but has crap random write speeds and the Transcend has great read and write speeds for random but sucks pretty bad for the sequential write speeds.

What a nightmare! Should I try that class 6 lexar ? I'm thinking about it!!

Hi Skeeza

Don't beat yourself up. Now that I've got my RasPi I've started to do some real world benchmarking on my selection of SD cards and let me tell you right now that based on very preliminary results a Class 10 card absolutely does not mean it is the fastest. In fact a 4Gb Kodak Class 2 (yes, class two) card is my current favourite!!

So wait until you get your RasPi first.

(...and as a general hint, don't forget to refer to http://elinux.org/RPi_VerifiedPeripherals before buying anything. I bought a wireless keyboard/mouse today because it was in a sale at a great price. But I didn't check the above URL and discovered too late that it is known not to work )

TakeMS Micro SDHC Class 6 32GB 92789 is absolute crap

Is there a version of these testing programs that will run directly from the Pi?