SD card parameters. Everything you need to know about SD memory cards so you don't screw up your purchase. MicroSD Card Types

The development history of SD cards goes back over 10 years. During this period, drives have changed several generations, increased the maximum amount of memory, increased speed and became commonplace for an ordinary user of technology. Let's see how SDHC memory cards differ from SDXC and SD. We will also figure out their characteristics and how to choose the right drive for your device.

SD drives are different from SDHC and SDXC.

SD stands for Secure Memory Card. This media type has been produced since 1999. Of course, today no one uses cards in their original form for obvious reasons. Over time, the creators began to increase the characteristics and volume, releasing new generations, which will be discussed below.

The main difference, as mentioned above, is spaciousness. However, devices also vary in read / write speed and support across devices (cameras, phones, and so on). There are 3 types in total:

• SD High Capacity;

Let's take a look at the differences between SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards in all characteristics separately.

Volume difference

The oldest and unclaimed type is MicroSD. The first generation holds only up to 2 GB of information (version 1.0) and up to 4 GB in version 1.1. These numbers are currently extremely small for the modern consumer, given the size of high-quality videos and photos that new smartphones and cameras produce. Such media can only be useful for transferring small files. There is no point in purchasing such a media on purpose. FAT16 is used as the file system.

The second type is SDHC cards. They differ from ordinary SD in the increased amount of space and the file system. Now the maximum capacity is up to 32 GB, using the FAT32 file system.

The most recent type is SD eXtended Capacity. The standard was officially released in 2009 and remains in demand to this day. Compared to the previous generation, the SDXC standard, which differs in volume, can hold up to 2 TB of information. The file system is exFAT with support for FAT32 formatting.

Now you know the main difference between SDHC memory cards and SDXC memory cards, which you should pay attention to when choosing a drive for your device.

Supported by devices and operating systems

As of 2017, the SD generation is supported by all devices that have a corresponding slot. All SD-only devices will not be able to read HC or XC media. Cameras and smartphones with SD eXtended Capacity are compatible with all three generations. There is no backward compatibility.

SD can also differ from High Capacity and eXtended Capacity in support of operating systems:

• due to exFAT, SDXC drives are not supported by the Windows XP operating system without installing a special update;
• MacBook and Mac OS have SD eXtended Capacity support since 2011;
• flagship Android devices support SD eXtended Capacity. For all other smartphones and tablets, you will need a special driver from Samsung.

Difference between Micro and Mini

Now let's figure out how MicroSD, MicroSDHC memory cards differ from their Mini counterparts. As you might guess, the main difference lies in the size. For compact technology, a Mini version has been created, which is usually supported in smartphones (it is customary to install it on the second SIM card slot). The difference between MicroSDHC, SDXC and SD is that they connect to a card reader without an adapter, while the Mini version requires an adapter.

Difference in speed

Now let's look at the differences between all SD, SDHC, SDXC memory cards in terms of information reading speed. Speed ​​classes are marked on the body of each drive: 2 (from 2 Mb / s), 4 (from 4 Mb / s), 6 (from 6 Mb / s), 10 (from 10 Mb / s). The designation of the classes indicates the minimum value of the write speed, therefore, in practice, the performance of a single drive may be higher. Manufacturers indicate characteristics in Mb / s, and not according to the established classification. Also SDHC and SDXC can support Ultra High Speed ​​technology (up to 25 Mb / s).

When choosing a drive, pay attention to its type and size. SDHC and SDXC are relevant today. Also, before purchasing, check the compatibility with the device for which the media is purchased to avoid incompatibilities.

With this article, our site continues a whole cycle of useful materials, the purpose of which will be to facilitate the selection of any product from the thousands of options offered on the market. Agree, the choice of a specific model of a device always takes a lot of time that can be spent usefully. In today's article we will talk about choosing a memory card for a smartphone, tablet or camera.

Introduction

Flash memory is used today in almost all electronic devices- both in personal computers and laptops in the form of SSD-drives, and in mobile devices - in the form of internal memory and flash cards. The latter will be discussed in this article. By using small card(their size has long allowed them to be used in the smallest and thinnest devices), you can increase the amount of available memory on your smartphone, camera or tablet by many gigabytes, so you can carry more content with you - games, music, videos or books with magazines. In addition, the cost of high-capacity and fast memory cards is now lower than ever.

