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Hi, I have been searching on the forum in search of some information on MicroSD cards and came to no avail.
With my HD, it came with a 8GB Class 6 MicroSDHC. I think it needed it to play videos. I can't imagine using it with a slower card.
Now, my TP2 will arrive Monday and I would like to know the following:
1. Brand
2. Size
3. Speed (class)
4. Price
Is it performing well with the video playbacks or have you installed the SD Tuner software available for the HD?
What do you recommend?
Many, many thanks for any replies, comments and help!
Bought a A-Data microSD class 6, 4 GB at a local computer store.
Not the one i was looking for, i wanted the 8GB or 16GB but both where not in stock and the 4GB was less then 10 euros. I will buy a larger one in a few months.
With class 6 my phone isn't slowed down. A few years ago i bought a 2GB mini-SD, but my HTC Vox was slowed down very much. Didn't look to the class/or speed back then.
MicroSD cards based on SLC might be beter them MLC. IMHO i would always take a class 6 or higher card. However class 8 cards are hard to find.
I'm using the 8GB Class 4 card that came with my daughter's Nokia 5800 and it seems fine. Just watched an xdiv episode of Only Fools and Horses on it with no stutter or dropped frames.
I bought a class 6 off Ebay and it should be here on Monday so I can compare then
i'm using sandisk 8g class 2. whatched movies and played music, everything is fine. It only cost me just under tenner.
The performance diference between a class 2 or a class 6 is not that noticeable. However, at the price the cards are, I think it worths always to buy a class 6 card.
I bought a Transcend 8GB class 6 card. It cost me aprox. 20€.
The biggest differences I noticed between a class 2 and 6 card are:
-Taking photos is faster with class 6
-Browsing photos in sdcard is a bit faster also
-Viewing movies sometimes is a bit more smooth.
HastaSSSS
I have a 16GB class 2 Sandisk. I watch movies just fine. I figure with a class 6 i might be able to watch HD videos more smoothly.
Hi guys,
Thanks for all your replies. So from what you guys are telling me, it is always better to pay that little extra for the class 6 MicroSDs. But then again, is it worth investing in a 16GB Class 4 (no Class 6 available except the brand A-Data) or an 8GB Class 6.
16GB is nearly 4 times more expensive than the 8GB and yet it is slower. Shall I just get 2 8GB and hot swap the 2 cards as need be?
I bought a class 6 off Ebay and it should be here on Monday so I can compare then
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, please let us know if it makes that much of a difference.
Bought a A-Data microSD class 6, 4 GB at a local computer store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have read about this brand, and what others said was that their Class 6 under performs Sandisk's Class 4 Cards. Do yo notice any differences? How is the performance?
Also, I wouldn't recommend buying these cards off eBay. There are so many, fake cards on there. I know so, because I know mates that sell these cards. I would just buy from a genuine local store and pay a little bit more unless you don't care about performance.
Anyway, my last question.
What brand do you think has the best performance. Yeah, we can find out all the data about these cards on the web but it's nothing like the hands on tests from real users. So, will it be Sandisk, Transend, Toshiba, Kingston or the later A-Data?
Found a pretty review on the Sandisk 16GB C4 MicroSDHC cards. They compared it to the Kingston 8GB C4 MicroSDHC card.
Sandisk seems to be the company that is producing the fastest cards. It out performs Kingston.
But $133, is a bit steep. I think if I am correct a Sandisk 8GB C6 MicroSDHC is only $49.
What do you think?
You won't notice much difference between class 2 and class 6 as the device can only read at a certain speed, which is nearer class 4.
There are some cheap class 2 16gb cards out there, I have them and you only really notice if you install something like sdtuneup, but then again, you wouldn't notice much difference between class4 and class6
SanDisk microSDHC 16 GB Mobile Ultra works fine!
With the enclosed reader it is really fast via USB.
nicelad_uk said:
the device can only read at a certain speed, which is nearer class 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers for the heads up about the TP2's read speed.
I was going to go for a 16GB class 2 but now might hold out for a class 4.
