Are you frustrated by SD card not showing up issue suddenly on your Asus ROG Ally?
Well, You’re not alone. Really!
Many users have encountered this problem while enjoying their gaming sessions. In this article, I will delve into the root cause of this issue and offer some practical solutions to keep your gaming experience uninterrupted that are based on my own experience with the rog ally and more importantly what the community has shared.
But let’s first understand why the sd card won’t show up in your rog ally.
The Hardware Placement Puzzle
Upon investigation, it was discovered that the placement of the microSD card slot on the Asus ROG Ally poses a significant challenge. Positioned directly above one of the system’s exhaust vents, the slot becomes susceptible to thermal stress. As the system heats up during intense gaming sessions, the microSD slot absorbs the heat, potentially causing malfunctions and even damaging the already heated SD Cards.
YouTuber CPPC TEK has shown in detail how the fan curves are contributing to the heating issue and more aggressive fan curves would have been a better choice.
Official Confirmation
Asus has officially acknowledged the issue, recognizing it as a hardware problem linked to the device’s thermal design. The company has taken responsibility and is currently working on a firmware update to address the situation. The forthcoming update will fine-tune the default and minimum fan speeds, ensuring improved cooling and preventing the SD card reader from malfunctioning under thermal stress.
Small official update – team aware of SD card issues
by u/ctyldsley in ROGAlly
However, I am quite skeptical about the update, but apart from that, and before returning your device through RMA, I have some quick fixes for you that have worked for many users in fixing the Asus ROG Ally SD card not showing up.
Note: Before trying anything, make sure to test SD card in another device and see if it’s working. Also, make sure there are no cases and other external factors that can heat rog ally.
Let’s Check if the Card Reader/SD Card is Working
Try putting another SD card in ROG Ally and check if it’s working.
There are 2 situations that can happen:
A. Card Reader Working
If another card works in rog ally, and your current one doesn’t work in any device, then your card has fried and it’s sort of good news as your card reader is still working.
According to a Reddit post, Sandisk cards are experiencing compatibility issues with the Asus ROG Ally, while other brands like Samsung are working fine causing no rog ally sd card issues.
Sandisk Cards not working properly on the Ally. All other cards work fine. In this video I compare five different microsd cards and it’s speeds in real-time
by u/Signal-Dig-1150 in ROGAlly
The user’s video demonstrates the varying speeds of different microSD cards, with Sandisk cards, especially the Extreme Pro variant, failing to be recognized by Ally’s card reader. The rog ally sd card problem seems specific to Sandisk cards, as they work with docks and other devices.
The cause of the issue remains unclear, with conflicting reports and speculation about whether it’s related to heat or a compatibility problem between Sandisk and Asus.
You can try reformatting your Sandisk card using exFAT or NTFS for better performance and compatibility that’s supported by the Asus ROG Ally.
Alternatively, You may want to consider using alternative SD card brands that have been reported to work well with the Asus ROG Ally. Samsung Evo Select and other brands have been mentioned by users as compatible options. Make sure to research and choose a reliable and compatible SD card that suits your storage needs.
Here are 2 ways you can avoid frying another card:
Solution #1: Don’t Use Turbo Mode to Heat Again
Turbo mode can cause ROG Ally SD Card Issues as the device/cpu can easily go up to 95°C but your MicroSD card usually only bear up to 85°C.
So, using turbo mode constantly then you will end up with a fried SD card making your card completely useless and losing all your saved data.
I recommend you a card reader if you love to utilize the ally’s performance.
Solution #2: Switch to Manual Mode to Cool it Faster
Set your Asus ROG Ally operating mode to Manual as a potential rog ally sd card fix so that the fan goes faster when it’s hotter letting the MicroSD card cool down.
- Open Armoury Crate
- Head to the Settings tab, and select the Operating Mode option from the menu.
- Select Manual Mode in the list that appears, and you’ll see a number of sliders and graphs.
B. Rog Ally SD Card Reader NOT Working
If another card isn’t working in ROG Ally, then your card reader is fried and needs replacement. We have a few following fixes that can help you.
Solution #1: Connect Via Card Reader
If you think the SD card is fine and the issue is rog ally not recognizing SD card? Using an external card reader is a possible way out!
Just connect the micro-SD card using an external card reader. For this method, you might need a USB Type-C card reader, as shown in the image below.
Insert this connector into the USB Type-C port and the SD card in its slot. You can keep the ROG Ally OFF and restart it after inserting the card connector. After this, you can check if the rog ally recognizes the SD card by checking if it appears in ‘This PC.’
Solution #2: Replace SSD
Rog Ally allows you to replace its SSD and upgrade up to 2 TB.
Yes, it’s not a preferable workaround as it’s a bit of a hassle to get it and SSDs are expensive too, and also not as portable as SD Cards.
We have a guide on how to choose the best SSD, and also a guide on Best SSDs for ROG Ally before you decide to upgrade your SSD on Rog Ally.
And if you are not looking to replace but return it, here is how you can.
Solution #3: RMA the Device and get one with more Storage or Wait for the Next Update
Keep an eye on Asus’ official website or social media channels for any announcements regarding firmware or software updates for the Asus ROG Ally.
If you can’t, you can Contact Asus customer support and initiate a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) process. Explain the problem with the Sandisk cards not working properly in the built-in SD card slot. They may offer to replace your device with a new one that has more storage capacity or provide a solution to fix the compatibility issue.
Remember to back up your data before initiating any changes to your device or returning it for an RMA. A Rog Ally with more storage won’t need an SD card and wouldn’t end in such issues as well.
Final Words
What are your thoughts on this article discussing the issue of SD cards not showing up on the Asus ROG Ally?
The placement of the microSD card slot is identified as the root cause, leading to thermal stress. Asus is working on a firmware update to address the problem, but in the meantime, the article suggests several quick fixes. These include updating BIOS and card drivers, avoiding turbo mode, using an external card reader, trying different SD card brands, switching to manual mode in Armoury Crate, and changing drive letters and paths.
Users are also presented with the option of RMA or waiting for an update. Remember to back up your data before making any changes or pursuing an RMA. Share your thoughts and experiences!
