Unboxing OWC Atlas Pro/Atlas Ultra Memory Card: UHS-II V90 for 6K Video Recording in HD

OWC SD.

As cameras evolve to offer better image quality and higher frame rates, the size of captured files continues to increase. A high-speed, reliable memory card is essential to prevent interruptions in shooting or recording. OWC has introduced SD4.0, SDXC, and UHS-II memory cards with varying specifications. The PRO version achieves V60 performance, while the Ultra version reaches V90, delivering outstanding performance and reliability for hobbyists and photographers alike. OWC specializes in PC and MAC peripherals, offering not only the memory cards discussed here but also external SSDs, hard drives, and Thunderbolt devices.

Specifications

Name: OWC Atlas Pro SD V60
Capacity: 64GB/128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
Warranty: 3-year limited warranty
Memory card type:
SD card (SD 4.0)
Secure Digital eXtended Capacity (SDXC)
UHS-II Video Speed ​​Class V60
transfer Speed: Sequential read (max): 250 MB/s Sequential write (max): 130 MB/s
Recommended operation: Ambient temperature (active): -25°C ~ 85°C Temperature (non-active): -40° C ~ 85°C
Product Dimensions: 3.2 x 2.4 x 0.2 cm
Product Weight: 2g
Package Contents: Atlas Pro SD Memory Card, Storage Box

Name: OWC Atlas Ultra SD V90
Capacity: 64GB/128GB/256GB/512GB
Warranty: 3 Years Limited Warranty
Memory Card Type:
SD card (SD 4.0)
Secure Digital eXtended Capacity (SDXC)
UHS-II Video Speed ​​Class V90
Transfer Rate: Sequential Read (Max): 300 MB/s, Sequential Write (Max): 250 MB/s
Recommended Operating Environment: Temperature (Motion): – 25°C ~ 85°C; Temperature (non-operating): -40°C ~ 85°C
Product Dimensions: 3.2 x 2.4 x 0.2 cm
Product Weight: 2g
Package Contents: Atlas Ultra SD memory card, storage box

OWC Atlas Pro SD V60 512GB/Atlas Ultra SD V90 256GB memory card out of the box

The OWC Atlas Pro SD V60 memory card is available in five capacities: 64/128/256/512/1TB, while the OWC Atlas Ultra SD V90 comes in four capacities, excluding the 1TB option. Both models comply with SD4.0, UHS-II, and SDXC standards. The Pro version offers V60-level recording speed, with maximum sequential read speeds of 250MB/s and write speeds of 130MB/s, suitable for high frame rate 4K video recording. The Ultra version achieves V90-level performance, with maximum sequential read speeds of 300MB/s and write speeds of 250MB/s, making it ideal for high frame rate 6K video recording.

Both memory cards come with OWC’s three-year limited warranty and feature resistance to bending, impact, and X-rays, as well as IP67 dust and water resistance. They can perform reliably in extreme environments, ensuring data security. To utilize the high-speed UHS-II interface, cameras and card readers must support it; however, UHS-II is backward compatible with UHS-I devices.

The most crucial aspect of a memory card is not its maximum read and write speeds, but rather its minimum speeds, which determine the success of a normal recording. These two memory cards achieve V60 and V90 ratings, signifying minimum write speeds of 60MB/s and 90MB/s, respectively. The official recommendation is for the Pro version to be used for 4K video recording and the Ultra version for 6K video recording.

OWC memory card packaging.
OWC Atlas Ultra SD V90 256GB purple packaging.
The blue package of OWC Atlas Pro SD V60 512GB.
Both models have memory card storage boxes.
The OWC Atlas Ultra SD V90 memory card comes in a standard SD card size, featuring a Lock anti-write switch in the upper left corner. The front of the card displays the OWC logo, product name, and various specifications, including maximum read speeds of 300MB/s, write speeds of 250MB/s, capacity, SDXC, UHS-II, V90, U3, and C10.
The OWC Atlas Pro SD V60 memory card comes in a standard SD card size, featuring a Lock switch in the upper left corner. The front of the card displays the OWC logo, product name, and various specifications, including maximum read speeds of 250MB/s, capacity, SDXC, UHS-II, V60, U3, and C10.
The most noticeable difference between UHS-II and UHS-I memory cards is the presence of an additional row of pins below the original 9-pin gold finger layout. This extra row enhances performance while maintaining backward compatibility with UHS-I devices.
Using the OWC memory card with a Nikon D300 (illustrative example; it is recommended to utilize a device compatible with UHS-II for optimal performance).
Installing memory card.