Haven't noticed any speed difference between my 8GB class 4 and 6 cards except that it's possibly slower than my Trinity but that may be due to the crummy TP2 stock ROM...
cocoaju said:
Shall I just get 2 8GB and hot swap the 2 cards as need be?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please don't get two 8GB's, you will ruin the back cover of the device swapping the cards over all the time
My understanding is that the Class affects write speed, not read speed, so you won't see a difference playing movies on one or the other. You will see a difference in the amount of time it takes to get the movie onto the card (providing you aren't using ActiveSync, which will slow things down way beyond Class2 speeds).
I have a SanDisk Class 2 16 GB card on my Vogue and watch movies just fine with CorePlayer. Maybe a brief stutter once every 5 minutes or so, which I attribute to WinMo doing some other task in the background, not the read speed of the card.
In short, if it doesn't matter to you how long it takes to transfer large files onto the card, go with the least expensive.
Haven't noticed any speed difference between my 8GB class 4 and 6 cards except that it's possibly slower than my Trinity but that may be due to the crummy TP2 stock ROM...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? How much slower?
Yeah, I think I will go for 16GB for sure. The only thing now is what class. I am hearing 2 things here. I am worried about stutters on watching movies.
Some are saying speed only matters to write and not read.
But then I have read that it does matter, that is why there is a SDTuneUp for the HD.
I really don't want to buy a cheaper Class 2 card and only finding it is not working to my standards. I am pretty fussy about these things.
Any of you needed to install the SDTuneUp registry edit for the TP2? Do we need it? Anyone did any tests?
cocoaju said:
Really? How much slower?
Yeah, I think I will go for 16GB for sure. The only thing now is what class. I am hearing 2 things here. I am worried about stutters on watching movies.
Some are saying speed only matters to write and not read.
But then I have read that it does matter, that is why there is a SDTuneUp for the HD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check this out.
And this.
Class rating only refers to write speed, even though on the official SD association page it says "transfer speed." What they don't say is that it's transfer speed only one direction.
ajbopp said:
Check this out.
And this.
Class rating only refers to write speed, even though on the official SD association page it says "transfer speed." What they don't say is that it's transfer speed only one direction.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello ajbopp,
Thanks for your additional information. I think not a lot of people actually realise this. I always thought the Class Rating was how you determine transfer speed and not just write speed.
But there must be some ratings for Reading. Some cards are faster than others and that will certainly affect the rate of requiring information from the card, right? Because files are written in blocks and are distributed everywhere (fragmentation), so if the card is faster, then finding the blocks will be quicker, hence a better performance for reading movie files.
Just thinking logically how computer hard disk works. Not sure if that applies to SDHC cards. I also think the speed is also determined by the drive (the hardware reading/writing on the card).
There aren't many information on this. I have been searching around and most information I found was given by the companies that made these cards. Real tests are few and far between. Most websites I visited, tells me only of the write speed as I think that is what is most important to people who uses these cards, such as Photo Fanatics who needs speed for taking high end photos very quickly and for taking HD videos at 30fps. There is less need to know about read speed.
It's so confusing...
Got it yesterday. Thanks for all your help guys!
I finally went for the Transcend 8GB Class 6 Micro SDHC. Cost of only $187 HKD, roughly $23 USD. Didn't end up getting the 16GB as they didn't have any in stock and it costs 3 times the amount.
Without any tests, I just loaded my movies and it played very well. No dropped frames. No tweaks whatsoever.
Hello!
I had a TP with a Micro SD 8GB Class 2 card.
I'm considering buying a new one (lack of space available) and I wonder if I should consider a class 4 or 6...
I use the MicroSD to store software, pictures (camera), music (to listen), and some videos (to watch).
I don't intend to remove the microsd from the TP2 slot (have to remove the cover) so what I usually do is to connect via USB cable (data instead of AS).
So, transfering data like this will I notice difference with Class 2, 4 or 6?
I'd get a good price with this:
http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Technology-SDC2-16GB-microSDHC/dp/B001RPD06I
is it good enough or should I buy a Sandisk or perhaps a Class 4 or 6?
Thanks
SanDisk and Kingston are both good manufactures.
Class 4 is faster than class 2 and class 6 is faster than class 4.
But on the other hand: class 4 cards need more power consumption than class 2 cards and class 6 cards need power consumption than class 4.
