Memory?

[marty]

Gigablue "claim" 1GB DDR3 so unless I'm missing something why does when pressing Menu/Information/Memory give me 572MB not really 1GB is it.

If you open a telnet session and type in "free" (without the "") it also says 572mb

Same for the NAND 512MB, mine says 443.2mb with 373.8mb free. Again 443mb isn't 512.


So while I'm very pleased with the box it's not really what Gigable advertise

No kernel 3.x.x, no gigabite lan.

DDRSDRAM / Flash
DDR3 1024MB / NAND 512MB

Linux Kernel
Kernel 3.x.x

Ethernet
Ethernet 100/1000 MBit

Just a thought, when kernel 3.x.x is released for the Quad might the memory be the full 1gb? (a bit like how you can't use more than 4gb of ddr with 32bit windows)

[rossi2000]

i have noticed the same things but didnt mention anything just yet.
wait till we were up to date with the kernel etc and see what happens then.

someone also mentioned that the chipset does actually support gbit lan so maybe an update can make it gbit.

[Larry-G]

I cant speak for the Quad as i dont have one and have not looked too closely into it as of yet, but i do know on the Ultimo half of it's 1GB ram is reserved for future use and not accessible to the user, until Vu decide to open it up at some point.

[Sicilian]

Some the memory will get used by linux stuff and video drivers. One of the other team member could give you a better answer, happens on other E2 receivers too.

[marty]

i have noticed the same things but didnt mention anything just yet.
wait till we were up to date with the kernel etc and see what happens then.

someone also mentioned that the chipset does actually support gbit lan so maybe an update can make it gbit.

I think that was me
http://www.world-of-satellite.com/sh...l=1#post166086

Maybe when Broadcom sort out whatever they need to do for kernel 3.x.x it will take the Quad to another level

[Trial]

Hi Phoenix,

I cant speak for the Quad as i dont have one and have not looked too closely into it as of yet, but i do know on the Ultimo half of it's 1GB ram is reserved for future use and not accessible to the user, until Vu decide to open it up at some point.

it was flash which was reserverd for future use on the Ultimo.

1GB RAM does not mean usable RAM. The framebuffer and scaler all need memory at this is not count as free mem. The same might be correct for flash if for instance the boot loader uses part of it.

ciao

[marty]

1GB RAM does not mean usable RAM. The framebuffer and scaler all need memory at this is not count as free mem.

Maybe but doesn't account for 500 odd MB MIA

I have seen pictures before but I havn't been able to read what the memory chips are so I decided to open the box and have a look inside.
There are 4 memory chips inside
They are NANYA NT5CB256M8GN-DI, I looked them up

http://www.nanya.com/NanyaAdmin/GetFiles.ashx?ID=1091

and found them to be 256MB of DDR3-1600

nanya.JPG

So, we do have 1GB of memory which I'm guessing will be available in the future with a newer kernel?

[marty]

The flash is a Samsung K9F4G08U0D-SCB0.

1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 General Description
Offered in 512Mx8bit, the K9F4G08U0D is a 4G-bit NAND Flash Memory with spare 128M-bit. The device is offered in 3.3V Vcc. Its NAND cell provides
the most cost-effective solution for the solid state application market. A program operation can be performed in typical 250ƒÊs on the (2K+64)Byte page
and an erase operation can be performed in typical 2ms on a (128K+4K)Byte block. Data in the data register can be read out at 25ns cycle time per Byte.
The I/O pins serve as the ports for address and data input/output as well as command input. The on-chip write controller automates all program and erase
functions including pulse repetition, where required, and internal verification and margining of data. Even the write-intensive systems can take advantage
of the K9F4G08U0D�Œs extended reliability of 100K program/erase cycles by providing ECC(Error Correcting Code) with real time mapping-out algorithm.
The K9F4G08U0D is an optimum solution for large nonvolatile storage applications such as solid state file storage and other portable applications requiring
non-volatility

1.2 Features
1.3 PRODUCT LIST
• Voltage Supply
- 3.3V Device(K9F4G08U0D) : 2.7V ~ 3.6V
• Organization
- Memory Cell Array : (512M + 16M) x 8bit
- Data Register : (2K + 64) x 8bit
• Automatic Program and Erase
- Page Program : (2K + 64)Byte
- Block Erase : (128K + 4K)Byte
• Page Read Operation
- Page Size : (2K + 64)Byte
- Random Read : 25ìs(Max.)
- Serial Access : 25ns(Min.)
• Fast Write Cycle Time
- Page Program time : 250ìs(Typ.)
- Block Erase Time : 2ms(Typ.)

flash.JPG

Again we do have 512MB flash (or 512M + 16M as Samsung call it)

[marty]

Just took a screenshot, clearly shows TOTAL and FREE.
Regardless of what amount of memory the drivers/buffers etc etc use the TOTAL amout should still show the TOTAL amount.
It must be that the current kernel cannot support that much memory?

screenshotmem.jpg

[Rob van der Does]

No: the 'total' amount shows what usable in user space. As Trial pointed out, not all memory is (as a lot is reserved for system tasks).
So 'Total' will always show much less than the actual amount of memory in the box.

If you really want to see the REAL-TOTAL amount of storage available just make a bootlog (serial log during the boot phase): that will clarify things.

PS: Just as 'Free' doesn't show the actual amount of freely available memory........

[marty]

The 'total' amount shows what usable in user space. As Trial pointed out, not all memory is (as a lot is reserved for system tasks).

OK, but what is the "cached" memory for (look at my screenshot) ? I would have thought the "cached" memory would be for system tasks etc etc?
All a bit confusing

[Rob van der Does]

Well, that's a system-task as well, but cached memory should be added to free memory as it can be freed by the box for other tasks. So that's indeed memory in user-space.

[marty]

OK, makes sence
Just out of curiosity can someone have a look at another box (ie a DUO) as see what that says?

[Larry-G]

OK, makes sence
Just out of curiosity can someone have a look at another box (ie a DUO) as see what that says?

If i remeber when i get in from work this evening i'll check my boxes. especially the ultimo.

[Rob van der Does]

Just out of curiosity can someone have a look at another box (ie a DUO) as see what that says?

Here you go.

To know how much memory the box has freely available you have to do some maths:
Freely available = Free + Cached + Buffers
as the box can freely use those three.