[Micro Center]: inexpensive 32GB microSD card and 64 GB USB3

I needed some microSD cards to use on both my Rpi0 and Rpi0 W. Due to a limited budget, I started doing some bargain hunts. To make a long story short, I ended up with a MicroCenter brand. Below is the list of products I just ordered and will pick them up from a local Micro Center. If you have a nearby MicroCenter and would like to get them, I hope you will grab them before the offer will probably expire by this Saturday (8/18/18).

1. Micro Center 32GB microSDHC Class 10 Flash Memory Card (48/10 MBps R/W speed) US $5.99
2. Micro Center 32GB SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Flash Drive US $4.49
3. Micro Center 64GB SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Flash Drive US $8.99

For either an Rpi 0 and/or an Rpi 0 W, I reckon such a 48/10 MBps R/W speed is more than adequate.

Also, I went to this ReTail Me Not site and grab a US $5 off US $30 coupon and MicroCenter accepted the coupon even though my total of 4 items (2x for the micro SD cards + 1x for each USB memory sticks) was less than US $30. With such a US $5 off of US $30 coupon, I only had to pay US $21.69 (after the 6% sales tax).

If you want to save more, you can order some 64GB USB 2.0 memory sticks, instead.

what's your application for rpi 0 w? I had two, only install motioneye on one

asterix Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> what's your application for rpi 0 w? I had two, only install motioneye on one
>
ATM, I don't have one yet. However, I plan to install Kali Linux and configure it with my NFS server to provide a home directory. This way, I don't have to worry about wearing out the microSD card. Eventually I will try to turn it into a headless Linux computer with at least gcc-7 (if not gcc-8) development packages for a friend use as a platform to learn C++17.

I picked up my order and just finished testing the 32GB microSD card. The 32GB microSD card package includes an SD card adapter. Below is the R/W tests using f3 utility. As you can see, I was able to get an average of 25/16 MBps R/W speed through an SD slot with the included SD card reader. OTOH, I can get an average of 81 MBps read speed through a USB 3 port with a USB 3 card reader. However, I get a random write speed error @22 MBps through a USB 3 port with a USB 3 card reader. This tells me the 32GB microSD card is rated @16 MBps write. AFAICT, this is not bad at all.

F3 write on an SD slot:
[root@linux:/home/local/PEOPLE/habibie/Downloads/junk 55%] # f3write /run/media/habibie/095A-CFBF/
Removing old file 1.h2w ...
Free space: 28.95 GB
Creating file 1.h2w ... OK!                         
Creating file 2.h2w ... OK!                         
Creating file 3.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 4.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 5.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 6.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 7.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 8.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 9.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 10.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 11.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 12.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 13.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 14.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 15.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 16.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 17.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 18.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 19.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 20.h2w ... OK!                          
Creating file 21.h2w ... OK!                         
Creating file 22.h2w ... OK!                         
Creating file 23.h2w ... OK!                         
Creating file 24.h2w ... OK!                         
Creating file 25.h2w ... OK!                         
Creating file 26.h2w ... OK!                         
Creating file 27.h2w ... OK!                         
Creating file 28.h2w ... OK!                         
Creating file 29.h2w ... OK!                        
Free space: 0.00 Byte
Average writing speed: 16.09 MB/s
114.837u+159.192s=31:08.74e(14.6%) TDSavg=0k+0k+0k max=2576k 1940+60762656io 0pf+0sw

F3 read on an SD slot:
[root@linux:/home/local/PEOPLE/habibie/Downloads/junk 56%] # f3read /run/media/habibie/095A-CFBF/     
                  SECTORS      ok/corrupted/changed/overwritten
Validating file 1.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 2.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 3.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 4.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 5.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 6.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 7.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 8.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 9.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 10.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 11.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 12.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 13.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 14.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 15.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 16.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 17.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 18.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 19.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 20.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 21.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 22.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 23.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 24.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 25.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 26.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 27.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 28.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 29.h2w ... 1999840/        0/      0/      0

  Data OK: 28.95 GB (60720096 sectors)
Data LOST: 0.00 Byte (0 sectors)
               Corrupted: 0.00 Byte (0 sectors)
        Slightly changed: 0.00 Byte (0 sectors)
             Overwritten: 0.00 Byte (0 sectors)
Average reading speed: 25.08 MB/s
53.989u+23.991s=19:42.26e(6.5%) TDSavg=0k+0k+0k max=2576k 60720104+0io 1pf+0sw