For this reason I bought 1 x 16gb class 4. That is the compromise of speed and power.
doktor_ppc said:
Class 4 is faster than class 2 and class 6 is faster than class 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, this is only for write speed. I think it's an important distinction to make, especially if you are hoping for better video playback because of a faster card. The class of the card is not likely to have any impact on the device's performance, either video or anything else (other than file saving/writing operations).
so... for my kinda use there is no need for a class 6 right?
do you think a class 2 kingston MicroSD 16GB can be used for what I want?
playback music and some video... storage ... navigation?
I'm trying to decide if i should go for space, or speed.
For those of you that bought 32gb cards, are they class2? and if so do apps and such run off it fine, playing movies?
Class 6 is much more fast, and a class6 16gb card is still half the price as a class 2 32gb card.
Just looking for guidance here, do we need more then class2 for our phones.
Plan on putting movies and apps and stuff on the card.
I have a 16GB class 2 card in my Cappy, and I can play 720p video off it without a single stutter, and I never did install the lagfix, so class 2 SHOULD be fast enough, depending on what you want to do with it.
But right now, the cost of the 32GB cards is, I think, prohibitive. It costs > 3x what I can get a 16GB card for, and thus far, I have not filled my card yet.
I would go with a faster speed for the bigger size card, class 2 would be too slow if you are read/write onto it constantly; For the best bang of your buck, the Polaroid 16GB microSD (made in Japan by PNY) from Frys is going for under $20 (after rebate); Even though it is labeled as a Class 2 card, but under most SD benchmark app, it is detected as a Class 4 card (4.5 MB/s Write/15 MB/s Read under the 300MB file R/W test in SD Card Speed Test)
I would rather take a 2GB class 6 over a 32gb class 2. Class 2 is so unbelievably slow its unbearable. I use my phone as a usb drive very often. In my previous phone I had an 8gb class 2. It was so slow I thought the card was broken. So I RMAed it and the new one was the same. I realized that it just takes like 8min/gb to transfer to it. (and no its not faster in this phone)
Class 4 is standard, anything less is a waste of silicon and plastic.
Class 6 is about as fast as your average-quick USB thumb drive.
Yes class 2 is fast enough to run programs and play back video, but you'll spend a lifetime transferring those things.
Not worth it IMO. Get an 8gb class6 if cost is an issue. Also, don't go with any crappy random manufacturers. I find that a class 6 from 'craptasticMEM' is nowhere near the speeds it should be, and in fact usually slower than a clas 4 I have from kingston.
The class rating has nothing to do with playback speed, only write speed. Copying files is faster, but how often are you loading up your SD card from your computer?
I am using class 2 and it is recording video just fine. I am not sure why above poster claims "class 4 is standard" - that would imply that class 2 is sub-standard. It is not, it just has slower write speed.
Keep in mind that if you lay out the big bucks for a class 6 32GB card today, it will half the price in a few months.
Now in my HD Camcorder it requires Class 6 to record 1080P - our phones have no such requirement, so anything above class 2 will help in initial data transfer from PC - after that you may never, ever see any benefit.
alphadog00 said:
... I am not sure why above poster claims "class 4 is standard" - that would imply that class 2 is sub-standard. It is not, it just has slower write speed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, sorry you're correct. Class 4 is standard in my gauge of memory cards/usb drives. All the classes "should" perform fine. The higher classes are obviously faster (with significant brand to brand variation). I find that they are faster at everything though. Not just write, but read as well. A class 6 card is as smooth as the internal memory in the captivate. A class 2 card is abysmal at everything (in my experience). I say class 4 is standard because class 2 is really bad...
eatkabab said:
Yes, sorry you're correct. Class 4 is standard in my gauge of memory cards/usb drives. All the classes "should" perform fine. The higher classes are obviously faster (with significant brand to brand variation). I find that they are faster at everything though. Not just write, but read as well. A class 6 card is as smooth as the internal memory in the captivate. A class 2 card is abysmal at everything (in my experience). I say class 4 is standard because class 2 is really bad...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could be my blindness - not physically, but the ignorance of not having a class 4 or 6 to compare to my class 2. My class 2 works fine for me, but if the class 6 stuff gets cheap I will head on over to it.