Memory cards are not as fast as USB flash drives, but their speeds have long since reached the level that allows you to easily record 4K video on them, and even more so to watch it. But different card models can vary greatly in their read and write speeds - you will learn about this in the section devoted to their characteristics. But it's worth noting that different devices can support cards of a certain maximum size - for example, cheap smartphones sometimes cannot work with microSD cards with a capacity of more than 32 GB. Also, do not expect new speed gains from the old camera due to the use of a card with a higher speed class - it is likely that the card will run in a slower mode to ensure compatibility. To find out about support for specific speeds and volumes of memory cards, you need to refer to the official user manual for a specific device.

By 2015, the memory card industry was focusing on just two types - SD and microSD. The former are more often used in photo and video cameras, sometimes in laptops; the latter are more often used with smartphones and tablets. Once upon a time there were many more types of cards - some of you may remember names like MMC, Memory Stick Duo or xD-Picture. Fortunately, this fragmentation is now gone - almost any device supports either SD or microSD cards (or even both). We will tell you about their differences, as well as other important characteristics below.

Main characteristics of memory cards

As we said in the introduction, now almost the entire memory card market is occupied by models of two types - and microSD. They are used in every possible electronic device: cameras, smartphones, tablets, e-books, GPS navigators and even some game consoles.

SD and microSD cards are divided into four generations. SD 1.0 generation cards supported capacities from 8 MB to 2 GB, SD 1.1 generation cards up to 4 GB, SDHC cards up to 32 GB, SDXC (the most advanced and expensive) cards up to 2 TB. SDHC and SDXC cards cannot be used with SD 1.0 / SD 1.1 devices.

The main thing to remember is that a device that can handle the newer SD card standard can handle older cards, but most likely not the other way around (more on that below).

Memory capacity, GB

Memory cards with a capacity of less than 16 GB are hardly worth buying - their cost has already dropped to a very low level, and 16 GB is not that much for high-quality photos and videos. If you are planning to get serious about photography or video shooting, then for sure you want to use a card with at least 32 GB of memory, even better - with 128 GB. If you just want to increase the memory of your smartphone, then 32 GB in most cases will be enough.

Data writing and reading speed

The write speed of a memory card can be very important to you. The fact is that when taking photos and videos, the cameras transfer the received data to the internal memory buffer, and from it photos and videos are transferred to the memory of the card. If this buffer fills up faster than data can be written to the card (for example, when shooting in burst mode, when the camera takes a series of high-quality images), then they will simply be lost.

Reading speed is not so important, but the higher it is, the faster you can work with the data that is written on the card. For example, if you want to watch high-bitrate video on your tablet and in FullHD resolution or higher, then you need a pretty good card.

You can see examples of maximum and satisfactory card speeds below - in the section " 10 best SD and microSD cards".

UHS interface support

UHS is a faster interface that supports more expensive cards memory standards SD and microSD. UHS-I can transfer information at 50 MB / s or 104 MB / s, and UHS-II at 156 MB / s or 312 MB / s.

Speed ​​class

A designation of the form "Class x" or "Ux", which means the minimum standardized baud rate of a particular card. Memory cards are available in the following speed classes:

• Class 2 - at least 2 MB / s, SD video can be recorded.
• Class 4 - at least 4 MB / s, you can record HD video or FullHD video.
• Class 6 - at least 6 MB / s, you can record HD video or FullHD video.
• Class 10 - at least 10 MB / s, high quality FullHD video recording.
• UHS Speed ​​Class 1 (U1) - at least 10 MB / s, high quality FullHD video recording.
• UHS Speed ​​Class 3 (U3) - at least 30 MB / s, video recording in resolution up to 4K.

In addition, manufacturers often refer to the speed of their memory cards with a multiplier like "100x" or "600x" in the name. Several of these multipliers correspond to speed classes (13x - Class 2, 26x - Class 4, 40x - Class 6, 66x - Class 10), and the fastest at this moment the cards have a 633x multiplier and can transfer data at speeds up to 95 MB / s.

Adapters included

The set with the memory card may be supplied with special adapters for use in devices that do not support its original type. In most cases, this is an SD adapter for microSD cards - a plastic case for a microSD card that allows you to insert it into a slot for SD cards, which are much larger. If you plan to use one card on several devices supporting different types, then the included adapter will definitely not hurt.

USB card reader included

You can transfer captured photo and video files to a PC not only through the connection of the camera itself - it is much more convenient and sometimes faster to use a special card reader, which is inserted into the USB port of the computer. The presence of such a card reader in the kit is a very nice bonus, which usually does not cost too much.

10 best SD and microSD cards

An SD card that's great for capturing high quality FullHD video and capturing large burst photos. Those who record 4K video will want to go with the models recommended by their camera manufacturer.

A cheaper SD type model that should also do a great job of recording FullHD video and shooting high quality photos.

