I'd like your help with 1GB SD read/write speeds

[Choirguy]

Calling all Axim owners with SD and CF cards

We started a process in the X30 forum which was examining the read/write capabilities of our Axims with various cards.

Now, I'd like to ask for all of your help. I'd like to see what read/write speeds are for the 1GB (and greater) SD and CF cards that you use. Please post data or e-mail or PM them to me with your Axim user name, type of Axim, type of card (SD or CF) manufacturer of 1GB card, speed of card (if applicable, i.e. 32x Lexar), Read Speed, and Write Speed.

I'll compile all the results in a PDF as a resource for all of us. I'm interested to know the results of read/write on 1GB cards in different kinds of Axims, as well as for different kinds of 1GB cards on the same model of Axim.

I appreciate your help! The instructions are as printed below:

Testing Program: Pocket Mechanic (Free 9 day trial) http://www.omegaone.com/PocketPC/PM.html

Instructions:
1) Open the Card Benchmark test in Pocket Mechanic (first picture below)

2) Select these settings for the test (see second picture below): Read Test (default setting), Write Test, Sequential Sectors (default setting), Random Sectors (default setting), 64 Sectors/block (default), Variable (default setting), and repeat tests 20 times.

3) The test will run for about 5 minutes (see third picture below)

4) The end report will offer MB/s for Read and Write Speeds (see fourth picture below)

5) You can find the "x" value by checking the box in the lower left hand corner of the end report (see fifth picture below)

6) Be aware that some users have experienced other problems with Pocket Mechanic (data loss) while using other aspects (i.e. not the card benchmark tests) of the program.

Still waiting for my 1GB card to ship, but once it does I will be happy to lend a hand.

[Frenchy]

I am going to buy a 1Gb Lexar as soon as the Canadian prices drop to acceptable level. Right now it is about 121.99. I will reply then if you still need the information.

[Choirguy]

I'm going to keep cataloging responses for a finalized PDF file, so if and when people receive their 1GB cards (Lexar, Sandisk, whoever), I'd love the data so that it is visible for all.

[Theophilus]

Please post data or e-mail or PM them to me with your Axim user name, type of Axim, manufacturer of 1GB card, speed of card (if applicable, i.e. 32x Lexar), Read Speed, and Write Speed.

Good idea, I like that, though I heard the Axim could read/write only at certain fixed speeds, so the card speed isn't relevant? Good way to finally know if this is true or not... And don't you think other factors could affect the results ? Like the amout of free space on te card, available program RAM for the PPC, programs running in the background, etc.

I ran the test for my CF card too, while I was on it.
So far on my Axim x50v:

SD Kingmax 1Gb 60x = Read 0.99MB/s (6.8x) Write 0.02MB/s (0.1x)
CF Sandisk CF UltraII 1Gb = Read 0.17MB/s (1.1x) Write 0.04MB/s (0.3x)

I'll edit later with my smaller cards!

[Choirguy]

Hey Theophilus,

Thanks for your input, and you know what? I decided to add Compact Flash cards to the comparision as well. I will put two stipulations for my report: I will only include results for 1GB or larger cards, as they represent the future and what most people are going to want.

An interesting side note...the Kingmax 60x SD cards are running noticably slower than Lexar 32x cards...on both X30s and X50s.

I'll will do two more things:

1) I will post after I've included someone's data in the report (unless it is e-mailed or PM'd, which I will then verify by those means)

2) I will post the first report when I have submissions from 10 Aximsite users, and then keep it current as needed.

[Theophilus]

An interesting side note...the Kingmax 60x SD cards are running noticably slower than Lexar 32x cards...on both X30s and X50s.

Well, that makes sense to me, they are also noticeably cheaper. Or at least they were when I bought mine... And I already read elsewhere that the 60x or 32x or whatever are just constructor speeds, not a "real absolute" one.

Keep up the good work, to my knowledge you're the first one to do this work at a large scale. :approve:

[rsq313]

I've PMed Choirguy with my results for the ATP 60X 1gig, but :-) might as well post it up.
Axim X30H, Pocket Mechanic Benchmark
Read 7.7X or 1.13 MB/s
Write 0.6X or 0.08 MB/s
FAT 16
Files on board card.
PS Frenchy - try this site for SD cards, it's where I buy my stuff
http://www.canadacomputers.com/flash.html

[Choirguy]

I have a couple of questions/requests:

1) Users of Sandisk cards, we could use data from you in particular at the moment, and any cards in addition to ATP, Lexar, and Kingmax

2) If you have any of the last 3 cards mentioned and would like to throw in your data, PLEASE DO!

3) I'm not sure that many Aximsite users look at these Memory Card forums. Would it be appropriate to extend an invite in the X30 and X50 forums without being considered a "double" or "triple" post?

I heard the Axim could read/write only at certain fixed speeds, so the card speed isn't relevant? Good way to finally know if this is true or not...

I didn't pay serious attention to control conditions, but in the tests I ran with a Sandisk, a Simpletech, and a Kingston in my axim X5 last year, their PPC write speeds and their PC write speeds were very different.

The Sandisk was the fastest at about 0.5MB/sec, the simpletech next at like 0.3MB/sec, and the Kingston the slowest at 0.13MB/sec, or something crazy like that.

In my Desktop with USB 2.0 card reader, the Simpletech was the fastest, at 3.9MB/sec, followed by the Sandisk at 2.7MB/sec, and the Kingston at 1.5MB/sec.

I think we will find very substantial variations in card performance based on manufacturer (all three of those cards came out of different factories for sure.)

I know we can't expand this too much or people will lose interest, but if everybody could also provide the location of manufacture as stated on the back of the SD cards themselves that'd be great too. i will try to get some pictures up to let people try to match the style of their card exteriors as well...

Lastly...I have a 1GB Lexar SD card but no Axim, so I'd love to help out with the testing, but unless it's on a PC there's not much I can do.

The basic idea is a good one though and we've got the manpower, PPCs, and SD cards to get some interesting results. It does look like hardly anyone visits the storage card forums, but i'll rack that up to better SD reliability/compatibility in the newer axims. Still, pinning this thread in some of the main boards couldn't hurt, either. :)

[Theophilus]

It does look like hardly anyone visits the storage card forums...

Personally, I never visit a specific forum. just hit the "new post" link under my name in the Aximsite homepage, and all the new posts of every forum are displayed. Very convenient !

[crash613]

do we have a running total right now? how about a partial comparison based on what you now have?

Maybe we could put it at the top and Chiorguy could edit his first post to reflect the change.

Just an idea. I am going to do the test on my 1 gig kingmax (before i hock the POS on ebay) just as soon as i download Pocket Mech.

Mike

[crash613]

OK.

Benchmarked my POS Kingmax 1 gig 60x SD card. Tests on my Dell Axim X30H. Here are the results:

READ: 6.7X 0.98 MB/s

WRITE: 0.5X 0.07 MB/s

I have a USB 2 reader, but i don't know how to benchmark on the PC. If you coauld tell me how, i will benchmark it that way too.

[Choirguy]

I'm moving the Memory Card Benchmark PDF file to the top of a new thread...

Seems the logical thing to do.

[JakeRich]

CLIP..
3) I'm not sure that many Aximsite users look at these Memory Card forums. Would it be appropriate to extend an invite in the X30 and X50 forums without being considered a "double" or "triple" post?

No, it would not be appropriate to post again.