"Flash memory, regardless of format, supports only a limited number of erase/write cycles before a particular "sector" can no longer be written. Memory specifications generally allow 10,000[1] to 1,000,000 write cycles. Typically the controller in a CompactFlash attempts to prevent premature wearout of a sector by mapping the writes to various other sectors in the card - a process referred to as wear levelling."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CompactFlash#Description
sorry, d.
Peter Plessas wrote:
- Derek Holzer derek@umatic.nl [2008-01-02 21:12]:
The whole idea of read-only is for two reasons:
- To protect the HD in case of unexpected shutdowns (which could happen
nightly in a typical museum situation) 2) To preserve the CF memory, which has a limited number of write cycles, in the case of a HD-less system
Are you sure on this point? I just switched from a normal 2.5" IDE drive in my laptop to a compact flash card using an IDE<->CF adaptor. Are you referring to USB memory sticks (which might inhibit the same technology) or to CF cards as well? Now that i am so happy having a completely silent laptop, i might run into read/write errors soon....
rgds, PP