A very fast and rather expensive SD model that can easily handle 4K video recording and has enough capacity for temporary storage.

Slightly faster SD card than the first two models on this list. It also does a great job of recording FullHD video and has twice the capacity.

Whoever owns the information owns the world. But what if various devices (for example, tablets, smartphones, DVRs, digital cameras / camcorders, etc.) have a small internal memory and it is often not enough to use a large amount of useful information? A variety of memory cards come to the rescue in solving this problem. In this article, we will look at what types of memory cards are and how not to be mistaken in their choice.

General description of memory cards, sizes and purpose

- SD (Secure Digital Memory Card)

SD cards are the largest memory cards in size and are used in digital camcorders and cameras, navigators, and other equipment. Many laptops and netbooks are equipped with a slot (connector) for such a flash drive, which is very convenient when transferring photos and videos from a camera to a laptop.

- microSD (micro Secure Digital Memory Card)

microSD cards are ultra-compact and are used in smaller devices. So, most modern mobile phones, smartphones and communicators are equipped with a microSD card slot. And with the help of special adapters (adapters) microSD cards can be inserted into any regular SD card slot.

The main types of SD and microSD cards

SD cards are divided into specific types: SD, SDHS, SDXC. They differ in capacitive characteristics, compatibility with various devices, as well as a file system.

Ultra High Speed ​​Phase I (UHS-I)- bus interface that increases the speed characteristics of the semiconductor carrier. Moreover maximum speed is achieved precisely when both the card and the receiving device support the data exchange protocol - UHS. Depending on the operating mode, the UHS-I bus bandwidth is up to 50 MB / s (write) and 104 MB / s (read).

Compatibility issue

Before purchasing a memory card, it is very important to make sure that the selected type of card is suitable for your equipment. The device must support a certain format - see the table:

Host Devices / Card Readers	Card types
SDXC / microSDHC	SDXC / microSDXC, SDHC / microSDHC, SD / microSD
SDHC / microSDHC	SDHC / micro SDHC, SD / microSD

SD cards will work in all devices that support SD, SDHC, or SDXC

SDHC cards are not backward compatible with devices that only accept SD cards. Most readers and receivers manufactured after 2008 must be SDHC compliant.

SDXC cards are not backward compatible with devices that accept SD cards and SDHC cards. Most receivers manufactured after 2010 should be compatible with SDXC cards.

Classes of SD microSD cards

When choosing a storage device for a digital device, it is not enough to take into account only the type and volume of information storage. The class of SD cards must be taken into account. Recently, the hardware manufacturers themselves clearly and clearly in the specification indicate which class of memory card is required for optimal device operation.

What is the class of memory cards? It's very simple, the speed class is information about the minimum write speed to the memory card. In other words, the higher the class of the memory card, the faster you can record and save bulk information, play large audio and video files without stopping or interrupting the sound.

The main classes are class 2, class 4, class 6 and class 10. The number here indicates the speed in MB / s. An ordinary user who, for example, is not fond of video filming in high definition, too high a speed may simply not be required. But for professionals, speed is a priority! It is for demanding photo and video equipment that UHS (Ultra High Speed) cards were developed.

	Minimum write speed	Application area
		For advanced devices, this class is not suitable, since the data flow in them is huge. But for a photo frame, e-book or mp3-player, its capabilities will be quite enough.
		A fairly common class. These cards are suitable for undemanding devices that belong to the budget segment.
		Memory cards with such speed are the most optimal for the price and are widespread among users of modern gadgets.
		This class of memory cards has proven itself perfectly in DSLR cameras capable of continuous shooting, as well as camcorders that record in Full HD 1080. Also, these cards are perfect for most modern smartphones, tablets and other devices with games and various applications.

Thus, we found out that there are different sizes (SD and microSD) and types of SD memory cards. This is not to say that some cards are fundamentally better or worse than others. They have different purposes. The main difference between the two is how versatile they are. Therefore, when choosing a card for your device, you should be guided by whether this or that format is suitable for the device, as well as the write speed.

For example, when buying a memory card for a smartphone, volume plays a greater role than speed. The advantages of a large drive are obvious, but the advantages of a high transfer speed on a smartphone are practically not felt, since large files are rarely written and read there.

When it comes to DVRs or cameras that shoot HD and 4K video, speed and volume are equally important here. For 4K video, camera manufacturers recommend using UHS U3 cards. For HD video or RAW photography, UHS U1 and even Class 10 cards are great.

We hope this article helped you in choosing a memory card. Good luck!

