How many times can your write Flash Memory

[n2ifp]

Is there any limit to adding and removing apps in Flash Memory?

[amlee]

I read somewhere that Flash memory does have a limited lifespan, but that it's on the order of hundreds of thousands of cycles. For most people, I guess that means that Flash and Memorysticks will become obsolete before a particular stick dies.

[nx70]

???
I don't get your question? You helped me sometimes out, so I would love to help, but what is your question?
It doesn't seem to be how many space the flash ROM offers- so it maybe how many times I can write and delete on the Flash Memory, right?
I used my last Handspring for 4Years now extremely everyday. It works since today. It is said that the cards do have a lifecycle of about 100'000 to 500'000 write/rewrite depending upon the brand and other circumstances like temperature,..
Although I am wondering why they do have one at all, as long as they are only transistors, they should last forever(or at least 100years under normal use)...

Did this answer your question??

[BClie2k]

Originally posted by nx70
???
I don't get your question? You helped me sometimes out, so I would love to help, but what is your question?
It doesn't seem to be how many space the flash ROM offers- so it maybe how many times I can write and delete on the Flash Memory, right?
I used my last Handspring for 4Years now extremely everyday. It works since today. It is said that the cards do have a lifecycle of about 100'000 to 500'000 write/rewrite depending upon the brand and other circumstances like temperature,..
Although I am wondering why they do have one at all, as long as they are only transistors, they should last forever(or at least 100years under normal use)...

Did this answer your question??

You got it wrong. First the technology was created (JackFlash for the NX in this case), then it is a normal consequence of its creation to be concern about how good will it be or for how long will it last. JackFlash opens the door to ROM and files can be moved back and forth to save RAM. His question is how many times can you do this? Flash ROM is designed to be reburned in case of firmware updates or rare cases like that. So a Flash ROM designer probably assumes that noone will be burning his ROM everyday or so. I would say ROM might have a shorter lifespan than RAM for sure. How less? That I don't know, if anybody knows please share it.

Al

[n2ifp]

Hi AL,

Yes, exactly, I thought it important in case there is some limitations. With Brayder releasing JackFlash and many users trying to make use of the flash ROM, they should know if any harm might result.

[rhart00]

Originally posted by n2ifp
Hi AL,

Yes, exactly, I thought it important in case there is some limitations. With Brayder releasing JackFlash and many users trying to make use of the flash ROM, they should know if any harm might result.

aye. Brayder probably knows the answer to this but may not want anyone else to.

[rldunn]

I had heard awhile back that there is a limit, but that your device will die long before you reach it. Not sure how truthful that was or if it came from Brayder or now. Anyone contacting them might ask this.

[Danny Lie]

Flash memory can be written to about 1000 times. Read limit is almost infinite. In other words: after writing the same area of your memorystick (or flash rom) a 1000 times, it will break down.

[CliePet]

> Flash memory can be written to about 1000 times.

Most modern flash chips used for flash storage have a typical rating of 100,000 erase cycles - per block. I've seen some rated at 1 million.

Really cheap ones can be rated at 10,000 or even 1,000 cycles - but are used for rarely changing things like BIOS chips [not storage].

ALSO
When used in a file system, there are techniques to reduce that wear. The memory sticks themselves use a logical -> physical block mapping to spread out the wear and tear.

Also, it is the block erase that causes the most wear-and-tear, so algorithms designed for flash writing can be optimized (writing a single bit to 0 is fast and less wear and tear, but you can't unwrite it to 1 without erasing the whole block)...

Regardless, not something you will normally worry about.

[Alistar]

Thats good. After reading through here I thought that my mem stick might run out quickly using it with powerrun and all my apps.

[pelaca]

Originally posted by n2ifp
Is there any limit to adding and removing apps in Flash Memory?

Quoted from the NEC datasheet
• Program / erase time
• Program: 9.0 µs / byte (TYP.)
11.0 µs / word (TYP.)
• Sector erase :
Program / erase cycle : 100,000 cycles
0.3 s (TYP.) (4K words sector), 0.5 s (TYP.) (32K words sector)
Program / erase cycle : 300,000 cycles
0.5 s (TYP.) (4K words sector), 0.7 s (TYP.) (32K words sector)
• Program / erase cycle : 300,000 cycles (MIN.)

[n2ifp]

Pelaca,

Very good and Thank you!

Thank you to all the other respondents too!

Others will now know it really won't be a concern to use Jack Flash :).