How to Efficiently Run a Steam Deck SD Card Speed Test [Step-by-Step Guide]

The speed of an SD card is crucial for the Steam Deck as it significantly impacts your gaming experience. However, how do you test the SD card speed for Steam Deck? On this page, you will learn two methods to perform a Steam Deck SD Card Speed Test:

The Steam Deck employs a UHS-I interface, limiting its read speed to approximately 100MB/s. Therefore, being aware of your SD card's speed is crucial for optimal performance. But can you actually test the SD card's speed on the Steam Deck?

The answer is likely "No." The Steam Deck does not have any built-in tools to test the speed of an SD card. However, don't worry – this article will assist you with this problem. Let's delve into learning more about conducting a Steam Deck SD card speed test. There are two methods outlined in this guide, and the simpler one involves using a professional third-party SD card benchmark application.

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Read the table for more details on the two methods.

Here is a link related to Steam speed; click on it to learn more detailed information.

How to Fix the "Steam Takes Forever to Allocate Disk Space" Issue?

In addition, this article will delve into the main reasons behind this issue and provide straightforward solutions in step-by-step instructions to handle similar situations in the future.

Run Steam Deck SD Card Speed Test through Partition Master - Simple & Comprehensive

tools Partition Master is a free speed testing tool that can assist you in measuring the peak speed and real-time speed of your Steam Deck SD card. Let's quickly glance at its features listed below:

Its intuitive interface makes it user-friendly, so now, follow the instructions below to test your Steam Deck SD card speed. Ensure that you've inserted the SD card into a Windows computer before proceeding.

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

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.

Let's explore more features of Partition Master now. As a professional hard drive management tool, it offers the following functionalities:

• Run SD card speed test
• Test SSD read/write speed
• Run Micro SD card speed test
• Run external hard drive speed test
• Fix SSD slow write speed issue
• Check SSD health on Windows 10/11

To know the specific speed of your device and optimize its performance, download the tool Partition Master for assistance.

Run Steam Deck SD Card Speed Test via Task Manager - Limited Data Translation: Run the Steam Deck SD Card Speed Test through Task Manager with Limited Data.

Task Manager is a built-in utility in Windows that can also be used to test the SD card speed for your Steam Deck. However, the information it provides is real-time, meaning you won't see the peak speed. If you're simply interested in testing the real-time speed of your SD card, follow these steps:

Further Reading: Install Windows on Steam Deck

Step 1. Connect your SD card to a Windows PC.

Step 2. Right-click the Windows icon and select "Task Manager."

Step 3. Select the "Performance" section and locate your SD card. You will then be able to view the real-time speed of your SD card.

As you can see, the data shown in the Task Manager window fluctuates frequently. Therefore, if you want an accurate result, resort to the tool Partition Master.

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Conclusion

This article will guide you through two methods to measure the speed of a Steam Deck SD card in detail. The Task Manager is a convenient tool for speed measurement, but it has its limitations; it cannot gauge the full potential speed of a new SD card. Hence, it's advisable to opt for a reliable third-party speed testing tool like Partition Master. This tool not only tests the speed of various storage devices but also assesses the health status of internal and external storage devices by checking the SMART Status, thereby effectively minimizing data loss and the likelihood of hard disk failures.

"Steam Deck SD Card Speed Test Frequently Asked Questions"

There are still numerous other issues pertaining to the Steam Deck SD card speed test, so I've compiled a list of additional queries to provide assistance. Please refer to the answers below:

**1. What speed can a Steam Deck SD card handle?**

The speed of the SD card on the Steam Deck is limited by its interface. The device supports the UHS-1 standard, which means it can handle a maximum transfer rate of 100MB/s.

**2. What is the best SD card for Steam Deck?**

There are various types of SD cards compatible with the Steam Deck, offering a range of capacity options. Here's a list of popular SD cards for the Steam Deck:

• Lexar PLAY 1TB MicroSDXC UHS-I Card
• Kingston Canvas Go Plus
• SanDisk Ultra MicroSD Card
• Samsung Pro Plus MicroSD Card
• SanDisk Extreme Pro MicroSD Card

**3. What is the maximum SD card read speed supported by the Steam Deck?**

Steam Deck only supports UHS-1 SD cards, which means it has a maximum read speed limit of 100MB/s. Consequently, your SD card does not need to exceed this 100MB/s speed.