What kind of SD card should I get?

[braj]

I am thinking that my old SD card may be responsible for some slowdown on my Captivate and since it is just an 8GB card I figure I may as well upgrade and see if it helps. Just what kind of card plays nicest with the phone, and once I get it how should I proceed to move the necessary stuff over? I have Asphalt 5 HD and Nova that I purchased direct from Gameloft, I figure I should just be able to copy the data files etc, no?

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Autolysis]

I am thinking that my old SD card may be responsible for some slowdown on my Captivate and since it is just an 8GB card I figure I may as well upgrade and see if it helps. Just what kind of card plays nicest with the phone, and once I get it how should I proceed to move the necessary stuff over? I have Asphalt 5 HD and Nova that I purchased direct from Gameloft, I figure I should just be able to copy the data files etc, no?

Any advice is appreciated.

Size wont determine speed at all. I have a class 2(I think) 16 Gb card from my old BlackBerry. I haven't noticed any slow down at all.

Heck, I don't think the Captivate can even read any of the higher speed cards...

I do know that unless you were shooting DSLR cameras, going up to the faster memory cards were worthless. Gosh, I miss working at Circuit City.

EDIT: I would assume you could get a memory card reader(and converter from micro to mini or regular SDHC) and the drag-and-drop to the desktop then to the new card.

 

[3gAndroid]

I am thinking that my old SD card may be responsible for some slowdown on my Captivate and since it is just an 8GB card I figure I may as well upgrade and see if it helps. Just what kind of card plays nicest with the phone, and once I get it how should I proceed to move the necessary stuff over? I have Asphalt 5 HD and Nova that I purchased direct from Gameloft, I figure I should just be able to copy the data files etc, no?

Any advice is appreciated.

I'm using a Class 6 SanDisk card. Having both Class 2 & 4 cards for comparison, I can verify the speed increase as certainly worthwhile. I have used SanDisk with great luck, whereas I've had a few other brands fail. I don't work for SD, just a satisfied customer. One additional suggestion I have is to buy the size you need plus a bit more. By doubling the size, it will cause your phone to take much longer to boot due to the requisite scans at start up. Therefore by avoiding buying a card that is a lot larger than your short to medium term needs, you will optimize your experience.

 

[braj]

Isn't it just scanning files, that is what takes the time? Empty space shouldn't increase the scan time, no?

Right now I have a class 2 card and it has been through the ringer really, I didn't format before using and am guessing there could be errors. I've had a few instances where it seemed in software that it unmounted, then remounted.

I just checked and it seems that Gameloft etc. is using the internal 'sdcard' card? not the actual 'SD' card directory. This directory actually takes longer but has fewer files, and it seems that much of what I thought was on this SD card is actually on the Captivate itself. I may just try cleaning up this card, but it wouldn't hurt to get a 32 GB Class 6 card to max out the phone capacity and potential speed. Just need to see the costs... let me look and see...

 

[braj]

Since most of what is on this old card isn't being used all the time, I'll try leaving it out and just see how it goes. If I see the phone being much faster and responsive, it will tell me something definite.

 

[Autolysis]

Since most of what is on this old card isn't being used all the time, I'll try leaving it out and just see how it goes. If I see the phone being much faster and responsive, it will tell me something definite.

There are a few people complaining of some lagging when using the phone. This is supposed to be hammered out later this month with Froyo.

 

[braj]

Ok, reality check, 32 GB SanDisk is $135 I think I'll stick with 8GB.

 

[sremick]

Ok, reality check, 32 GB SanDisk is $135 I think I'll stick with 8GB.

Not that I'm for supporting the enemy, but Verizon sells it for $99. You don't have to have one of their phones or service or anything to buy their accessories.

 

[Karl_Tx]

I am thinking that my old SD card may be responsible for some slowdown on my Captivate and since it is just an 8GB card I figure I may as well upgrade and see if it helps. Just what kind of card plays nicest with the phone, and once I get it how should I proceed to move the necessary stuff over? I have Asphalt 5 HD and Nova that I purchased direct from Gameloft, I figure I should just be able to copy the data files etc, no?

Any advice is appreciated.

I got a 16 gig PNY at best buy for $57 ......class 2 and works great.....movies play fine....no jerky frames....music ok too.

 

[mongstradamus]

The only slowdown i really ever see is when you first turn on the phone and it does the scanning. Is that realated to the speed of the sd card i bought my 16 gig sd card off amazon i think it was 25 bucks or so thought it was an decent deal at the time

 

[Autolysis]

I really don't think the captivate can take advantage of a card faster than class 2...