F3 read on a USB3 port with a USB 3 card reader:
[root@linux:/home/local/PEOPLE/habibie/Downloads/junk 57%] # f3read /run/media/habibie/095A-CFBF/
                  SECTORS      ok/corrupted/changed/overwritten
Validating file 1.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 2.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 3.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 4.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 5.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 6.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 7.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 8.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 9.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 10.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 11.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 12.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 13.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 14.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 15.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 16.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 17.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 18.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 19.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 20.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 21.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 22.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 23.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 24.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 25.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 26.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 27.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 28.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 29.h2w ... 1999840/        0/      0/      0

  Data OK: 28.95 GB (60720096 sectors)
Data LOST: 0.00 Byte (0 sectors)
               Corrupted: 0.00 Byte (0 sectors)
        Slightly changed: 0.00 Byte (0 sectors)
             Overwritten: 0.00 Byte (0 sectors)
Average reading speed: 81.06 MB/s
48.063u+23.632s=6:05.76e(19.6%) TDSavg=0k+0k+0k max=2576k 60720152+0io 1pf+0sw

F3 write on a USB3 port with a USB 3 card reader:
[root@linux:/home/local/PEOPLE/habibie/Downloads/junk 58%] # f3write /run/media/habibie/095A-CFBF/    
Removing old file 1.h2w ...
Removing old file 2.h2w ...
Removing old file 3.h2w ...
Removing old file 4.h2w ...
Removing old file 5.h2w ...
Removing old file 6.h2w ...
Removing old file 7.h2w ...
Removing old file 8.h2w ...
Removing old file 9.h2w ...
Removing old file 10.h2w ...
Removing old file 11.h2w ...
Removing old file 12.h2w ...
Removing old file 13.h2w ...
Removing old file 14.h2w ...
Removing old file 15.h2w ...
Removing old file 16.h2w ...
Removing old file 17.h2w ...
Removing old file 18.h2w ...
Removing old file 19.h2w ...
Removing old file 20.h2w ...
Removing old file 21.h2w ...
Removing old file 22.h2w ...
Removing old file 23.h2w ...
Removing old file 24.h2w ...
Removing old file 25.h2w ...
Removing old file 26.h2w ...
Removing old file 27.h2w ...
Removing old file 28.h2w ...
Removing old file 29.h2w ...
Free space: 28.40 GB
Creating file 1.h2w ... OK!                         
Creating file 2.h2w ... OK!                         
Creating file 3.h2w ... 10.36% -- 21.91 MB/s -- 19:46f3write: f3write.c:241: measure: Assertion `!fdatasync(fd)' failed.
Abort (core dumped)
11.592u+16.538s=2:39.28e(17.6%) TDSavg=0k+0k+0k max=2576k 1903+6249640io 1pf+0sw
[root@linux:/home/local/PEOPLE/habibie/Downloads/junk 59%] #

I just tested the Micro Center 32GB SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Flash Drive US $4.49 with the f3 utility and found to have an average of 98.97/16.41 MB/s R/W performance as shown below. For such a read speed, this ought to be a great USB memory stick when used as a boot drive for any Linux embedded devices, AFAICT.

[habibie@linux:/home/local/PEOPLE/habibie/Downloads/junk 59%] ~ f3write "/run/media/habibie/USB DISK"
Creating file 1.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 2.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 3.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 4.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 5.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 6.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 7.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 8.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 9.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 10.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 11.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 12.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 13.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 14.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 15.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 16.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 17.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 18.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 19.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 20.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 21.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 22.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 23.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 24.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 25.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 26.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 27.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 28.h2w ... OK!
Creating file 29.h2w ... OK!
Free space: 0.00 Byte
Average writing speed: 16.41 MB/s
114.105u+196.859s=34:10.22e(15.1%) TDSavg=0k+0k+0k max=2724k 2072+60578664io 1pf+0sw
[habibie@linux:/home/local/PEOPLE/habibie/Downloads/junk 60%] ~ f3read "/run/media/habibie/USB DISK"
                  SECTORS      ok/corrupted/changed/overwritten
Validating file 1.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 2.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 3.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 4.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 5.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 6.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 7.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 8.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 9.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 10.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 11.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 12.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 13.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 14.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 15.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 16.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 17.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 18.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 19.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 20.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 21.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 22.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 23.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 24.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 25.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 26.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 27.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 28.h2w ... 2097152/        0/      0/      0
Validating file 29.h2w ... 1786016/        0/      0/      0