Performance test

In this test, the OWC USB-C Travel Dock E external enclosure is used, which supports SD 4.0 card reader functionality. It connects via USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C to fully harness the memory card’s performance. The test computer is an Intel Core i9-7940X with 64GB DDR4 memory.

OWC USB-C TRAVEL DOCK E external box and OWC Atlas Ultra SD V90 memory card.

The Ultra version with 256GB capacity, formatted with exFAT, provides 238GB of usable space, while the Pro version with 512GB capacity offers 476GB of usable storage.

Atlas Ultra 256GB available space is 238GB.
Atlas Pro 512GB available space is 476GB.

In the CrystalDiskMark benchmark test using NVMe mode, the Ultra version achieves read speeds of 263MB/s and write speeds of 243MB/s, while the Pro version reaches read speeds of 258MB/s and write speeds of 155MB/s.

The CrystalDiskMark score of Ultra 256GB.
The CrystalDiskMark score of Pro 512GB.

Using the ATTO Disk Benchmark to test read and write performance across different I/O sizes and employing a Direct I/O queue with 4 layers to evaluate read and write performance from 512B to 64MB. The Ultra version achieves a maximum read speed of 192MB/s and a write speed of 92MB/s, while the Pro version attains read speeds of 241MB/s and write speeds of 148MB/s. Due to the larger capacity of the Pro version at 512GB, its performance surpasses that of the Ultra 256GB.

ATTO DISK Benchmark score of Ultra 256GB.
ATTO DISK Benchmark results of Pro 512GB.

The AJA System Test can simulate read and write performance for video files. Using a 4096×2160 4K resolution, 64GB file size, and 16-bit RGBA settings, the Ultra version achieves read speeds of 232MB/s and write speeds of 240MB/s, while the Pro version reaches read speeds of 227MB/s and write speeds of 147MB/s. Both versions demonstrate solid performance.

AJA System Test results of Ultra 256GB.
AJA System Test results of Pro 512GB.

Lastly, the AIDA64 Disk Benchmark’s Linear Write test is used to fill the memory card’s capacity to evaluate any interruptions or drops in speed. The Ultra version maintains an average write speed of 238MB/s, with the Pro version closely following at 222MB/s. Both cards demonstrate stable and consistent writing performance.

The Linear Write score of Ultra 256GB.
The Linear Write score of Pro 512GB.

Summary

The OWC Atlas Pro SD V60 and Atlas Ultra SD V90 memory cards offer outstanding performance and high stability, capable of withstanding the demands of harsh usage environments. With the same 128GB capacity, the prices are 1255 yuan and 4620 yuan for the Pro and Ultra versions, respectively. The Ultra version has a noticeable advantage in write speed, but there is a significant price difference between the two.

For users who don’t require video recording above 6K, the Pro version’s performance is more than sufficient. It is recommended to opt for a capacity of 256GB or 512GB, as the price-to-performance ratio is relatively high. The Ultra version’s price is lower than that of competing UHS-II V90 products, making it a reasonable option for photographers and videographers who require higher performance. Users can make their purchase decisions based on their specific needs and budget.

If this article is helpful for you, please share this article with your friends on social media. Thank you!

This article is based on the personality of the reviews. You are responsible for fact-checking if the contents are not facts or accurate.

Title: Unboxing OWC Atlas Pro/Atlas Ultra Memory Card: UHS-II V90 for 6K Video Recording in HD

en_GBEnglish