alphadog00 said:
It could be my blindness - not physically, but the ignorance of not having a class 4 or 6 to compare to my class 2. My class 2 works fine for me, but if the class 6 stuff gets cheap I will head on over to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My 32GB Class 2 reads/writes as smoothly as the internal card on the captivate as well.
locsplitter said:
My 32GB Class 2 reads/writes as smoothly as the internal card on the captivate as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol no
internal is like class 10 i believe
locsplitter said:
My 32GB Class 2 reads/writes as smoothly as the internal card on the captivate as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its not healthy to lie
you guys are missing the fact that the class ratings are a MINIMUM rating. a lot of brands will perform MUCH faster than what they have printed on them. just saying something is class X is pretty much pointless. it's just a guideline that is being loosely followed. benchmark and move on
If your running apps off of your card than believe me there is noticable difference between a class 2 and a class 6, and yes dont go for a no name.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
demize! said:
If your running apps off of your card than believe me there is noticable difference between a class 2 and a class 6, and yes dont go for a no name.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't believe you. It 100% fully depends on the card. Some class 2's are faster than class 6's. Ratings are lies.... benchmark ftw!
True that. Ive found significant differences by brand. However, there is definitely a noticeable difference between a class 2 and a class 6 card.
What you get depends on personal requirements more than anything else. Faster or more storage?
I'm going to buy a 16GB microsd card from sandisk. I've been finding on Amazon and found these two products:
Sandisk 16GB Mobile Ultra MicroSD Card : £36.00
SanDisk 16GB microSDHC Memory Card : £15.99
I've also noticed they're all class 2 (can't find a class 4 or class 6 sandisk). So what is the difference between them? I'm using the card for Windows Phone 7, so which one should I buy?
Ha, i'm looking to buy a 16Gb card for my htc desire and I was looking at exactly the same cards.
As far as I found so far the ultra version seems to be class 4.
If you have any new info it will me much appreciated.
well in some pages you can find comparative boxes about those micro sd, i remember that microsd 16 gb sandisk (class4) is more faster than 16 gb kingtons class4 , so i supousse that this ultra micro sd is like class 6 real XD, i will find some information about it, oh plz don't forget that some devices don't support those kind of micro sd (an example htc hd2 has little bugs with microsd class 4, i have one...)
Sorry if i don't write well but i'm peruavian =)
Hey guys,
Can any of you confirm if Android is booting from Sandisk 16GB Mobile Ultra MicroSD Card ?
I want to buy one but i saw in forums that some cards doesn't work for this..
the ultra one has the better speed and more stable than the normal one. And, it has the same compatitablity.
So, if you are not concern about the price, the ultra one is the better choice.
Also, that should have the extreme III type, that is the best~
Go for the Ultra microSD, it's faster!! been using a 8Gig on my phone and damn its fast!!
16GB Sandisk Micro SDHC
I'm currently using 16GB Sandisk Micro SDHC (class 4) for my LG P500. It is fast & I have not encountered any issues so far.
I've been using Sandisk memory cards for other gadgets & I think it is one of the most reliable brands that is available in my location.
With sandisk/kingston, class 2 should be fine too. CLASS 4 might help recording high def video
Stick with the name brands and forget the Chinese non name brand off off of Flea-bay, they are crap and do not work imho!!
The more expensive cards are usually just higher speed.
I use fast cards in my DSLR to help when shooting bursts. Slower cards fill up, and drop the fps.
I'm currently using 16GB Sandisk Micro SDHC
Go for the Ultra microSD, it's faster!!
You should choose your memory card depending on what you're going to use it for. Either way, you should go with Sandisk cards, as they are the highest quality and produce their own chips. Kingstons should be avoided even though for some reason they are known as a quality brand... kingston just buys chips from other manufacturers and puts their name on them.... you will find many different kinds of chips inside kingston, so you will find more variation and defects from batch to batch.
As far as class, that is only referring to the sequential write speed. If you are getting the card for a digital camera, then a high class card is good, because you will be writing a lot of files sequentially.
