A little question about memory (+1)

[daniel178]

Hi all,

I'm kinda new to the Axim world... just got my hands on a 300mhz X5, and I have a couple questions:

1- I know there is a utility out there that you can use to overclock the CPU speed (a guy i know overclocked his 300mhz to 400mhz). Anyone know what this is, where to get it, how many there are, which software is good, etc.?

2- Regarding memory. Since i only have 32mb in there, I am in desperate need of more, basically just to store mp3s, themes, and maybe to install an extra program or two. So, i'm thinking about 256mb (or at least 128mb... hell, Dell sells 512mb for $125.95, but its a CF card). Is CF memory always less expensive than SD memory? Does it matter which kind I get? I'd like to keep my CF slot open in case I want to get bluetooth or something. Is there any difference in performance or reliability between CF and SD memory?
Also, what kind of ram do you people like? Dells sells SANDISK, but can't i use anything, like Kingston, panasonic, simpletech, etc? is there a certain brand that you guys recommend? I'd like something of good quality, but not nessasarily the most expensive there is. Also, is Dell a good place to buy memory from? (I notice it only carries CF memory on its accesories page).

thanks for any help!


(also, if people know of any good sites to buy memory from, i'm all ears! :) )

[Dougefresh]

Watch yourself with SD memory. THere are numerous threads about problems with SD cards. Just do a search on SD cards and you will find out what some of us did the hard way.

[daniel178]

hmm..... so then what do you guys do for other devices, like wifi and bluetooth stuff? Those can only go into the CF slot, but if that's taken up by memory, then you're outta luck.

[Osiris]

Avoid SanDisk brand products like the PLAGUE and you'll be okay. I just picked up a new Kingston 64MB SD card for $25...128MB models go for $45.

The Kingston works great so far...

I've also heard people having good luck with Lexar, PNC, etc.

[Jefefef]

1. Do a search for "overclocking" in the search bar at the top of the page and you should get plenty of results.

2. It's usually only the Sandisk memory that people have trouble with. Don't buy it. Any other kind is usually good. SD memory is generally faster than CF but it costs more. Also there can be problems with any type SD card over a certain limit. I think it's 512 MB but I'm not sure. If you're planning on using the CF slot for something else like to mentioned then you should just go for SD. Also, if you're going to be transfering files to your SD card often you should get a card reader. They're pretty cheap and will greatly speed up transfer time.

1) Most brands of SD cards work fine in the Axim.
2) You probably won't need your MP3 files while you are using a CF WiFi card so you could swap thos in and out as you use them.

[Jefefef]

I just beat ya, v8sho. And Osiris beat us both. Or me atleast...maybe you saw it before you started posting.

[Osiris]

It's almost scary sometimes how quickly you can get a response on this board.
:D

Memory:

1. Yes, in general CF is cheaper, but watch out for the $20 rebates on 256MB SD, they take the price below the regular prices for CF sometimes. currently, none of these rebates exist, though they were all over the place from like april to June 30.

2. Yes it matters which kind of SD you buy. Get a card made in Japan and DONT TRUST WHAT IT SAYS ON THE PACKAGE. You need to see the printing on the card itself. this primarily applies to LEXAR SD cards. Note that Sandisk "The world's leading flash memory maker" doesn't make any of its SD cards in Japan. There was one report about a Japanese Sandisk card but as far as I'm concerned it's as elusive as Big Foot. Sometimes CF goes bad too, but that's much less common.

3. If you buy an SD card made in Japan, it will pretty much be perfectly reliable. Most CF is perfectly reliable. A good SD card should be more or less as fast as a regular CF card, though now faster CF cards are starting to come out. Don't be too concerned about storing stuff on SD as opposed to CF. you can watch movies, listen to mp3s, etc. off of SD cards w/no problems.

4. ...by RAM do you mean SD and CF cards? the thing about these cards is that they're not RAM at all. they're just like oddly crafted floppy disks--they hold data, that's all. the RAM on your axim on the other hand can actually run programs and so on. (you can store anything you want on the memory cards, including programs...perhaps a better analogy is to think of them as small removable hard drives.) as for kind, strictly speaking there are only 2 kinds of memory: SD and CF. that's it. any SD or CF card will work in your Axim, as long as it isn't defective. Brands are only relevant insofar as some tend to make higher quality memory (i.e. cards made in Japan) than others. (Note also that Sandisk SD seems to have the most trouble in Axims, they work fine in a lot of other PPCs, but not all....presumably they also work fine in most cameras etc.)

here's my advice: BUY SIMPLETECH SD. Buy Panasonic, Toshiba, or Memorex if they happen to be cheaper, otherwise Simpletech is the way to go. all of these brands are virtually guaranteed to be made in Japan.

Lexar Media and Viking Components make some of their SD cards in Japan. (maybe Kingston and PNY too?)

CF memory from almost anybody should work OK.

and YES, Dell can be the best place to buy memory from, because they will have substantial discounts (10-15%) on memory, and this of course stacks with any manufacturer rebates that might be available, making their prices the best--sometimes. Just avoid buying any SD card not made in Japan. if you ask me this is kind of a bad time to be buying memory because the best rebates have all expired and been replaced with crappy little ones. This will probably be the case for a couple more months, when those rebates expire, but you never know...

A Sandisk SD card poll posted in the hardware troubles board in late february found that 37% of responding Sandisk SD owners had problems with their cards and wouldn't buy Sandisk again. 24% of the respondents had cards that failed completely.

it was a biased poll. it was biased because it was in the hardware troubles board, which attracts ppl with problems, including SD issues, but I find it hard to believe that it was so biased that those 24% of respondents were statistically insignificant. My personal hunch is that around 10% of Sandisk SD used in Axim SD slots wind up failing or with serious operational problems.

for more information, talk to happycheesecake. he can talk to you about this issue probably for a month straight. at the least visit his website, you'll find the URL in his signature.

as for whether or not you want to depend on CF or SD for memory....do you plan to use I/O devices like wifi a lot? then you should invest in a decent-sized SD card. if you don't plan to use wifi much or at all, then I say binge on the CF memory and save youself some good $$$.

[daniel178]

Hey Guys!

thanks for the excellent replies! and yes, quite fast indeed! :) :)

Well, it seems from the responses that an SD card will be the way to go, probably a 256mb chip. I will stay away from Sandisk, just in case (although i agree with you, Astounded, that such polls and forums attract only the bad reports). but better safe than sorry. I'm opting for SD, becuase i'm planning on doing wifi or something in the future, and i'd rather not be changing out cards constantly (knowing me, i'd lose it right after I take it out).

i'm thinking about getting something like this... seems like a pretty decent price; what do YOU think? ;)

http://www.bananapc.com/Products/pro...19&classif_id=

so assuming UPS ground, the total would be like $64 AR? that's pretty reasonable these days, i guess. buy.com is selling Lexar 256s for $58 AR, but of course they're out of stock.

you could also try this:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...photo&n=688764

im kind of partial to lexar media (as you might be able to tell from my sig). the card might have problems, but if it does (in particular if it was not made in Japan), call up lexar and they will replace it with a Japan card.

[polaris2k3]

Great, while we're on the topic, will regular MMC cards work in the SD slot in the Axim? I know some devices that accepts SD will accept the cheaper MMC cards too, but does the Axim?

[Jefefef]

I'm pretty sure it does. I read a post on here a few days ago that said it did. I'm sure somebody that knows more about this will be able to give a better answer.

A: Yes. MMC is forward-compatible with SD.

SD cards cannot fit into MMC card slots, because SD is thicker than MMC. Most SD slots will work with MMC.