Surely you have seen many different memory cards and wondered: how are they all different? The set of specifications and the manufacturer of the device are perhaps the most important data about this type of drive. This article will discuss in detail such their property as speed class. Let's get started!

A class is a parameter that indicates the speed of information exchange between the memory card and the device in which it is installed. The higher the speed of the drive, the faster it will record photo and video files, and there will also be less brakes when opening and playing them. Since today there are as many as 3 classes, each of which can also have a different multiplier, the international organization SD Card Association (hereinafter SDA) has proposed marking certain characteristics of SD memory cards right on their case. The classes were named SD Speed ​​Class and currently include: SD Class, UHS and Video Class.

Thanks to this solution, everyone who wants to buy a miniature drive can simply look at its packaging in the store and get comprehensive information about the speed of its operation. But you must always be on the lookout, because some unscrupulous manufacturers, when labeling a card, may mean the speed of reading from the device, and not writing to it, which is contrary to the SDA's decision and is misleading. Before buying, look for test results on the Internet or check the drive right in the store, asking a sales assistant about it. Using special software, you can check the cards you have already purchased on your computer.

Write speed classes

SD Class, UHS, and Video Class are standards for recording on a memory card. The number indicated next to the abbreviation is the value of the minimum possible speed of writing data to the device under the worst test conditions. This indicator is measured in MB / s. The most popular is the SD Class standard and its variations, with a multiplier from 2 to 16 (2, 4, 6, 10, 16). On devices, it is indicated as a letter of the Latin alphabet "C", inside which there is a number. This value will indicate the speed of the recording.

So, if you have the number 10 in the letter "C" on your card, then the speed should be at least 10 MB / s. The next stage in the development of recording speed standards is UHS. On memory cards, it is designated as the letter "U", containing inside itself the Roman numeral I or III or their Arabic counterparts. Only now, unlike the SD Class, the number in the symbol should be multiplied by 10 - this way you will find out the required characteristic.

In 2016, SDA introduced the fastest specification to date, the V Class. It has speeds from 6 to 90 MB / s, depending on the multiplier. Cards supporting this standard are marked with the letter "V" followed by a number. We multiply this value by 10 and voila - now we know the minimum write speed for this drive.

Important: One memory card can support several, up to all 3, speed standards, but not every device is capable of working with standards faster than SD Class.

SD Classes (C)

SD classes increase in arithmetic progression, the step of which is 2. This is how it looks on the card body.

• SD Class 2 provides a speed of at least 2 MB / s and is designed for video recording with a resolution of 720 by 576 pixels. This format video is called SD (standard definition, not to be confused with Secure Digital - this is the name of the memory card format itself) and is used as a standard on television.
• SD Class 4 and 6 provide the ability to record at least 4 and 6 MB / s, respectively, which will allow you to already deal with HD and FullHD video quality. This class is intended for entry-level cameras, smartphones, game consoles and other devices.

All subsequent classes, up to UHS V Class, about which information will be given below, allow you to write data to the drive faster and more efficiently.

UHS (U)

UHS is an acronym for English words"Ultra High Speed", which in Russian can be translated as "Ultra high speed". To find out the minimum possible speed of writing data to drives with this class of speed, you need to multiply the number indicated on their case by 10.

• UHS 1 was created for high-quality FullHD video shooting and recording streams in real time. The promised speed of saving information to the card is at least 10 MB / s.
• UHS 3 is for recording 4K (UHD) video files. Used in SLR and mirrorless cameras for shooting video in UltraHD and 2K.

Video Class (V)

It is abbreviated as V Class and was introduced by the SD Card Association to denote cards optimized for recording 3D video and files with a resolution of 8K and higher. The number after the letter "V" indicates the number of MB / s written. The minimum speed for cards with this speed class is 6 MB / s, which corresponds to the V6 class, and the maximum class at the moment is V90 - 90 MB / s.

Conclusion

In this article, we looked at the 3 speed classes that memory cards can have - SD Class, UHS and Video Class. SD Class is designed for wide application in various techniques, while the rest of the classes are designed for a narrower range of tasks. UHS allows you to efficiently record FullHD to 4K video and live streaming in real time, making it the standard for low-cost cameras. Video Class was created to store huge 8K video files, as well as 360 ° video, which predetermined its scope - professional and expensive video equipment.

Almost everyone knows what memory cards are and how to use them. The only difficulty, it would seem, can arise only in order to correctly insert it into the slot. However, nothing is simple in the world of technology. So it is with flash cards. They come in different types (MicroSD / TransFlash, MicroSDHC), each type has its own characteristics. It is also important to understand the special devices that make it easier to work with the cards. A memory card (Secure Digital Card) is a miniature plastic plate with a built-in flash memory module. The memory module stores information that can be deleted or overwritten. Cards can take many years to expire, making them one of the most popular ways to store information.