But if you plan on using the card for WP7 or to run android of off, generally a class 2 or 4 card is better, because they have better random access speeds. The tweaks card makers do to make cards have higher sequential write speeds many times will lower the random access speed, so you will have more issues running WP7 or Android off of a class 6 or 10 card.
for 8gb ultra i got with usb2.0 card reader : 13mb/s write , 20.5mb/s read
I know the thread is old, but still.
zarathustrax said:
You should choose your memory card depending on what you're going to use it for. Either way, you should go with Sandisk cards, as they are the highest quality and produce their own chips. Kingstons should be avoided even though for some reason they are known as a quality brand... kingston just buys chips from other manufacturers and puts their name on them.... you will find many different kinds of chips inside kingston, so you will find more variation and defects from batch to batch.
As far as class, that is only referring to the sequential write speed. If you are getting the card for a digital camera, then a high class card is good, because you will be writing a lot of files sequentially.
But if you plan on using the card for WP7 or to run android of off, generally a class 2 or 4 card is better, because they have better random access speeds. The tweaks card makers do to make cards have higher sequential write speeds many times will lower the random access speed, so you will have more issues running WP7 or Android off of a class 6 or 10 card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know thread is too old to write anything. But still (since google pointed me here)...
I've used both types of cards and have found that Sandisc ultra (Red & Black) is far better in speeds and reliability than the Sandisc simple/normal black colour chips. Also know that there are further/more better than ultra, called by Sandisc as extreme and Extreme Pro.
Also warranty for all is same: Lifetime. And Sandisc provided me a new chip within 25 days after my old 32 normal chip went faulty.
Re
I would always buy a class 10 card, because when you copy your photos it doesn't take so much time...
I discovered - the hard way - that "normal" class 2 or 4 MicroSD cards won't stay alive very long on Samsung Note 4 or similar phones... One day they stop working and all pictures and info is lost forever. The only MicroSD that can get the job done is a Class 10 UHC Sandisk card. I have used Kingston and all died only after a few months, specially if you install apps on them. They can´t handle the workload and you will end up losing everything you have on them. I have one of the red and gray Sandisk cards and it's awesome. It's fast and it's still working after 2 and a half years of use in a Sony Xperia Z2. Gotta love this little tough card.
Anyone know of a better 32GB MicroSD card than the Sandisk? It's only class 2, but its random write performance is leaps and bounds better than both the Kingston and the Patriot LX, which helps to prevent severe lag when using apps2sdext.
I had hope a class 10 Patriot would at least be as good, but the results couldn't have been more different. Ideally I would like more sequential write speed without having to sacrifice random write performance.
We have been using/ Distributing microSD Class 10 cards from Wintec. I am using there 16 GB Class 10 on a Samsung Captivate. If you could direct me to a Android test program you like, I would be glad to run it. I have had no problems since switching.
but sandisk is the best around! for the price.....
nokia or kingstone but i prefer sandisk for the price
i have a sandisk and the card is great
I have never found anything better or more reliable than Sandisk. No bells and whistles just solid performance.
i need this type of card
but with model to choose
The OCZ branded cards are good in my experience.
Lexar's apparently got some top-notch class-10 32giggers out...
You can order them straight from their website (they might be a little backlogged though).
Class 2 and 4 cards have better random access speed and random read/write than class 6 or 10 cards in general. To get higher sequential write speeds, manufacturers sacrifice the random access speeds. That's just how it is.
The best all around card I've ever found is Sandisk class 4.
My 32gb Sandisk class 4 outperforms any other class 10 or 2 32gb card I've tested in the random access and random read/write speeds. That's what's most important when using with WP7 or Android when using it for apps or OS files that need to be accessed quickly. Class 6 and 10 cards are setup to initialize the area of the card that is about to be used to make the sequential write/read quicker, but it takes extra time in the beginning to do the initialization. If your using the card where you need to access small bits of info from various parts of card quickly, you will do best with class 2 or 4.
Most people seem to assume that the higher the class, the better the card is for everything, but that's not how it is. Different purposes need different kinds of speed... cards with higher sequential speeds have lower random speeds.
zarathustrax...it seems to be a hot topic. after all, repetition is the best way to learn
Will Scripts Improve random access speeds?
zarathustrax said:
Class 2 and 4 cards have better random access speed and random read/write than class 6 or 10 cards in general. To get higher sequential write speeds, manufacturers sacrifice the random access speeds. That's just how it is.
