Memory card size and free RAM

[shady]

I'm interested to get a 8GB SDHC for my Axim but I checked the forums and found out that the amount of free RAM would get less when memory card capacity goes up so I did some testings. Cards I used are :

1) Kingston Elite Pro CF 2GB
2) Kingmax SD 2GB
3) Sandisk SD 512MB
4) Canon MMC 16MB

So here are the results :

Condition = Amount of free RAM (MB)
No card (CF and SD slot empty) = 30.6
MMC 16MB = 30.5
SD 512MB =30.3
CF 2GB = 29.7
SD 2GB = 29.8
CF 2GB + MMC 16MB = 29.6
CF 2GB + SD 512MB = 29.4
CF 2GB + SD 2GB = 28.9

Here is the summary, amount of memory lost per MB :

Memory card capacity = amound of memory lost(MB)
16M = 0.1
512MB = 0.3
2GB = 0.8MB
2.5GB = 1.2MB
4GB = 1.7MB

From the results I can summarize that for every 512MB memory card capacity added, free RAM will be reduced to 0.2MB. So if I add a 8GB SDHC, the amount of free RAM will be reduced by 8/0.5x0.2 = 3.2MB. SDHC 8GB and 2GB CF would cost me 4MB! that means after a soft reset my Axim will get only 26.6MB of free RAM. Any comments from Axim owners with high capacity storage?

[bigtsr]

I have X51v A12 rom with 2 GB CF and 2 GB SD and using
MemMaid it reports 30-31 mb free mem.
Could it be your rom version?

[shady]

Try taking out both the cards, soft reset and check the amount of free ram. Then put in the memory cards and check the free ram. Not sure whether it's rom version but I've read that it's normal because the way WM handles memory cards.

[bigtsr]

Ok here are results:

No sd/cf in after soft reset:
49.4 total
16.86 in use
32.56 free

CF card in only:
17.14 in use
32.36 free

SD/CF cards both in:
17.39 in use
32.01 free

Does that help?

[Julie]

SDHC cards won't work in your Axim. There is a driver posted elsewhere in this forum for an SDHC driver, but the last time I checked the driver would only recognize up to 4 GB of an SDHC card, so even if this driver works in your Axim, you still won't be able to get the benefit of an 8 GB SDHC card.

[dkimak]

Originally Posted by Julie

SDHC cards won't work in your Axim. There is a driver posted elsewhere in this forum for an SDHC driver, but the last time I checked the driver would only recognize up to 4 GB of an SDHC card, so even if this driver works in your Axim, you still won't be able to get the benefit of an 8 GB SDHC card.

I am able to kind-of use an 8GB SDHC card in my x51v. The Axim only recognizes 4 GB. I used my Sony notebook to load 5 GB of music. The x51v appears to see and play it all. I will experiment more to see if this is correct or not...

If not, I'm hoping that the iPaq 210 will be available soon and will support the 8 GB SDHC!

[shady]

thanks for the advice but i would be able to test the card out before making purchase. my only concern is the amount of free ram penalty that i would get by using big storage cards.

[Zaniax]

Thanks shady -
Quite interesting

[shady]

You are welcome. I hope everyone with storage cards here can share their results so we can see how Win Mobile behaves with storage cards.

[Hosh]

x51v unmentionable rom several programs running (weather watcher, one of the launcher programs i think tdlaunch, a battery watcher, today, magic button not on)

no cards 31.97
with cards 28.89
4 g cf sandisk ultra II
2 g sd kodak

remove sd 29.70
replace sd remove cf 29.78

interestingly soft reboot without cards then add cards 30.18 then turn on magic button 29.66