Memory card speed test

number41 · 4 Jan 2007 at 18:57

I've been using 2 Sandisk Extreme III cards over the past few months. I've read a few articles about how many fakes there are out there so have emailed Sandisk the serial numbers to check if they have them listed!

In the meantime I've been testing the transfer rates using HDTach (which is free!) http://www.simplisoftware.com/Public/index.php?request=HdTach

For my generic memory card it shows 3mb/s.
For the Extreme III i get 5.2mb/s which is a long way off the 20mb/s stated on the packet!
My Sandisk standard SD card gets 9mb/s

I have ordered a new USB adapter for reading the CF cards as the USB slot can easily read over 5mb/s (as proved by the SD card adapter and an external HDD). I have seen that old CF adapters can have a slow transfer rate so thought this was worth a go.

Has anyone else measured their memory transfer speed? What sort of figures do you get? Do you agree the CF reader could be the problem in my case as both cards are 5mb/s so I've either had two fakes (from online retailer) or theyre genuine and the reader is slowing stuff down. The new reader will be here next week so I can report back then, but just wondering in the meantime!

EDIT: I have tried the same Extreme III cards on my housemates PC which has built in reader. They get 3mb/s on his machine so the CF reader could definitely be the bottleneck

EDIT 2: Just tried my other mates CF reader and got 10mb/s!! The CF card readers are all marked USB 2.0 but they all vary greatly which has suprised me :eek:

. His is twice as fast as mine!! I await my new CF reader now as my current one is 2 years old so may be the issue.

I tried my current CF reader in all 3 machines and obtained the 5mb/s reading so its the card reader itself. I'm happy its up at 10mb/s so as the card looks to be OK externally so probably isnt fake looking at graphs, etc from online. My cheapy CF card only gets 2.5mb/s.

EDIT3: For those not wanting to read the whole thread. I received my new crucial CF reader today and it reads the cards at the proper card speed - 20mb/s. So there you have it! I can now copy across to the PC (and copy to the card) a LOT more quickly than before. Its bliss when dealing with a few gb of data!

^^Gord^^ · 4 Jan 2007 at 19:31

I've never tested CF performance on my PC but have on my camera a few times. Compared the performance against this: http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007-8478

The whole fake card issue and what to look for / test was covered fairly well in this thread: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17587590

It's worth a read.

FlyingFish · 4 Jan 2007 at 19:39

just tested my cheap 2gb sd card, supposed to be fast, spec says upto 20mb/sec read, and upto 9mb/sec write.

HDTach tested sequential read speed as 10mb/sec whatever that means.

How do we do a write test?

I know the card can at least write at 3mb/sec cos thats what my sd camcorder records at.

Mick

number41 · 4 Jan 2007 at 20:15

I wouldnt just judge your card by the program alone. As I found out above, the CF reader itself makes a huge difference too which I didnt realise as I assumed as they are marked USB 2.0 they could all run at USB 2.0 speeds. Would be interesting to see other people's results who have an Extreme III card as I know the 20D cant write more than 6mb/s but copying a few GBs to the PC would be less painful if the card ran faster

If you get more than 5mb/s could you let me know what USB reader you are using if possible!

Nazbit · 4 Jan 2007 at 20:51

That does seem pretty slow, its shocking how much the test results vary, but they are all below the standard I would have expected!

I have had 2 x 1gb Extreme III cards arrive this morning. I have tested them both and both work but I am a little suspicous.

The packaging is the same on both boxes and both carry a hologram (for what thats worth!!) but the labels on the cards themselves are different, the text is written in different colours.

Sorry to hijack, but can anyone tell me what colour is the word "extreme" on your (1gb extreme III) cards? Or any other fake spotting tips, im sure would be helpful to both myself and the OP.

I might try that test in your post.

Cheers

^^Gord^^ · 4 Jan 2007 at 21:03

Nazbit said:
Sorry to hijack, but can anyone tell me what colour is the word "extreme" on your (1gb extreme III) cards?

The X is red and the rest of the word is silver / holographic material so it changes colour in different light.

Nazbit · 4 Jan 2007 at 21:18

^^Gord^^ said:
The X is red and the rest of the word is silver / holographic material so it changes colour in different light.

Thanks, one of the cards is exactly as you describe, the other however while the X is still red, the writing is a definate gold, its not holographic like the silver but it is a little shiny.

Should I be worried?

(sorry again to hijack the thread!)