The best all around card I've ever found is Sandisk class 4.
My 32gb Sandisk class 4 outperforms any other class 10 or 2 32gb card I've tested in the random access and random read/write speeds. That's what's most important when using with WP7 or Android when using it for apps or OS files that need to be accessed quickly. Class 6 and 10 cards are setup to initialize the area of the card that is about to be used to make the sequential write/read quicker, but it takes extra time in the beginning to do the initialization. If your using the card where you need to access small bits of info from various parts of card quickly, you will do best with class 2 or 4.
Most people seem to assume that the higher the class, the better the card is for everything, but that's not how it is. Different purposes need different kinds of speed... cards with higher sequential speeds have lower random speeds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Noob question: recently, scripts have been produced to, for example, speed the reading of photos in the gallery. Will those same scripts improve the class 10 cards such that their performance is better than class 4 cards?
Ashyford said:
Noob question: recently, scripts have been produced to, for example, speed the reading of photos in the gallery. Will those same scripts improve the class 10 cards such that their performance is better than class 4 cards?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They may improve speeds a little in your phone, but it doesn't change how the sd cards controller acts. So no, it won't make class 10 have better random speeds and access times than a high quality class 2 or 4. The controller in the SD card and the actual NAND memory chip itself decides how the card reads and writes and the speeds it has.
andisk is the best
i want to know too . . . .
Hey
Im sorta "hell bent" on getting a 32GB microSD Class 10 card ( http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1031312 ) but they are very limited to find. I want a Class 10 because of data transfer and the snapping of pictures/video taking is alot quicker.
I just want to know what class did you get, for what purpose, and what do you use your mobile device most (taking pictures, internet, calling, etc).
Just so everyone knows (just in case):
The Speed Class Rating is the official unit of speed measurement for SD Cards, defined by the SD Association. The Class number represents a multiple of 8 Mbits/s (1 MB/s), and meets the least sustained write speeds for a card in a fragmented state.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey,
I was really keen on getting a class 10 32Gb too, but they are very expensive. In then end I opted for a 16Gb class 10 as Play.com had them on offer a month or so ago. I got a sandisk one. Just had a look for a link, but I don't think they have them now.
Guess you could get it anywhere though. I paid £15 including delivery.
I've done a couple of measurements and it's definitely performing at class 10 speeds. I have an HD2 running an Android Gingerbread SD build and the speed has been more than adequate.
My use is mostly internet, texts and calls. I have done some video/photo stuff since getting the card and it's definitely fast enough.
I used to have a class 6 PNY 8Gb one in there and it's a hell of an improvement, especially now I'm on an SD build. The only thing I would say is android takes a fair while to do it's 'preparing SD card' business when I turn the phone on, but no other issues to report. the new card seems to have helped with the hang issues on installing market apps too, which is nice.
Also - did a defrag on it with Mydefrag (beautiful tool!), which seems to have helped too.
Hope that helps!
I still use my stock 8GB card I got with my phone. My main use is pictures and apps. Its a class 2.
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G
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I'm currently using 2 32GB Sandisk cards... one is marked class 2, one is marked class 4, but both their average write speeds are pretty similar. They could accurately be marked as class 6.
But really, the class is not important to me. When it comes to choosing a card to use in my phone, I look for cards with quick access times and fast random read and write speeds. Class ratings are really only important when the cards are going to be used in a digital camera or be used as a flash storage drive where you will be transferring large files back and forth.
When it comes to cell phones, a card that can quickly access files and can read/write to many different parts of the card quickly is much more important than a card that can write sequentially fast. You may be able to take large pictures with the camera more quickly with a higher class card, but many cards sacrifice their random access speeds to get that high sequential write speed. This can cause lags and performance loss when running apps or system files off the higher class cards.
The best cards to generally use in cell phones is a class 2 or 4. Many class 6 may perform well, too. There may even be class 10 cards that don't sacrifice that random access speeds. Quality and brand are generally much more important than class to get good access speeds and random read/write speeds.
