About memory card speeds

corgorav · 12-13-2011, 10:20 PM

Hello everyone, not totally sure if this belongs in the general discussions section but I guess so. Also, I couldn't find threads that answer this question in satisfactory manner but if I'm wrong and missed something, links would be appreciated. So...

From what user experiences I've read about using e-readers (never used one myself), it seems that regardless of specific e-reader used, all will suffer from serious slowdowns when the memory card (8gb, 16gb...) used is loaded with thousands of e-books. So my questions are:

1. Is this a problem with the card or the reader and the way it displays the vast contents of said card?

2. Does the memory cards speed class (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 I guess?) affect this problem and if so, by how sizable an amount? If I were to buy a class 10 16gb microSDHC instead of the cheaper class 4 16gb model, would it speed up the booting, loading and browsing of the library, or page-turning?

Belfaborac · 12-13-2011, 10:28 PM

I can't say anything definite about 1, although I should think it has to do with the reader. These things aren't exactly supercomputers after all. However, on the Sony readers at least you can install custom firmware found here (PRS+) and turn off memory card scanning on device start. That's solved that particular problem for me, as well as provided numerous other benefits. Highly recommended if you have a Sony.

As far as point 2 goes, I have tested cards from classes 4-10 (maybe a class 2 as well; can't quite remember right now) and found no discernible differences whatsoever. That being said you should buy the fastest card possible, or that you can afford regardless, in case you want to use it for something different at some point. Photography and video in particular does benefit considerably from a fast card.

HarryT · 12-14-2011, 01:14 AM

You are wrong; there are many devices which don't have any problems at all with large libraries. It's only those which do some sort of scan of their whole library which do.

Belfaborac is absolutely right; speed really doesn't matter for ebook readers, but it's a good idea to buy a fast card if there's any chance that you'll also want to use it in a camera.

HappyMartin · 12-14-2011, 01:26 AM

I use Sandisk Extreme Pro cards in my cameras. Transfer speeds are 90MB/s. Performance does not change if the card is full or empty. 16 and 32 GB mostly

corgorav · 12-14-2011, 03:56 AM

Okay, thanks for those answers!

RichL · 12-14-2011, 05:22 AM

No Harry, corgorav is not wrong. corgorav stated "From what user experiences I've read about using e-readers (never used one myself)...

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You are wrong; there are many devices which don't have any problems at all with large libraries. It's only those which do some sort of scan of their whole library which do.

Belfaborac is absolutely right; speed really doesn't matter for ebook readers, but it's a good idea to buy a fast card if there's any chance that you'll also want to use it in a camera.

HarryT · 12-14-2011, 05:42 AM

OK, I'm sure it's true that he's read about bad experiences

. It's not true, though, that all devices have such issues.

Billi · 12-14-2011, 06:17 AM

Rich, without nitpicking: Harry is right in stating that it is the scanning of the whole library that slows down the device. Devices that organise the books in folders normally don't scan the whole library and don't have problems with great amounts of books.
For instance, Cybook and Pocketbook firmware let's you choose between library and folder mode and it makes a remarkable difference.

RichL · 12-14-2011, 06:29 AM

True and true.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

OK, I'm sure it's true that he's read about bad experiences

. It's not true, though, that all devices have such issues.

RichL · 12-14-2011, 06:34 AM

Nictpicking is just fine, that's why I was giving Mr. H a bad time over his initial statement. :-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billi

Rich, without nitpicking: Harry is right in stating that it is the scanning of the whole library that slows down the device. Devices that organise the books in folders normally don't scan the whole library and don't have problems with great amounts of books.
For instance, Cybook and Pocketbook firmware let's you choose between library and folder mode and it makes a remarkable difference.

12-13-2011, 10:20 PM	#1
corgorav Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: none	About memory card speeds Hello everyone, not totally sure if this belongs in the general discussions section but I guess so. Also, I couldn't find threads that answer this question in satisfactory manner but if I'm wrong and missed something, links would be appreciated. So... From what user experiences I've read about using e-readers (never used one myself), it seems that regardless of specific e-reader used, all will suffer from serious slowdowns when the memory card (8gb, 16gb...) used is loaded with thousands of e-books. So my questions are: 1. Is this a problem with the card or the reader and the way it displays the vast contents of said card? 2. Does the memory cards speed class (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 I guess?) affect this problem and if so, by how sizable an amount? If I were to buy a class 10 16gb microSDHC instead of the cheaper class 4 16gb model, would it speed up the booting, loading and browsing of the library, or page-turning?

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12-13-2011, 10:28 PM	#2
Belfaborac Wizard Posts: 1,498 Karma: 5199835 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Norway Device: Sony PRS-505, PRS-950	I can't say anything definite about 1, although I should think it has to do with the reader. These things aren't exactly supercomputers after all. However, on the Sony readers at least you can install custom firmware found here (PRS+) and turn off memory card scanning on device start. That's solved that particular problem for me, as well as provided numerous other benefits. Highly recommended if you have a Sony. As far as point 2 goes, I have tested cards from classes 4-10 (maybe a class 2 as well; can't quite remember right now) and found no discernible differences whatsoever. That being said you should buy the fastest card possible, or that you can afford regardless, in case you want to use it for something different at some point. Photography and video in particular does benefit considerably from a fast card.

12-14-2011, 01:14 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	You are wrong; there are many devices which don't have any problems at all with large libraries. It's only those which do some sort of scan of their whole library which do. Belfaborac is absolutely right; speed really doesn't matter for ebook readers, but it's a good idea to buy a fast card if there's any chance that you'll also want to use it in a camera.

12-14-2011, 01:26 AM	#4
HappyMartin Martin Kristiansen Posts: 1,546 Karma: 8480958 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Johannesburg Device: Kindle International Ipad 2	I use Sandisk Extreme Pro cards in my cameras. Transfer speeds are 90MB/s. Performance does not change if the card is full or empty. 16 and 32 GB mostly

12-14-2011, 03:56 AM	#5
corgorav Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: none	Okay, thanks for those answers!

12-14-2011, 05:42 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	OK, I'm sure it's true that he's read about bad experiences . It's not true, though, that all devices have such issues.

12-14-2011, 06:17 AM	#8
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	Rich, without nitpicking: Harry is right in stating that it is the scanning of the whole library that slows down the device. Devices that organise the books in folders normally don't scan the whole library and don't have problems with great amounts of books. For instance, Cybook and Pocketbook firmware let's you choose between library and folder mode and it makes a remarkable difference.