SD Card to increase Chromebook file storage space?

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I am helping a family member with an ASUS C523NA Chromebook.  It seems like a nice machine.  ASUS support told me that there is a slot which can handle
microSD,
microSDHC,
microSDXC.

I thought that this type of storage was only used in phones and cameras, so I am not familiar with using one in a laptop (for either Windows or Chrome.

And, I am not sure if one type is better than another.  ASUS could not say if there is a maximum size (storage) that this chromebook would recognize.

I would appreciate any advice about type and size of card for this chromebook.

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[DrBonzo]

I don’t know much about chromebooks, but every Windows laptop I have has a slot for one of those cards (it’s an easy way to transfer pictures from a camera to a PC). I’ve seen them in two sizes. What I call normal is about an inch by an inch and a quarter. The other size – presumably the ‘micro’ – is about a quarter inch by 3/8 inch and is often sold with an adapter that’s the same size as the normal card; just slide the micro card into the adapter and then slide the adapter into the PC (or camera for that matter). I’ve seen capacities up to 256 GB, so I would think any relatively new PC could handle that size. I’m surprised ASUS can’t tell you if there’s an upper limit their chromebook supports.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 3 months ago by DrBonzo.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 3 months ago by DrBonzo.

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AlphaCharlie

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I have an Acer Chromebook that has a microSD card slot and you can find those on Amazon up to 512 gb.

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-microSDXC-Memory-Adapter/dp/B073JYVKNX

And yes they do come with an adapter. Good for camera or Android to laptop or you can just use it for extra storage.

MacOS iPadOS and sometimes SOS

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AlphaCharlie

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This is very helpful and timely.  Amazon had a “deal of the day”  on these just now  so I ordered a Sandisk 400 GB Ultra MicroSDXC UHS-1 card for the chromebook that I hope will replace an older Win 7 laptop.  Price was $46.59 before tax = 11.65 cents per GB.

…

I remember when my IBM PC-XT was upgraded from floppy disks with a 10 megabyte hard drive.

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Myst

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AlphaCharlie wrote:

so I ordered a Sandisk 400 GB Ultra MicroSDXC UHS-1 card for the chromebook that I hope will replace an older Win 7 laptop

And keep in mind the Chromebook OS has a limited lifeline of about 5 years or so, depending on when it was manufactured for release. Here’s a link with a list of Chromebook devices. https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en

MacOS iPadOS and sometimes SOS

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AlphaCharlie

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Thanks for comments.  The ASUS C523 mentioned above has an  Auto Update Expiration date of June 2024.

It seems likely that files stored on the SDXC card will still be readable 4.5 years from now, and therefore transferable to another computer at that time, just as with a USB thumb drive.

In my case, I might just leave that little card in place for the life of the chromebook, since it seems to have a dedicated slot and I think it will not stick out.

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Myst

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Sounds like a plan. I have a Samsung 128 gb usb 3.0 flash drive (“nano flash technology”). Very small and barely sticks out. There’s a newer model for it but the base of it is a bit bigger. I like the microSD card idea and might pick one up at some point. The external drive you choose for storage on the Chromebook should be easy to pop into another computer to transfer files or whatever works. My Acer is a cheap Chromebook 11 C732 and like your ASUS, will run the Chrome OS until June 2024. I’m just looking to use it for simple tasks and safe browsing.

MacOS iPadOS and sometimes SOS

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AlphaCharlie

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anonymous wrote:

And, I am not sure if one type is better than another.  ASUS could not say if there is a maximum size (storage) that this chromebook would recognize.

Well, base SD is up to 2 GB only, and theoretically up to 12.5 MB/s transfer speed. SDHC is up to 32 GB and 25 MB/s; SDXC is up to 2 TB, and up to 312 MB/s in later revisions …

There could be a maximum size but it cannot be lower than the 2 TB without losing compliance with the SDXC standard.

DrBonzo wrote:

I’ve seen them in two sizes. What I call normal is about an inch by an inch and a quarter. The other size – presumably the ‘micro’ – is about a quarter inch by 3/8 inch and is often sold with an adapter that’s the same size as the normal card;

There was a “mini” card as well. Think there may have been about two camera models ever that used that instead of either full or micro, I should have one adapter in the toolbox still…

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AlphaCharlie

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The Sandisk microSDXC card should arrive soon.

The user manual for the Chromebook simply says “This built-in memory card reader slot supports microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC card formats.” That is the only mention in the 92-page manual.

I was wondering if the card will simply work immediately after insertion in the slot, or whether the Chrome OS requires a “format” of the disk?

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Myst

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Once you put the SD card in on your Chromebook it should automatically detect it. You can start using the card to store or read existing files. I’ve reformatted various external storage devices on my Mac but this particular situation with the Chromebook looks pretty basic. Pop it in, add/read files, leave it in. You’re set.

MacOS iPadOS and sometimes SOS

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AlphaCharlie

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