When it comes to choosing the right storage device for your Raspberry Pi, you have plenty of options. There are various types of storage devices that you can use with a Raspberry Pi, each with their own pros and cons. You need to consider price, read speed, write speed and storage capacity.
The SD card is one of the most popular ways to store data mobile devices, IOT devices, desktop and laptop computers. In general, SD cards are used for storing small amounts of data, such as documents, images, or video clips. They’re commonly found in digital cameras and other devices, but they’re not usually the primary storage option for computers.
Read on to learn about different types of SD cards and which one is best for your Raspberry Pi!
What’s the Difference Between SD and SDHC Cards?
The first thing that you need to know when choosing an SD card for your Raspberry Pi is that there are 4 different types of SD cards: SD, SDHC, SDXC and SDUC. The difference comes down to capacity.
SD cards max out at 2GB in size, while SDHC cards can be up to 32GB in size. That might not seem like much of a difference, but it can be a deal-breaker if you’re looking to store a large amount of data on your Raspberry Pi. SD Cards are usually best used for smaller projects like setting up a Pi-Hole device or using it as a media streaming device. They’re not designed to be used as the primary storage device for a Raspberry Pi computer. On the other hand, SDHC cards are designed to store larger amounts of data.
| Type | Capacity |
|---|---|
| SD | 2GB and under |
| SDHC | Up to 32GB |
| SDXC | Up to 2TB |
| SDUC | Up to 128TB |
Micro SD Cards for Raspberry Pi
Micro SD cards are used in Raspberry Pi devices. They’re smaller in size, which can come in handy for certain applications. You need to insert the SD card you’ve set up with Raspberry Pi OS into the microSD card slot on the underside of your Raspberry Pi.
Which Type of Card Should You Get?
When deciding which SD card to get for your Raspberry Pi, you should keep a few things in mind: First and foremost, you need to make sure that the card is compatible with your Pi. This usually isn’t an issue, but it’s always good to double-check. You also need to make sure that the SD card has enough space to store the data that you need. If you’re using your Pi as a media streaming device, for example, you’ll need more space than if you’re using it as a web server. If you’re going to be using your Pi as a full-blown computer, you’ll need a large amount of storage space. In this case, you should get the biggest SD card that will fit in your Pi. The more space you have, the better.
Theoretically, Raspberry Pi 4 Model B can support an SD card of up to 2TB but this is far and above what the typical user goes for. I have successfully tested 64GB cards with a Raspberry Pi 3 board.
It is a good idea to check this list for SD card compatibility: https://elinux.org/RPi_SD_cards
Summary
When choosing an SD card for your Raspberry Pi, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. First, you need to make sure that it’s compatible with your Pi. Finally, you need to make sure that the card has enough space to store the data that you want to store on your Pi. Once you’ve done this, you can be sure that your Pi will run smoothly!
