Things You Need to Know About Memory Cards

Memory cards are a type of non-volatile data storage device that often utilize flash memory to store data. There are multiple types of memory cards, though one of the most common is the Secure Digital (SD) card. SD cards are designed for the use of storing data for portable devices, and their standards were set forth by the joint efforts of SanDisk, Panasonic, and Toshiba after their initial release in 1999. The standard that was established quickly was adopted by many other electronic manufacturers in the industry, and SD cards became commonplace for digital cameras, mobile phones, personal computers, and beyond.

As the technology surrounding SD cards developed, different types began to emerge, each holding their own capabilities and uses. Some common types include the Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC), Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), and microSD/SDHC/SDXC cards. Many types of SD memory cards and technology released over the years due to the capacity constraints that were present in the original, standard SD cards. With only a maximum storage capacity of 2GB, SD cards were soon superseded by their successors. The SDHC card released in 2006, increasing maximum data capacities to 32GB, and brought much faster speeds and performance as well. The SDXC card in 2009 further increased these capabilities, doubling the storage size to a maximum of 2TB, providing over a 1000% increase in storage size potential as compared to the original SD card. SDXC cards also have great transfer speeds for moving data, featuring up to 624MB/sec. Lastly, the micro versions of each of the SD flash devices were designed to save space for applications such as mobile phones and compact cameras. Though their capabilities were low at first, they soon began to catch up to their larger counterparts.

With the many benefits that SD cards bring to portable device data storage, ensuring that you properly utilize and care for them is crucial for their longevity. No matter the speeds of reading and writing on your SD card, they can often be held back by the speeds of the transfer device when moving files to your computer. Nowadays, many laptops feature integrated SD card readers, though there are also many external SD card readers that perform nearly just as well. Properly formatting memory cards for system use can also go a long way in maintaining their integrity. This can often be done on the device that you are using, as performing low level formats on a computer can decrease a SD card’s health by spending some of its maximum life read/write cycles as is not as recommended.

As with many devices that connect with each other, safely ejecting a memory card is crucial to avoid damage to its health. If the SD card is in a read or write cycle when the memory card is removed, a corruption of memory may result rendering the card unusable. With the presence of electrical components on SD cards, avoiding accidental static charges can also prevent damages caused by static discharges. Lastly, ensuring that your SD card is kept in safe conditions, away from moisture and direct sunlight may also help protect important electrical components. Keeping your memory cards safe from damage and replacing them regularly as they near the end of their service life will ensure that your data is kept safe and parts remain usable for as long as possible.

Whether you are looking for SanDisk electronic parts or Panasonic electronic parts, ASAP Semiconductor has everything you are searching for to meet your data storage needs and beyond. At ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find SD cards and memory cards you need, new or obsolete. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asapsemi.com or call us at +1-714-705-4780.