Best Micro SD Cards for Garmin Dash Cam 55

When choosing the microSDXC card, look for ones that use MLC NAND technology and not TLC. The MLC cards are more expensive than TLC, but have a higher durability. You can google the differences between the NAND types as to why MLC is better.

I am sure there are other manufacturers that void their warranties if used with dashcams, but the only one I know of is Samsung.

I am using a Lexar High Performance microSDXC 64GB with my VIOFO A119 dashcam; like the Garmin, it's recording at 1440p @ 30fps. I have been using the card for over 2 months now without issue.

Last bit of advice... buy from a reputable source and not from eBay (lots of counterfeits out there). If you buy from Amazon, make sure it's sold by Amazon and not just fulfilled by Amazon. I ended up buying from Newegg as it was on sale.

The best brands of SD cards are Kingston and SanDisk. Don't know about the warranty.

dobs108

Thanks a lot. I will take your advice.

One problem, how would you know the types?

Why NAND technology does that one use? How do you know if it's MLC/TLC?

What's wrong with Amazon fulfilling third party sales? I'm assuming Amazon is responsible if there's anything wrong with the product. Isn't that correct?

Not all class 10 cards are the same & before making a purchase I suggest doing some research to see the cards capability versus your needs.

There are many excellent brands on the market but personally I like & have confidence in SanDisk.

I posted back in 2014 the following and it'll give you a good idea on the differences pertaining to the cards read & write differences.

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/42739?page=0#comment-366521

P.S. The links included in 2014 are not as accurate as they were at the time of that post.

Cheers

Thanks, I am leaning now on MLC SD cards with higher read/write speeds that's built intentionally for looping video recording. I found this interesting... https://www.carcamcentral.com/guide/recommended-sd-cards-avo...

I've had the best luck with the Transcend 32 GB MicroSDHC Class 10 UHS-I/U3 Memory Card with Adapter 95 Mb/s (TS32GUSDU3) in my NuviCam

Just visited their web site and it uses MLC NAND flash chips, just like DVD_Guy said

https://www.transcend-info.com/Products/No-697

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VHW7OPO/ref=oh_aui_de...

For Question (1) and (2), use Google and research the microSDXC card in question. You can find sites dedicated to dashcams with forum topics on MLC microSDXC cards. I've seen at least one youtube video of someone going through various microSDXC cards for dashcams. If you can't find type for the brand/model you are looking for, then just move to another brand/model.

For Question (3)... For somethings, nothing is wrong. I do buy products fulfilled by Amazon, but not in the case of microSDXC cards as they are known to be knocked-off. Fulfilled means that the 3rd. party store their products at the Amazon warehouses for easy of storage and shipment and that Amazon will ship it. However, there's no way to tell if your card is real or a knock-off when sold by a 3rd. party. Amazon can't tell (unless numerous customers complain and at that time the product is removed). if it's sold by Amazon, I would have confidence I am buying the real thing (with the size of Amazon, they are most likely getting their stock directly from the manufacturer). It's peace of mind.

I actually wanted to buy the high-end card from Transcend, as it was recommended by a popular dashcam reviewer. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it at a good price in Canada.

When I'm looking for something, I like researching beforehand to compare all the pros & cons and always enjoy within the process in learning something new.

I certainly never heard of MLC versus TLC & will certainly look into this when purchasing an SD Card in the future

I have 4 dash cams and 2 action cams.

I use the older, 300X Transcend cards in all of them.

Cheap, yet dependable.

Never ever had a problem.

http://shop.gizchina.com/img/Transcend_32GB_Memory_Card_1438...

I did search but the manufacturer's website doesn't even mention the type. It's not worth the effort to do an extensive research as you describe in my opinion. It makes more sense to research if you're looking to buy a solid state drive.

I buy 32GB SD cards for my digital camera. They only cost $15-$20. I'll just throw them away when they die. So far, I have not had a single SD card that breaks and I've used them many times. I've even had 1 SD card thrown in the washing machine + dryer and it survived.

a couple years ago I had read Sandisk Extreme Pros were excellent, based on the fact that they could be written to at what was spec'd.....some others tested did not live up to what was on the label...

https://www.sandisk.com/home/memory-cards/sd-cards/extremepr...

If I take these various "SD" cards and put them into a computer or some other hardware devices, we can measure the transfer rates from the device to these cards.

So far, (unless I've missed it) it doesn't seem many of the radicals describe or otherwise document the I/O rates they actually are capable of achieving.

I wonder if this is some kind of technique to cause people to purchase cards that are over priced for what they need?

I don't do benchmarks on cards. I purchase 1 and test it on the device that I want to use (DSLR). If it can record video for as long as I want to record, I'll keep it. I have a 16GB Kingston that keeps choking a few seconds after I press record button. It just can't record videos longer than a few seconds.

The following 2 cards work just fine for 1080p video recording on my DSLR camera:

https://www.sandisk.com/home/memory-cards/sd-cards/ultra-sd
https://www.sandisk.com/home/memory-cards/sd-cards/extremepl...

I don't need the more expensive model (Extreme PRO seen below) but I can understand some people throw in extra money, although it is a waste of $, just to be absolutely sure they're getting the best product.

https://www.sandisk.com/home/memory-cards/sd-cards/extremepr...

My GoPro has been running with an ordinary SanDisk SD card for two years on 1080p video. No problems.

dobs108

on this thread crack me up. When I picked up the 7200, the guy at the store recommended that I spring for the $39 sd card, since the 7200 can utilize its write capability. Sure, the $24 card would work. Who needs to justify the extra $15 to strangers on the web lol (I think there was a thread that escapes me talking about cars, and it was exactly the same ol same ol)

The key is if the device can utilize the marginal benefit. Move along, nothing to see here

this was the thread's subject (copy/paste)

Best Micro SD Cards for Garmin Dash Cam 55

DashCams, unlike other devices seem to be left in the car on the windscreen all the time.

So while there's performance issues to think about, the other thing I don't see anything about is extreme temperature.

How well will any card survive in the southwest where the temps reach into the 120+ range and it's hotter within the car just sitting behind the screen?

What are the effects of the temperatures on the cards?

It's just a question.. so please don't skewer me for wondering..

I did a quick search & impressed on their durability

Water proof: .... are tested to withstand up to 72 hours in 1m salt or fresh water

Temperature proof: .... are capable of withstanding operating temperatures from -13ºF to 185ºF

Impact proof: .... and being run over by a 5 ton delivery truck.

https://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4687/kw/envir...

Thanks!

some say it's MLC and some say it's not on their higher cards. In the end, I went with what carcamcentral.com had recommended (they have since withdrawn it - there's a discussion other there on it). Lucky, for me it hasn't failed in the two+ months it has been in use. I also got a few at 50% off on a one day flash (pun intended ) sale.

Agreed; I will also be throwing it away when it dies (or freezes) and not bothering with warranty. I just hope for some longevity. Then again, I've had older generation "Pro" SD cards freeze taking pictures, so it's really un-predictable on quality.

Thanks guys for all you contributions. I've learned a lot.

I agree. My first choice is SanDisk, second choice Kingston.
I am not sure what speed Garmins need.

The cards that use MLC NAND memory are marketed as "High Endurance" memory cards. They are specifically designed for applications that frequently re-write the card's memory such as dash cams and video surveillance recorders. This is because the memory deteriorates over time as it is used.

A search of Amazon for "High Endurance SD card" will show several major brands. As previously mentioned, only purchase directly from Amazon or another reputable company, and not a third party seller on their site. There is a huge business in selling cheap counterfeit memory cards.