Lifespan of flash media

[TechnoPro]

I remember reading once that the lifespan of a compact flash card of mine was 100,000 writes. Would that mean that I could take 100,000 digital camera pictures, or add 100,000 MP3s before the card would fail? That was my understanding that every file written was considered 1 write. Or, would I get data errors and corruption as I apporached that magic number?

Has anyone had flash media go bad because they have used it for 1,000s of operations?

 

[Hyperfocal]

It is more like 100,000 writes to each individual memory position. If you can get 150 files on your card, then you would theoretically be able to write 150 * 100,000 files, or 15,000,000 images. My understanding is that the card controller works to avoid using the same memory locations repeatedly.

I don't know any photographers who have worn out their cards. I have taken about 75,000 images since I went digital and there is no evidence of degradation in my CF cards.

They do get corrupted on occasion, but that's why you stick to a brand name with a good warranty.

 

[zephyrprime]

I think it might be good for 100,000*capacity/average picture size.

But...flash cards typically used FAT so I wonder if there might be some problem with frequent changes to the area of the disk that records the amount of free space that is on the disk. This area is just one spot I believe and it might be changed with every single picture taken thus limiting you to 100,000 pictures.

Bad cluster marking might be able to circumvent this problem...or maybe not.

 

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: Hyperfocal
It is more like 100,000 writes to each individual memory position. If you can get 150 files on your card, then you would theoretically be able to write 150 * 100,000 files, or 15,000,000 images. My understanding is that the card controller works to avoid using the same memory locations repeatedly.

I don't know any photographers who have worn out their cards. I have taken about 75,000 images since I went digital and there is no evidence of degradation in my CF cards.

They do get corrupted on occasion, but that's why you stick to a brand name with a good warranty.

Great info, thanks!

A few more questions, please.

You say "that the card controller works to avoid using the same memory locations repeatedly"... Forgive the ignroance, but the card controler is built into the card, right? And not the device? If this is the case, then the controller presumably needs some memory to remember what locations were last/frequently used. Is this why flash media doesn't give exactly what it's capacity is as far as useable space?

Also, what brand(s) do you recommend?

 

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: zephyrprime
I think it might be good for 100,000*capacity/average picture size.

But...flash cards typically used FAT so I wonder if there might be some problem with frequent changes to the area of the disk that records the amount of free space that is on the disk. This area is just one spot I believe and it might be changed with every single picture taken thus limiting you to 100,000 pictures.

Bad cluster marking might be able to circumvent this problem...or maybe not.

With the bad cluster marking, this is making a notation on the FAT that a certain cluster is unusable, right? So basically once the memory location(s) where the FAT is stored have surpassed 100,000 writes, then the whole card could become unusable?

 

[Hyperfocal]

CF controllers are on the card not in the camera which is why there are fast and slow cards. I don't know the details of how the memory controllers work, but there is supposed to be some sort of wear leveling algorithm build into the controller.

Lexar has a good reputation for warranty service. I know a guy who RMA'd 6 256mb cards he ran over with his car and they sent back nice new cards.

 

[Algere]

I don't know about writes but I heard they were expected to be good for 10 years give or take.

 

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: Algere
I don't know about writes but I heard they were expected to be good for 10 years give or take.

The question is: 10 years on a shelf? Or 10 years of a specific usage pattern?

 

[Algere]

Originally posted by: TechnoPro

Originally posted by: Algere
I don't know about writes but I heard they were expected to be good for 10 years give or take.

The question is: 10 years on a shelf? Or 10 years of a specific usage pattern?

don't remember, will reply back if I find out