How to Perform a Raspberry Pi SD Card Benchmark Test [Step-by-Step Guide]

Updated by

Linda 

Written by

Cici 

Updated on April 22, 2024

This article presents two methods for Raspberry Pi SD card benchmarking and a professional SD card speed testing tool:

Want to learn how to run a Raspberry Pi SD card benchmark? Don't worry; this article offers two comprehensive guides and a professional SD card management tool to assist you with this task.

Before we begin, let's briefly understand the necessity of the Raspberry Pi SD Card Benchmark.

# Why Do We Need Raspberry Pi SD Card Benchmark

The Raspberry Pi is a compact single-board computer developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. It doesn't have built-in storage or an operating system, hence it requires an SD card to store the Raspberry Pi's operating system, games, and images. The speed of the SD card directly influences the performance of the Raspberry Pi. The quicker the data is read from the card, the faster the Raspberry Pi will start up, and the swifter programs will load.

When the SD card slows down or encounters other errors, it becomes impossible to use the operating system on the Raspberry Pi device. SD card benchmark tests are designed to measure the read and write speeds of the Raspberry Pi's SD card under different conditions. Understanding the Raspberry Pi SD Card benchmarks is crucial for identifying solutions to ensure a smooth desktop experience.

Next, I'll present two methods to run the Raspberry Pi SD Card Benchmark. Furthermore, if your Raspberry Pi encounters any boot-related issues, you can opt to bypass the SD card and boot it from USB. Click on the link below for a comprehensive guide.

How to Boot Raspberry Pi From USB [Step-by-Step Guide]

This article explains how to modify the Raspberry Pi bootloader to start up from a USB storage device. Keep reading for detailed instructions on booting your Raspberry Pi from USB.

How to Run a Raspberry Pi SD Card Benchmark Test

It's simplest to benchmark SD cards using a Raspberry Pi. However, the tools offered by the Raspberry Pi aren't comprehensive. You can alternatively use an SD card reader to insert the Raspberry Pi SD card on a Windows system and then test the card's speed. Thus, I'll present two different approaches. Here's a brief comparison:

Undoubtedly, the tool Partition Master is the best option for SD card speed test. Although you'll need to move the card back to the Raspberry Pi, it offers more accurate data testing, better protects your data, and easily fixes SD card errors.

Here are the specific steps for both methods.

Raspberry Pi SD Card Benchmark via tools Partition Master

< a href="/partition-manager/epm-free.html">tools Partition Master Free offers the "DiskMark" feature, enabling you to effortlessly test the speed of your SD card on Windows. With just one click, you can view detailed read/write or I/O data reports. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy for even beginners to check the SD card's speed!

Here are the step-by-step instructions to run the Raspberry Pi SD card benchmark test: 1. **Download the Benchmarking Tool**: First, you'll need to download a suitable benchmarking tool for testing the SD card's performance. A popular choice is `fio` (Flexible I/O Tester). You can download it using the command line: ```bash sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install fio ``` 2. **Create Test Files**: Next, create a file that will be used for the benchmarking process. This file should be large enough to provide meaningful results. For example, create a 1GB file with the following command: ```bash sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=testfile bs=1M count=1024 ``` 3. **Set Up Test Parameters**: Define the parameters for the benchmark test. You can create a configuration file (e.g., `fio_config.txt`) with the following content to test both read and write speeds: ``` [read_test] ioengine=sync direct=1 bs=4k size=1G filename=testfile rw=read [write_test] ioengine=sync direct=1 bs=4k size=1G filename=testfile rw=write ``` 4. **Run the Benchmark Test**: Now, execute the fio benchmark with your configuration file: ```bash fio --filename=./testfile --name=read_test --readwrite=read --direct=1 --bs=4k --size=1G --iodepth=32 --output-format=json --output=result.json fio --filename=./testfile --name=write_test --readwrite=write --direct=1 --bs=4k --size=1G --iodepth=32 --output-format=json --output=result.json ``` 5. **Analyze Results**: After the tests finish, you can analyze the results from the generated JSON files (`result.json`). Use a tool like `jq` to parse the JSON and extract the relevant information: ```bash sudo apt-get install jq jq '.jobs[0].read' result.json jq '.jobs[0].write' result.json ``` These commands will display the read and write speed statistics. Remember to replace the paths and file names as needed for your specific setup.