I really think there needs to be a new rating system for access speeds and random speeds. In general, the lower class cards have better random access speeds, but that's not always the case. There are plenty of class 2 and 4 cards that have terrible random access times, and many class 6 and even 10 that still have great random access. Unfortunately, there's no way to know how a card rates in these areas until you actually test it.
I've always had good results from Sandisk cards... and terrible results from Kingston.
Hopefully, since WP7 requires cards used with it to have good random access speeds, we might start seeing some lines of microSD cards that rate these speeds.
But for now, if you're using the card with wp7, or running android off the card, or running apps or other system files off the card, you will generally have better results with high-quality lower-class cards. I have only been using Class 2 and 4 Sandisk recently. Hopefully a new class and rating system is created for using these cards with smartphones. We are using them more and more for the purpose of internal phone memory... especially windows phone 7, and even with android you see more people making partitions on their cards to use as internal memory to run app and system files. We need a better rating system for cards, cause the current class rating is pretty much meaningless for smartphone purposes.
homescrub said:
I still use my stock 8GB card I got with my phone. My main use is pictures and apps. Its a class 2.
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G
XDA Developers Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks but vote
Seiphr said:
Also - did a defrag on it with Mydefrag (beautiful tool!), which seems to have helped too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Defraging a flash based storage device does nothing and actually makes its lifetime smaller.
zarathustrax said:
I'm currently using 2 32GB Sandisk cards... one is marked class 2, one is marked class 4, but both their average write speeds are pretty similar. They could accurately be marked as class 6.
But really, the class is not important to me. When it comes to choosing a card to use in my phone, I look for cards with quick access times and fast random read and write speeds. Class ratings are really only important when the cards are going to be used in a digital camera or be used as a flash storage drive where you will be transferring large files back and forth.
When it comes to cell phones, a card that can quickly access files and can read/write to many different parts of the card quickly is much more important than a card that can write sequentially fast. You may be able to take large pictures with the camera more quickly with a higher class card, but many cards sacrifice their random access speeds to get that high sequential write speed. This can cause lags and performance loss when running apps or system files off the higher class cards.
The best cards to generally use in cell phones is a class 2 or 4. Many class 6 may perform well, too. There may even be class 10 cards that don't sacrifice that random access speeds. Quality and brand are generally much more important than class to get good access speeds and random read/write speeds.
I really think there needs to be a new rating system for access speeds and random speeds. In general, the lower class cards have better random access speeds, but that's not always the case. There are plenty of class 2 and 4 cards that have terrible random access times, and many class 6 and even 10 that still have great random access. Unfortunately, there's no way to know how a card rates in these areas until you actually test it.
I've always had good results from Sandisk cards... and terrible results from Kingston.
Hopefully, since WP7 requires cards used with it to have good random access speeds, we might start seeing some lines of microSD cards that rate these speeds.
But for now, if you're using the card with wp7, or running android off the card, or running apps or other system files off the card, you will generally have better results with high-quality lower-class cards. I have only been using Class 2 and 4 Sandisk recently. Hopefully a new class and rating system is created for using these cards with smartphones. We are using them more and more for the purpose of internal phone memory... especially windows phone 7, and even with android you see more people making partitions on their cards to use as internal memory to run app and system files. We need a better rating system for cards, cause the current class rating is pretty much meaningless for smartphone purposes.
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Great post as in the other thread I may have to go with a Class 4 (as there are even less Class 6) card as it will also lower the price in my budget. Cant have everything...
I got a good deal on a Samsung 16 gb class 2, figured I'd go for it because I don't really use my phone for too much HD recording . However, it consistently benchmarks at class 6 speeds.
Yes, I did vote
32gb sandisk class 4
No clue, is there a program which can be used to check it in a SGS?
johan81 said:
No clue, is there a program which can be used to check it in a SGS?
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h2testw
Thanks
Thanks for all the votes
It seems since Im on a budget, Im going to have to go with a Class 4 even though it hurts as I (thought) a Class 10 was needed. I just hope I dont notice it when taking pictures.
SanDisk without a doubt right?
riahc3 said:
SanDisk without a doubt right?
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Im tempted to make a thread about this as well
I just like to make sure what I buy before I do it. Makes me more sure about what Im buying.
