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SD Express 8.0 specs released, 4 GB/s transfer speeds now possible for SD cards

The latest SD Express 8.0 specs allow for transfer speeds of up to 4 GB/s. (Image Source: thanhnien.vn)
The latest SD Express 8.0 specs allow for transfer speeds of up to 4 GB/s. (Image Source: thanhnien.vn)
The updated specs allow transfer speeds of up to 4 GB/s, which is essentially half of what computer PCIe NVMe SSDs can achieve, since the SD cards are only limited to X2 lanes instead of X4. Nevertheless, with the new version, upcoming SD Express and microSD Express cards can easily handle 4K and 8K video recording without compression.

When it comes to storage expansion for mobile devices like smartphones, tablets or even laptops and cameras, the SD memory card is the only standard that stood the test of time and has constantly evolved over the years. 4K is almost considered the norm now, while the 8K resolution is just around the corner, so increased storage capacities with faster read/write speeds are always in demand these days. In order to maintain a high standard for the SD card format, the SD Association had to make the jump to the PCIe interface in 2018. Back then, SDA introduced support for PCIe 3.0 NVMe, but, in the meantime, the PCIe 4.0 was launched, effectively doubling previous speeds, so SDA is now updating the SD Express specs to version 8.0, bringing support for PCIe 4.0 speeds to the SD Express and microSD Express formats.

The update to the PCIe 4.0 specs allows for transfer speeds of up to 4 GB/s, which is essentially double the speed achieved with the PCIe 3.0 X2 specs. Unlike computer SSDs, the SD cards do not use X4 PCIe lanes, so the speeds appear to be halved. Even so, the SD 8.0 specs are now able to match previous PCIe 3.0 X4 speeds, which is more than enough for mobile devices.

With the increased transfer speeds, users can now record and playback 4K and 8K videos, or snap burst shots and 360-degree clips without compressing the files. The new format is also designed with upcoming gaming systems in mind , allowing people to continue playing video games at faster speeds than ever before. Mobile devices, IoT devices and drones can also take advantage of the increased speeds via the updated microSD Express standard.

Speed improvements over previous versions (Source: SDCard.org)
Speed improvements over previous versions (Source: SDCard.org)

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2020 05 > SD Express 8.0 specs released, 4 GB/s transfer speeds now possible for SD cards
Bogdan Solca, 2020-05-20 (Update: 2020-05-20)