 

[Fate0n3]

I'm using a Class 6 SanDisk card. Having both Class 2 & 4 cards for comparison, I can verify the speed increase as certainly worthwhile. I have used SanDisk with great luck, whereas I've had a few other brands fail. I don't work for SD, just a satisfied customer. One additional suggestion I have is to buy the size you need plus a bit more. By doubling the size, it will cause your phone to take much longer to boot due to the requisite scans at start up. Therefore by avoiding buying a card that is a lot larger than your short to medium term needs, you will optimize your experience.

Can i ask where you have found a Class 6 Sandisk SD card? I have spent some time browsing and haven't been able to find a Class 6 ones. Thanks a head of time

 

[Gipson]

I really don't think the captivate can take advantage of a card faster than class 2...

lol...i'm pretty sure it would be able to

 

[sremick]

Can i ask where you have found a Class 6 Sandisk SD card? I have spent some time browsing and haven't been able to find a Class 6 ones. Thanks a head of time

Why does it need to be Sandisk? Sandisk is low-end. There are so many better (faster, more-reliable) brands... often for the same price or cheaper.

NewEgg has plenty of Class 6 MicroSD cards.

 

[gunny5821]

I was also looking into all of this several weeks ago. I decided to go for 2 8GB class 6 cards. They were on sale for 20.99 each, just couldn't pass it up. I was going to get the big cards, but the cost is still crazy and as some have suggested it does take longer to boot up with a big card. So I have all of my music and photo's and misc on one card and the other card is filled up with movies, for when I'm sittin around out of the house, I just keep the extra card in the pocket of the case I bought. So, 2 8GB class 6 would be my recommendation if you can find a good price. Look on the net, you'll find em cheap!

Good luck!

 

[Gipson]

sandisk is low end?? lol

 

[sremick]

sandisk is low end?? lol

Yes. SanDisk (and Kingston) is to flash memory what McAfee and Norton/Symantec are to antivirus: simply the name everyone knows but far from the best in breed.

Maybe you've been lucky and the few SanDisk cards you've gotten haven't failed. Or maybe you haven't run speed tests comparing SanDisk to the other better options. But as a whole, SanDisk has a higher average failure rate and slower cards, even in the same class rating.

Look into A-Data, Crucial, OCZ, PNY... even Trascend and Lexar will sometimes churn out better cards. SanDisk is what they sell at the drug store.

 

[Fate0n3]

Yes. SanDisk (and Kingston) is to flash memory what McAfee and Norton/Symantec are to antivirus: simply the name everyone knows but far from the best in breed.

Maybe you've been lucky and the few SanDisk cards you've gotten haven't failed. Or maybe you haven't run speed tests comparing SanDisk to the other better options. But as a whole, SanDisk has a higher average failure rate and slower cards, even in the same class rating.

Look into A-Data, Crucial, OCZ, PNY... even Trascend and Lexar will sometimes churn out better cards. SanDisk is what they sell at the drug store.

Not sure where you are getting your info on all this but they are one of the higher rated flash memory providers. Yes Newegg does have several Class 6 and if you read the reviews most are saying there cards didn't last very long along with lots claiming DOA. Then many are claiming that they sent in for warranty and when they received back the memory card back it was broke in half with the manufacture claiming it happened in shipping. Rather then order some no name company I would rather spend my money on a "Junk" company and at least know they will semi stand behind there product. Other than OCZ, PNY, and Lexar I wouldn't give any of the other company's my money rlly just due to hearing about warranty services with others and poor product performance. But all in all it is really hard to say too much about the higher end manufactures consider most use the same memory modules on or within there products.

 

[sremick]

Not sure where you are getting your info on all this but they are one of the higher rated flash memory providers.

1) They get more-ratings in general because more of them get sold because it's the name everyone knows.

2) Not everyone who rates something is qualified to do so. A person will rate something 5 stars 5 minutes after receiving it, while someone else will rate it 1 star because of a shipping delay or something else that turns out to be user error on their part or a problem with their computer. Meanwhile, sites like NewEgg treat both of these ratings as equal to the person who rated 4 stars after 6 months of use and based on benchmarks.

Rather then order some no name company I would rather spend my money on a "Junk" company and at least know they will semi stand behind there product. Other than OCZ, PNY, and Lexar I wouldn't give any of the other company's my money

Hardly no-name. Consider that Crucial is a subsidiary of Micron Technology, so they're actually making their own chips and they cherry-pick the best to go into their Crucial line.