Thanks to everyone who has helped me in these 2 (well problably soon 3) threads. I appreciate it
riahc3 said:
Im tempted to make a thread about this as well
I just like to make sure what I buy before I do it. Makes me more sure about what Im buying.
Thanks to everyone who has helped me in these 2 (well problably soon 3) threads. I appreciate it
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Definitely Sandisk....if getting 32GB, look for model # ending in B35A or B35N. I think that's the one I got. I'll double check tonight and let you know. It was listed as class 2 when I ordered it, but it was marked class 4 when I got it, and it had sequential write speeds equal to class 6 (6MB/Sec). I also have a 32GB with model # ending in A11M... this one was mark class 2, but I think newer ones are also marked class 4. Not sure if the newer ones marked class 4 have better performance than the ones marked class 2, but mine which is marked class 2 could also easily be marked class 6 and be as fast in sequential write speeds as most class 6 of other brands... but the class 2 A11M is not quite as fast as the class 4 B36A that I have in both sequential write/read and random read/write & access times. But like I said, the newer A11Ms marked as class 4 may have better performance than the ones marked class 2, and the performance difference between my 2 32GB Sandisks is not very big.... both are VERY good cards in overall performance.
I got both my cards from provantage, I believe.
zarathustrax said:
The best cards to generally use in cell phones is a class 2 or 4. Many class 6 may perform well, too. There may even be class 10 cards that don't sacrifice that random access speeds. Quality and brand are generally much more important than class to get good access speeds and random read/write speeds.
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Hey zarathustrax, I'm maintaining a microSD benchmark results thread and we have quite a few results now, and it backs up everything you are saying. The 32GB Class2 Sandisk (when it was available) owns everything on random writes. Followed by the 32 Class4 Sandisk.
By comparison, a 32GB Class10 Lexar is benching 350 times slower for random writes than the Sandisk. And yet only offers a doubling of sequential write speed.
Additionally, I maintain an in-phone microSD benchmark thread too. But the results are pretty much cached out by whatever ROM you are running on your phone. So slow cards become much faster, and fast cards become much slower. In the end we found that all cards were performing at around the same speeds. Its only when you changed ROMs would you see a change in in-phone card speed.
Out of phone benchmark link...
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1582172
In-phone benchmark link...
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1468705
Thanks. Im going to read your links now and see if there are model numbers and get some cards (I should have already bought the card before yesterday)
Thanks again stumo5
Damn, no model numbers
Stores that are near me and deliver to me only offer Kingston lol...
Holy ****!
I have found one that has a Sandisk; The only problem is that on the webpage it says that it is a SDSDQM-032G-B35 but the picture shows a 2 written on the card, meaning Class 2. I pretty much refuse going from a Class 10 to a Class 2 and besides the price is 95....
Im going to call and get the model number anyhow....
Kingston 60 bucks
Sandisk 95 bucks
Man how they like to **** consumers in the ass Anyways, he said that what was shown to him was divided by categories and he couldnt tell me the exact model number as it just showed him prices and who supplied it but I rather pay on eBay a Lexar Class 10 at 96 rather than a Sandisk Class 2/4 at 95.
More comparisons: A Sandisk Class 2 32GB at 89 bucks on eBay.
I mean I really have to juggle and ask my self: Is it really worth it? Being on a slight budget, Im not sure.
stumo5 - Has anyone done tests in your microsd exam on TopRAM? I might get them at the end as the prices are just rapist ( ). zarathustrax, the price doesnt justify to me at the end, unless I will notice it.
My main dilema was how pictures were going to be taken as I imagine there will be a lag in picture when I press it and when it is actually taken. Also file transfers and installing/running applications from the SD card. Your explanation was great zarathustrax but Im not sure if its going to be worth the price.
My first smartphone (Nokia E70) I went with Kingston but it surprises me in a way that people talk so bad about Kingston in the flash memory card area.
And I now see on eBay a Sandisk 32GB Class 4 at about 75....More or less.
I'm currently using the 8gb one that came with my Desire Z although I have a class 6 8Gb somewhere that I bought but I haven't felt the need to swap yet for some reason I can't tell a difference