Compact Flash limit

[alexandr0s]

Is there a limit as to the capacity of Compact Flash cards the 5mx can take?
Thanks

[MikeMcC]

As far as I know there isn't any specific limit, although there seem to be more problems with CF cards of 128Mb and above.

256Mb and 512Mb cards are being used but if you are considering a large card make sure it can be returned or exchanged if there are problems. There are sometimes compatibility issues with a particular 5mx and CF card - a card may work with one 5mx but not another and similarly with two apparently identical CF cards, one may not work with your particular 5mx.

[alexandr0s]

So, as long as I stick to cards up to 64mb I'm ok?

[gwizard]

Mike -

What kind of problems are there with cards 128mb and above? I have a 128mb card and I've had no problems with it.

[MikeMcC]

Originally posted by alexandr0s
So, as long as I stick to cards up to 64mb I'm ok?
Cards up to 64 Mb should be OK but ideally stick with the brands known to work - Sandisk, Simple Tech, etc. - rather than risk "cheapie" brands.

....just my advice :)

[MikeMcC]

Originally posted by gwizard
Mike -

What kind of problems are there with cards 128mb and above? I have a 128mb card and I've had no problems with it.
Some cards are simply not recognised when inserted into a particular 5mx and the problem appears to be greater with the larger CF cards. This can happen when the card is first used or subsequently. Put it in another 5mx and it works - the 5mx seems to have very little tolerence to cards with slightly different characteristics.

Bear in mind though, it is like anything else in this type of forum, you only hear about the problem situations! I'm sure the vast majority of users have no issues with their large CFs :)

[alexandr0s]

Cards up to 64 Mb should be OK but ideally stick with the brands known to work - Sandisk, Simple Tech, etc. - rather than risk "cheapie" brands.

Mike,
Can you let me know which other makes, apart from the two you mention, are known to work well with the 5mx?
Thanks for all the help.

[MikeMcC]

<< Can you let me know which other makes, apart from the two you mention, are known to work well with the 5mx? >>

I don't have details of various makes that do or don't work. I use Sandisk (and Psion's own cards are rebadged Sandisk with a "designer label" price tag to match!), Simple Technology and Armadillo.

The make that stands out in my mind to avoid is Dane Electric because someone had a problem with one of their large CFs and subsequently had a real problem getting them to accept the card wouldn't work. Last time I said this, I got several responses saying their Dane Elect CF work fine. OK but the point was that when there was a problem the particular user couldn't get it sorted out easily, so I feel this is a brand to avoid.

Whatever you buy, make sure it can be sent for exchange or refund if there are problems. Also, it makes life easier if you buy from an outlet that knows about Psions.

[jdunn]

I have the following working fine:
Sandisk 256 MB in 5mx and 5 classic OK
Dane-Elec 256MB Cheapie from 7DayShop.com in 5mx but has occaisional bad connection in Psion and PC reader.
Expansys.com 128MB in 5mx & 5 Classic OK
Moral is to buy recognised brands.

[gwizard]

I haven't had any problems yet with my Dane Electric card, except for the first day I got it the 5mx said the disk was corrupt (the problem, however was that I had the disk in upside down :rolleyes:...I turned it around and it worked fine)

[Haggis]

The 256Mb Dane Elec cards use a Toshiba controller rather than the more reliable 3s or Lexar. If you stick to cards using these contollers then you should have no problems.

[wint]

How silly do I feel??

I was just about to post a question about my Psion 5mx not reading a CF card but thought I'd read through the archive first. I found this posting:

"I haven't had any problems yet with my Dane Electric card, except for the first day I got it the 5mx said the disk was corrupt (the problem, however was that I had the disk in upside down ...I turned it around and it worked fine)"

I turned my brand new card around and It Now Works! :D

Just shows that it pays to search the archive first.

Thanks gwizard

Wint

[gwizard]

Hehehe, no problem, wint. Although I no longer use my Psion (I now use a Dell Axim X5, primarily...using that same Dane Elec card from my 5mx ;)) I'm glad my silly mistakes managed to help some people out :-D

[pastor41]

So, there is no limit as such for the 5MX;
How about the Psion 5? Any limit on Compact Flash size?