  Data OK: 28.85 GB (60506272 sectors)
Data LOST: 0.00 Byte (0 sectors)
               Corrupted: 0.00 Byte (0 sectors)
        Slightly changed: 0.00 Byte (0 sectors)
             Overwritten: 0.00 Byte (0 sectors)
Average reading speed: 98.97 MB/s
48.041u+25.754s=4:58.55e(24.7%) TDSavg=0k+0k+0k max=2724k 60521141+0io 0pf+0sw
[habibie@linux:/home/local/PEOPLE/habibie/Downloads/junk 61%] ~

habibie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I needed some microSD cards to use on both my Rpi0
> and Rpi0 W. Due to a limited budget, I started
> doing some bargain hunts. To make a long story
> short, I ended up with a MicroCenter brand. Below
> is the list of products I just ordered and will
> pick them up from a local Micro Center. If you
> have a nearby MicroCenter and would like to get
> them, I hope you will grab them before the offer
> will probably expire by this Saturday (8/18/18).
>

1. Micro
   > Center 32GB microSDHC Class 10 Flash Memory
   > Card (48/10 MBps R/W speed) US $5.99
   >
2. Micro
   > Center 32GB SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Flash Drive
   > US $4.49
   >
3. Micro
   > Center 64GB SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Flash Drive
   > US $8.99

>
> For either an Rpi 0 and/or an Rpi 0 W, I reckon
> such a 48/10 MBps R/W speed is more than
> adequate.
>
> Also, I went to this
> ReTail
> Me Not site and grab a US $5 off US $30
> coupon and MicroCenter accepted the coupon even
> though my total of 4 items (2x for the micro SD
> cards + 1x for each USB memory sticks) was less
> than US $30. With such a US $5 off of US $30
> coupon, I only had to pay US $21.69 (after the 6%
> sales tax).
>
> If you want to save more, you can order some
> 64GB
> USB 2.0 memory sticks, instead.


Hello Habibie,

May i ask how the micro sd cards from Micro Center held up so far. I'm thinking about picking up some micro sd cards from there. Thanks.

Dan123 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hello Habibie,
>
> May i ask how the micro sd cards from Micro Center held up so far. I'm thinking about picking up some micro sd cards from there. Thanks.
>
I bought both the 32/64 GB USB memory sticks and some 32 GB microSD cards. They are all MicroCenter brand and they work just fine to this date. The 32 GB USB memory stick is used to run CoreELEC on a TV Box while the 64 GB USB memory stick is used on my Seagate DOckstar. One of 32 GB microSD cards is used on my Rpi0. Except with the TV Box running on CoreELEC, the settings I employed on both 64 GB USB memory and 32 GB microSD card are with a 10 GB partition for system file and the rest as a storage drive to share through NFS. At the time and for about 2 months, the 32 GB microSD card was heavily used to do text processing (with LaTEX) on the Rpi0 (SSHed through a Linux Desktop computer) sans a problem. Right now, I have shutdown both my Seagate Dockstar and Rpi0 mainly because of no use (to save some electrical resources). Overall, I would say the MicroCenter brand of such storages is pretty reliable, so far.

habibie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dan123 Wrote:
> -------------------------------------------------------
> > Hello Habibie,
> >
> > May i ask how the micro sd cards from Micro
> Center held up so far. I'm thinking about picking
> up some micro sd cards from there. Thanks.
> >
> I bought both the 32/64 GB USB memory sticks and
> some 32 GB microSD cards. They are all MicroCenter
> brand and they work just fine to this date. The 32
> GB USB memory stick is used to run
> CoreELEC on a TV
> Box while the 64 GB USB memory stick is used on my
> Seagate DOckstar. One of 32 GB microSD cards is
> used on my Rpi0. Except with the TV Box running on
> CoreELEC, the
> settings I employed on both 64 GB USB memory and
> 32 GB microSD card are with a 10 GB partition for
> system file and the rest as a storage drive to
> share through NFS. At the time and for about 2
> months, the 32 GB microSD card was heavily used to
> do text processing (with LaTEX) on the Rpi0 (SSHed
> through a Linux Desktop computer) sans a problem.
> Right now, I have shutdown both my Seagate
> Dockstar and Rpi0 mainly because of no use (to
> save some electrical resources). Overall, I would
> say the MicroCenter brand of such storages is
> pretty reliable, so far.


Thank you Habibie for the reply!! I was just going use the micro sd cards for my Rpi3+ and my phone. Was having hard time finding info on Micro Center sd cards an usb drives.Then i ran across your forum thread. Thanks again for sharing your experience.

Dan123 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thank you Habibie for the reply!! I was just going use the micro sd cards for my Rpi3+ and my phone. Was having hard time finding info on Micro Center sd cards an usb drives.Then i ran across your forum thread. Thanks again for sharing your experience.
>
You are welcome.

Please do let us know how your experience, i.e. the good, the bad, and the ugly, etc., in using the MicroCenter brand storage. AFAICT, eventhough MicroCenter brand is not as reputable as any high-end beans, this is a very good and inexpensive storage. As always, please make sure to do back up important information when using any brand/model storage to avoid any future mishaps.