Types of SD memory cards

SD are the very first memory cards to hit the market. They are mainly used in computers and laptops. Their maximum size is 4 gigabytes, so they are not so popular now. But the price for them is quite low.

An SDHC card does not look different from an SD card. Differences in the filling. The capacity of SDHC cards is always more than four gigabytes, the maximum reaches 32 GB. The speed of information exchange is also higher. The only drawback is that not all older devices read this type of card.

The SDXC card has no external differences from SD cards, the difference is in the amount of memory and operating speed. The maximum capacity of SDXC cards is two terabytes, that is, 2048 gigabytes (the minimum volume is 64 GB), the file writing speed is almost twice as high as on SDHC. Finding a card with exactly 2 TB is rather difficult. Also, not all OS support SDXC.

MicroSD Card Types

MiniSDs were the first memory cards to be used in mobile devices due to their smaller size. They quickly disappeared into the shadows of the microSD that replaced them.

MicroSD / TransFlash differ in size, there are no smaller flash cards. There are slots for cards of this type in almost every modern device, from smartphones and tablets to video cameras. At the same time, they cost no more than conventional SD.

MicroSDHC has the same story as SD / SDHC. Flash cards of the MicroSD format with a capacity of more than four gigabytes (and up to 32 GB) are called MicroSDHC. The most popular type of cards now.

MicroSDXC officially has a maximum memory capacity of two terabytes, but on sale you will most likely find cards of this format with a capacity of no more than 128 GB. Which is also not bad, considering the amazing data transfer speed of up to 156 megabytes per second.

Other types of cards

Memory Stick is a type of flash card developed by Sony. Its format is closed. This means that full-fledged work is guaranteed only original maps Sony. There are two varieties: large and small. The maximum size is sixteen gigabytes. Most often used for PSP (portable game consoles Sony PlayStation).

It is no longer possible to find SmartMedia cards. And it is not necessary. The maximum capacity of these cards is only 128 GB.

The MuliMedia Card (MMC) format is obsolete, but not completely obsolete yet. MMC cards are compatible with SD slots (but not vice versa). It is very difficult to find them on sale.

XD cards work exclusively on Olympus and Fujifilm devices, so they are not very popular. The capacity of these cards does not exceed two gigabytes.

CompactFlash is another legacy format. Cards of this type stand out for their large size, they are even larger than SD cards. Still in use, because they have a high speed of operation, and the maximum memory capacity is 256 gigabytes.

What does the class of memory cards mean?

The class of the flash card is usually indicated on the card itself. Or check the packaging to find out. The class displays the data writing speed, denoted by a number. The higher the number, the higher the speed. There are five classes of memory cards:

• class 2 (for standard definition video recording, write speed 2 MB / s);
• class 4 (for high definition video recording, write speed 4MB / s);
• class 6 (for high definition video recording, write speed 6MB / s);
• class 10 (for recording video in Full HD (1080p), recording speed 10 MB / s).

Adapters

MicroSD / TransFlash memory card differs from SD in size, but not in technology. Therefore, you can easily use the microcard in devices with a slot only for "large" cards. For example, you only have a micro card, and the information needs to be transferred to a camera that does not have a MicroSD / TransFlash slot. To do this, you need a special adapter. It is a dummy SD card that looks like it. A smaller card is inserted into it, then it fits into the SD card slot.

Adapters are often sold bundled with MicroSD / TransFlash, which is another explanation for the popularity of this format. Buying a MicroSD card is more profitable because of the versatility that the adapter gives to this type of card. If the device is not included, then it is easy to buy it separately. It costs no more than a hundred rubles. The manufacturer does not matter.

Card Readers

In order to connect a memory card to a computer or laptop without the necessary slot, card readers are used. It is a small device with slot (s) for flash cards and a USB output. The card reader is connected to the computer via a USB port. This device is very useful in a situation when you store a photo on MicroSD / TransFlash, which now needs to be urgently transferred to SD. If a card reader has several slots for different types of cards at once, then in this way it is possible to transfer information from one card to another, using a computer as an intermediary.

Disadvantages of memory cards

First of all, it should be warned that flash cards consume a lot of energy. Consequently, the devices in which the card is inserted will discharge faster. They are also rather fragile and easily lost. Compatibility issues also arise. This may be due to flaws. software device in which the card is used. However, all these are trifles that should not confuse a potential buyer. It is almost impossible to do without memory cards now.