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Click the download button to activate the "DiskMark" feature under the "Tools" section.

Step 2. Click on the drop-down box to select the target drive, test data, and block size.

Step 3. Once everything is set up, click "Start" to initiate the disk test. You will then observe the Sequential or Random read/write speed, I/O operations, and Delay data.

Tools like Partition Master, a powerful disk management utility, also offer the following features to help you manage your Raspberry Pi SD Card more effectively:

• Check SD Card Health
• Clone Raspberry Pi SD Card
• Format SD Card for Raspberry Pi
• Resize/create/delete partitions on the SD card

Furthermore, Partition Master is compatible with a broad range of hard disk drives. It's also among the best SSD benchmarking tools available. Feel free to download and give it a try if you have any requirements.

Raspberry Pi SD Card Benchmark via Raspberry Pi Diagnostics

If you need a general idea about your Raspberry Pi SD Card's performance and its reliability, you can run a benchmark using the Diagnostics tool. This utility should already be pre-installed on your Raspberry Pi device. If not, you can install it by executing the following command:

接下来，按照以下步骤测试树莓派SD卡的速度：

Step 1. Navigate to the Raspberry Pi menu, then under the "Accessories" option, select "Raspberry Pi Diagnostics."

Step 2. Select the SD card you want to test and click on "Run Tests."

Step 3. You will receive the test results.

If you see the output as PASS, your SD card is fast enough. If the result is FAIL, you should replace the SD card as soon as possible.

Conclusion

The Raspberry Pi SD card benchmark is a crucial test. It aids in assessing the card's performance and enhancing the computer's functionality. There are two methods to conduct the Raspberry Pi SD card speed test. You can utilize Raspberry Pi Diagnostics on the Raspberry Pi itself. Alternatively, you can employ the tool Partition Master on Windows.

However, Raspberry Pi Diagnostics only provides a general PASS or FAIL result. On the other hand, tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant, one of the best USB speed test software and benchmark utilities, can give you a more precise and detailed speed test with the option to export the results. This will help you evaluate if your SD card is delivering satisfactory performance. If you haven't tried it yet, download it and give it a go!

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Frequently Asked Questions About Raspberry Pi SD Card Benchmark

This article centers around the Raspberry Pi SD card benchmark and presents two methods to perform the SD card speed test. If you have further inquiries, please refer to the following responses.

**1. How do I test my SD card speed on my Raspberry Pi?**

There are two methods to test the speed of an SD card on your Raspberry Pi. You can perform the test using either AGLow or the `dd` command. If you're new to computing, it's recommended to use AGLow for its simplicity. Here are the straightforward steps:

Step 1. Go to the Raspberry Pi menu, and then click on Raspberry Pi Diagnostics under the Accessories option.

Step 2. Click "Run Tests" in the pop-up window.

**2. Does SD card speed affect Raspberry Pi performance?**

The speed of SD cards can vary significantly, impacting the efficiency of your Raspberry Pi. For the fastest SD card option, you might consider using the Samsung Pro Plus. To test the SD card's speed, you can utilize Partition Master on Windows or Diagnostics on the Raspberry Pi.

**3. How can I check my SD card's performance?**

If you're using a Raspberry Pi, you can check the SD card through Diagnostics and command. If you suspect the data is inaccurate, first test the SD card speed using tools like Partition Master.

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant and click on "Disk Mark" under "Tools".

Step 2. Set the test data size and the target drive.

Step 3. After clicking "Start," wait a moment to view the test results.