Flash Life Expectancy On Cxx00 Series?

[GadgetGuy]

I have just read a thread, in which various people described how their C7xx units died due to worn out flash ram ( after a bit over a year of using the unit).

It appears, that they (probably all) did reflash their OS quite frequently ( but most probably not 100.000 times ).

So, it appears, that (in some cases) the lifetime of flash ram can be much less than the at least 100.000 mentioned by some manufacturers.

I have a still (quite) new C3100 - and now I started to have some thoughts about "experimenting" with it.

Should I be more careful about flashing the OS? Maybe also about installing / removing software?

Would anybody know, if this ( i.e. flash ram dying) is something one should worry about? Is it possible that the C3100 has a different architecture than the C7xx series, and therefore would not have such problems?

Thanks for any comments, thoughts...

[icruise]

I find it pretty doubtful that flash could fail in that amount of time, at least from the "limited number of writes" issue. I wouldn't think that you should have to take any special precautions to avoid this type of problem either.

[Cresho]

i think he wants to say....

I want to own a zaurus for the rest of my life........  


same here.




It is the freedom to create stuff, community supported, and alot of fun.

[GadgetGuy]

i think he wants to say....

I want to own a zaurus for the rest of my life........   


same here.


[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=97481\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

You must have read my mind  

[T-RuX]

And my mind too

[Cagilaba]

Ummm... mine TOO!!!!!

[lardman]

I have just read a thread, in which various people described how their C7xx units died due to worn out flash ram ( after a bit over a year of using the unit).

Can you give us a link?


Si

[GadgetGuy]

I have just read a thread, in which various people described how their C7xx units died due to worn out flash ram ( after a bit over a year of using the unit).

Can you give us a link?


Si
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[a href=\"https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=3194&hl=]https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=3194&hl=[/url]

[speculatrix]

I find it pretty doubtful that flash could fail in that amount of time, at least from the "limited number of writes" issue. I wouldn't think that you should have to take any special precautions to avoid this type of problem either.
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yeah, but bear in mind, linux can rewrite the same file over and over. make sure file systems are mounted as "noatime" otherwise the kernel updates the "last accessed time" on each file.

and don't put swap on internal memory.

I've never come across a decent discussion on whether, if at all, the Z's flash memory controller implements wear levelling, or whether the Z's file system or kernel does either.

[Da_Blitz]

you should get anywhere between 100 000 to 1 000 000 rewrites to a single flash 'cell' however most flash chips ship with extra flash that the user cant acsess so it can perform ware leveling so even if you write to the same place constantly the flash chip will keep changing the area where it stores data to compinsate.

wether this does anything is a diffrent matter, but keep in ming that one write per minute allows 100 000 minutes continues use, thats 69.4 days non stop, or if you use it 4 hours a day 416 days before there should be a problem, and thats if the battery will hold out. thats more likly to go thaan the flash

[GadgetGuy]

... thats if the battery will hold out. thats more likly to go thaan the flash
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Yes. But the battery is user replaceable, while the flash is not...

Still: I think there is no reason to worry about this

[bam]

it just has to last until the next model comes out, provided the next model isnt a complete failure(highly doubtful)

[Da_Blitz]

who said flash is not user replacable

[speculatrix]

it just has to last until the next model comes out, provided the next model isnt a complete failure(highly doubtful)
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I'd laugh, only I hope your view isn't shared by Sharp.
Clearly you have much deeper pockets than many here, a number of which have 5xxx models when by your policy they'd have bought a 700, 760, 860, 3000, 1000 and now 3100 if they bought every new model.

[GadgetGuy]

I'd laugh, only I hope your view isn't shared by Sharp.
Clearly you have much deeper pockets than many here, a number of which have 5xxx models when by your policy they'd have bought a 700, 760, 860, 3000, 1000 and now 3100 if they bought every new model.
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Yes. That was exactly the reason for my initial post. It took me a long time to decide whether I can afford a C3100. Then it took a long time to convince my wife, that I truly "need" a Z.

Now I just want to make sure, that it will last as long as possible...