SD Card Compatibility - CrystalDiskMark 3.0 benchmarks

[Baby Samus]

Hi guys, I am seeing a few posts around the place from some users who are experiencing problems with using a 'non-standard' SD card with the 2Box module.  In an effort to save people some time and money, there is a quick way to check if the card you have purchased is fast enough not to bottleneck the system.

Using CrystalDiskMark 3.0 (http://crystalmark.info/software/CrystalDiskMark/index-e.html), you can see the average/max read and write speeds of the Sandisk Extreme III Class 6, which is the card that 2Box ships with the module.  Remember that the Class system number only denotes the minimum write speeds for a card in a fragmented state.  So even if you buy a Class 10 card, that doesn't mean it will match the top speeds of the Class 6 Sandisk Extreme III.  Confused?  Not to worry.

The main figure you need to be concerned about is the sequential read and write speeds, as this is what the card will mostly be doing, rather than random reads and writes.

The benches are as follows:

Sandisk Extreme III class 6 card tested over USB2 with multiple 50mb files:

SEQ READ (mb/s): 17.34
SEQ WRITE (mb/s): 13.30
512k READ (mb/s): 17.35
512k WRITE (mb/s): 3.866

I won't bother with the smaller read write sizes because the 2Box does not access or write to the card in such a way when in operation.

So we can say that the 2Box requires a MINIMUM sequential read speed of 17.34mb/s, and a MINIMUM sequential write speed of 13.30mb/s.  Whatever card you purchase, make sure it is at least class 6 (preferably class 10), AND can achieve or surpass the speeds in bold above, and you should be okay.

Of course using a non standard card is not supported or endorsed by 2Box, and you modify the module at your own risk.  For that reason I'm not sure if Deve would like to simply tell us what the module requires as regards speed, rather than guessing based on the card benches, but hey, this is as good an estimate as I can make.

Hope this helps someone.

[Slap the drummer]

Thanks, yes interesting - specially as I'm thinking of getting another card.... and the whole business is
a total mystery to me.  And specially since it wd be nice not to be paying Sandisk prices   

Do these speeds affect latency?  or is that barking up the wrong tree ?

[Baby Samus]

The read/write speeds are the most important aspect and therefore any changes in latency will be relatively unnoticeable to the end user.

[BURNIN AMBITION]

my numbers were

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 :    97.778 MB/s
          Sequential Write :    92.581 MB/s
         Random Read 512KB :    42.004 MB/s
        Random Write 512KB :    53.844 MB/s
    Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :     0.601 MB/s [   146.8 IOPS]
   Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :     1.265 MB/s [   308.8 IOPS]
   Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :     0.703 MB/s [   171.6 IOPS]
  Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :     1.295 MB/s [   316.2 IOPS]

  Test : 1000 MB [C: 87.5% (52.0/59.4 GB)] (x5)
  Date : 2011/05/30 9:40:06
    OS : Windows 7 Ultimate Edition [6.1 Build 7600] (x64)
 

so am i fine? i am using a 32 gb kingston class 6 sdhc

what concerns me is that i formated the card when i got it. of course i formated in 32 kb cluster as is adviced, but i cant check yet as i am waiting for the new brain

[edcito]

what concerns me is that i formated the card when i got it. of course i formated in 32 kb cluster as is adviced, but i cant check yet as i am waiting for the new brain

fingers crossed!

[Baby Samus]

my numbers were

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 :    97.778 MB/s
          Sequential Write :    92.581 MB/s
         Random Read 512KB :    42.004 MB/s
        Random Write 512KB :    53.844 MB/s
    Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :     0.601 MB/s [   146.8 IOPS]
   Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :     1.265 MB/s [   308.8 IOPS]
   Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :     0.703 MB/s [   171.6 IOPS]
  Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :     1.295 MB/s [   316.2 IOPS]

  Test : 1000 MB [C: 87.5% (52.0/59.4 GB)] (x5)
  Date : 2011/05/30 9:40:06
    OS : Windows 7 Ultimate Edition [6.1 Build 7600] (x64)
 

so am i fine? i am using a 32 gb kingston class 6 sdhc

what concerns me is that i formated the card when i got it. of course i formated in 32 kb cluster as is adviced, but i cant check yet as i am waiting for the new brain

Sorry Burnin, but you have run the test on your computer's hard disk rather than the card .  You need to select the correct drive to test in crystal disk before running the test.  When you plug the card in to your PC, you need to check what drive letter it uses (in my computer) then select that letter to run the test on in crystaldiskmark.

[BURNIN AMBITION]

i must be an idiot. lol
will come back with the real numbers. and i thought i had a good sd card

[BURNIN AMBITION]

i am sas. my kard is kingston (supposed to be a good brand right? class 6
look at the stats. does that mean i am in trouble?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 :     7.217 MB/s
          Sequential Write :     2.795 MB/s
         Random Read 512KB :     7.161 MB/s
        Random Write 512KB :     1.265 MB/s
    Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :     4.354 MB/s [  1062.9 IOPS]
   Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :     0.018 MB/s [     4.4 IOPS]
   Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :     4.575 MB/s [  1117.0 IOPS]
  Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :     0.022 MB/s [     5.4 IOPS]

  Test : 50 MB [H: 0.0% (0.0/31.1 GB)] (x5)
  Date : 2011/05/30 22:36:58
    OS : Windows 7 Ultimate Edition [6.1 Build 7600] (x64)
 


i have a 16 gb card for my camera that is class 16. yes class 16 exists. i will test this but i wanted to have bigger capacity. so probably i will need to sell the 32 gb if it doesnt worjk and get a 16 class 32 gb card.
does anyone know what error message i will get if my card isnt fast enough? is thera a chance my card will work?
2box said if i rememebr correctly to have at least class 6. and i have  but why so bad stats? i am sad

[Baby Samus]

The card that 2Box ships with the module is to be used as a speed benchmark, because we know it works - they wouldn't use that card otherwise right?  So logically, you need to make sure your card can match the original sandisk extreme III speeds to really guarantee it will perform as well as the original card.

If your card does not match those speeds as your test indicates (less than half the speed) then it cannot be guaranteed to work.  Problems may show up in how long it takes to transfer files, how quickly kits load etc.  In other words, if your current SD card does not meet those speeds, and you want to make sure your 2Box is working as well as it was designed to do, you need to replace it.

Your card is too slow - it needs replaced.

[BURNIN AMBITION]

but from what you say, we dont know the minimum requirements. we just know what works right?
si i will test if this card works ok, and if not i wil lreplace it. so as you say,if the card doesnt work,  i wont get an error message just i will see lag etc, am i right?

if it needs replacement i will buy a 32gb 16 class, cause look at the test run on my 16 gb 16 class card i have in my camera

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 :    20.121 MB/s
          Sequential Write :    18.871 MB/s
         Random Read 512KB :    19.819 MB/s
        Random Write 512KB :     3.012 MB/s
    Random Read 4KB (QD=1) :     5.024 MB/s [  1226.6 IOPS]
   Random Write 4KB (QD=1) :     0.029 MB/s [     7.1 IOPS]
   Random Read 4KB (QD=32) :     5.373 MB/s [  1311.7 IOPS]
  Random Write 4KB (QD=32) :     0.035 MB/s [     8.5 IOPS]

  Test : 50 MB [H: 27.8% (4.1/14.8 GB)] (x5)
  Date : 2011/05/30 22:48:28
    OS : Windows 7 Ultimate Edition [6.1 Build 7600] (x64)
 

pretty awesome right?


last question. perhaps i am too stupid to know, but do we have the need for more than 16 gbcards?
do we have more than 12 gb extra sounds?
perhaps i dont need to get a 32 gb card and a 16 gb card will do?

[Baby Samus]

Yes, we don't know the minimum requirements, but we can make a safe assumption that 2Box shipped the module with the SanDisk Extreme III class 6 model because it closely met the modules speed requirements, thats why it was shipped.  It makes no sense to use a slower card, as if a slower card worked properly, then why would 2Box not ship the module with a cheaper, slower card and save money?

No, it makes more logical sense that we use the 2Box card as a minimum baseline, not a maximum one to ensure preformance as intended by the manufacturer.

Lastly, only you know how much space you need - no one can tell you.  If you make more samples yourself and need more space, buy a bigger card - 16gb is a good middle ground - affordable and plenty space to start off with - if you need more go for a 32gb.  Also remember it is good to have a backup card with a copy on if you play live, just in case one of your cards fails.

[BURNIN AMBITION]

thanx for the advice mate. is there yet free sounds that are more than 12 gb ?from what i know, not. but io could be wrong. anyway, ill wait for the new brain and start messing around with it later. cheers