[Nook Color General] Blue6IX:
This thread is about testing MicroSD cards using Crystal Disk Mark to determine actual card read/write speed.

This thread is a supplemental thread to: SD Strange-results - or - How I learned to love CM7 on SD

The above linked thread is pretty much a pre-requisite for this thread. Read that one first, then come back here.

This thread is designed specifically to be a supplement to that thread, and expand on something without confusing the information presented in the other thread.

Further reading should also include Runing OS from SD. Re: SD Strange-results - or - How I learned to love CM7 on SD. This thread approaches the issue from another angle, and these 3 threads paint a more comprehensive picture of this situation then any 1 individually. I think that as this one develops it'll benefit us greatly on this subject.

WARNING: Long read.

Thread Focus: Accuracy & Reliability

Regarding: Crystal Disk Mark (v. 3.0.1) MicroSD card benchmark test results. Computer state and physical hardware used.

Thread Navigation:

Post 01 - Introduction, what this thread is about.

Post 02 - Benchmark Software, Memory Specifications.

Post 03 - Hardware: Computer, MicroSD cards, and Adapters/Readers.

Post 04 - Step by Step Procedures.

Post 05 - Results: Initial Test

Post 06 - Results: Test 2

Post 07 - Results: Averages

Post 08 - Results: Averages: SanDisk

Post 09 - Review/Questions/Notes.

Post 10 - Reserved

(Link to single post, reference purposes. Post 01 to reload whole thread.)

Updates:

-06 / 11 / 11 : Test 2 Results uploaded. I'm still on vacation, so over the next few days i'll be editing this thread a bit to clarify some things, tidy links and what-not, but the data is there now. Not the best environment at the moment to do that. Results in Post 06.

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This thread details the testing procedures and results of a test on MicroSD cards and the adapters used.

Some questions that helped spawn this thread:

- Does it make a difference whether the benchmark is run through a MicroSD to SD card adapter, USB card reader, etc...

- Is the test reliable? How much do the results vary from test to test? What's the margin for error in a result?

- How much does the computer environment affect the test?

Goals:

01 - Total of 5 full tests, testing each card in each adapter on a fresh PC install.

02 - To average all 5 results from each test and get a more reliable card rating.

03 - To design a test that can be duplicated as exactly as possible.

04 - Determine how reliable the test results are when repeated. Discover % margin for error.

05 - To start to discover which method of input to pc is best, and determine how test results may vary between them.

06 - To compare my new test results to my old from a more normal user environment.

07 - To provide a baseline metric for others to build on, or at the very least refer to.

A considerable amount of effort was put into identifying, isolating and eliminating as many variables as possible. Great care was taken to ensure that the testing environment (computer) was as identical as possible from Test to Test and benchmark result to benchmark result. Same with the test objects. (MicroSd cards)

I can only test what I have. Over the next few weeks i'll be picking up some adapters/readers and a few more cards, specifically to round out the test data.

Furthermore, I had to really crunch it in to get all the test data done. Emphasis was on getting the data, not sorting it, so only the most basic averages have been done so far. There is a lot more computation on the way.

With the data itself gathered and organized, though, others can calculate whatever they want if I haven't yet, or haven't thought of. All of the original results from the program are included.

The spreadsheets are not all pretty with colors and such, but they are clean, organized and formatted just enough to manage the data. Once it's all sorted and computed, i'll work on making it look pretty.

This was a good run using what I had, but i'd like to see first-hand results from at least two of each adapter or reader used. I came this far, so i'll go at least that much further right away.

I will start actively paying attention to memory card sales at retail stores. Different stuff is on sale all the time, sometimes for pretty cheap. As far as testing goes, anything not already benchmarked is a candidate. Stuff that benchmarked well already is also a candidate.

Accuracy and reliability are the two guiding aims of this project. Any suggestions on improving my test procedure in that direction?

I am on the road a lot for work, and there are times where I may not have internet access for a week or so. If I haven't been around in a couple of weeks, i'm not gone, just absent. Don't want anyone to think I abandoned this.

I can work on charts and stuff in my random offline free time, so when I get the chance I can upload what I have.