SDK^ · 4 Jan 2007 at 21:22

Read performance

Sandisk Reader : USB 2
Sandisk Ultra II - 10mb/sec
Sandisk Extreme III - 11mb/sec

Crucial Reader : USB 2
Sandisk Ultra II - 10mb/sec
Sandisk Extreme III - 18mb/sec

^^Gord^^ · 4 Jan 2007 at 21:25

http://www.g0rd.com/gallery2/v/Other/Photography/Misc/Sandisk.jpg.html

There are two of my Sandisk Extreme III cards to compare to. Not being holographic does sound like it could be a fake.

The test I used when someone tried to pass off a fake to me (it's happened twice) was to set up the camera as follows:

* manual mode
* exposure set to 1/4000 seconds
* manual focus
* raw mode only
* the lens cap on
* burst mode

Then to shoot a burst of 6 pictures (or enough to fill your buffer) and to time how long it takes the card to write the images (the red light to stop flashing). From that you can get a very good idea of performance but the best test is to ring Sandisk and check the serial number. I've done that a few times and they can check it over the phone, usually a five minute call.

rpstewart · 4 Jan 2007 at 21:29

Nazbit said:
Thanks, one of the cards is exactly as you describe, the other however while the X is still red, the writing is a definate gold, its not holographic like the silver but it is a little shiny.

Should I be worried?

(sorry again to hijack the thread!)

Do both cards have unique serial numbers printed on the black plastic? The sure fire way of identifying fakes is the lack of a serial number.

Nazbit · 4 Jan 2007 at 21:33

Cheers Gord, I will give that a go and then check the serial number with sandisk.

SDK^ · 4 Jan 2007 at 21:36

^^Gord^^ said:
http://www.g0rd.com/gallery2/v/Other/Photography/Misc/Sandisk.jpg.html

My genuine Extreme III looks a bit different to that. I really don't think you can judge a fake card by comparing the stickers.

Nazbit · 4 Jan 2007 at 21:38

SDK^ said:
My genuine Extreme III looks a bit different to that. I really don't think you can judge a fake card by comparing the stickers.

Yer that looks a lot like my second card, so maybe the label isnt the best way to compare I suppose!

rpstewart said:
Do both cards have unique serial numbers printed on the black plastic? The sure fire way of identifying fakes is the lack of a serial number.

On the black plastic there is a number, but the numbers on both cards are identical, there are also numbers on the label on the back, some (what I guess are) patent numbers and then another unidentified number on the bottom right of the label, again these numbers are identical. :eek:

^^Gord^^ · 4 Jan 2007 at 21:39

SDK^ said:
My genuine Extreme III looks a bit different to that. I really don't think you can judge a fake card by comparing the stickers.

True, doing a speed test and ringing Sandisk is the only way to know for sure.

^^Gord^^ · 4 Jan 2007 at 21:44

Nazbit said:
Yer that looks a lot like my second card, so maybe the label isnt the best way to compare I suppose!

On the black plastic there is a number, but the numbers on both cards are identical, there are also numbers on the label on the back, some (what I guess are) patent numbers and then another unidentified number on the bottom right of the label, again these numbers are identical.

If you look at my pic, on the bottom of the cards there is an item I have blacked out and typed "Removed" over it (next to the Made in China) that is where the serial number should be.

Nazbit · 4 Jan 2007 at 21:51

^^Gord^^ said:
If you look at my pic, on the bottom of the cards there is an item I have blacked out and typed "Removed" over it (next to the Made in China) that is where the serial number should be.

Yup, I see where you mean, there is a number followed by the text "Made in China" but the number is the same on both of the cards.

^^Gord^^ · 4 Jan 2007 at 21:55

Nazbit said:
Yup, I see where you mean, there is a number followed by the text "Made in China" but the number is the same on both of the cards.

Time to get a refund!

Did you get them on eBay by any chance?

Nazbit · 4 Jan 2007 at 21:58

^^Gord^^ said:
Time to get a refund!

Did you get them on eBay by any chance?

Nope they came from a well known rainforest. And holy hell will they be hearing about this!

I have to say, I wouldnt have expected this from such a big outlet. Will they give me a refund if I kick up a fuss?

^^Gord^^ · 4 Jan 2007 at 22:16

Would you believe one of my fake Ultra II cards came from there as well?!

The replacement got "lost" in the post so they refunded me.

Nazbit · 4 Jan 2007 at 22:33

^^Gord^^ said:
Would you believe one of my fake Ultra II cards came from there as well?!

The replacement got "lost" in the post so they refunded me.

Thats interesting! I have to say, I am pretty suprised about this, I will sort it out with them tomorrow, hopefully it will all go smoothly with minumum fuss.

And @number41, sorry for wrecking your thread mate, you probably have a dart board with my name on it somewhere now :eek: