amount of free RAM on TTN5 & Palm T5

ndy4eva

I post a topic in other board but I didn't get much feedback.

<http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=32715>

Here's the my question. How much memory do you have when you start the tomtom? You can check the free ram from version information page.

you can tap on right bottom corner where the gps strength indicator. the status summary page will show up, from there tap on version information box in lower right side.

I think TomTom is freezing on me due to low ram (dynamic heap) during calculating re-route.

Is there anyone having similar issues?

I have TomTom Navigator 5.201, GlobalSat BT338, Tungsten T5 (w/1.1update).

TazUk · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 1:15 pm Post subject:

TomTom is reporting 1Mb free RAM on my Treo 650 8O On the Palms info screen it reports 12.5Mb available.

If you are running short of memory use something like PowerRun to move and run programs from your SD card.

eillo7 · Regular Visitor Joined: Aug 19, 2005 Posts: 199

If the memory problem is insufficient dynamic heap (this I think is the 'Free RAM' being reported by Tomtom), by my understanding it probably won't help if you move apps to the SD card - all this does is free up some storage space (normal RAM, being reported on the Palm info screen) on the PDA, but this doesn't change the amount of dynamic heap available.

I've heard of an app that I think does expand the available dynamic heap (Unlimited Dynamic Memory Hack or UDMH). However, I don't think it is recommended for use with NVFS devices such as the T5. Sorry.

Get yourself a second hand T3 and you get an enormous heap (I have 8.2 MB Free RAM with Tomtom running). I wonder why they reduced the heap size in later devices?

ndy4eva · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 5:12 pm Post subject:

I really don't understand why they reduced the dynamic heap. However all my applications works fine EXCEPT TomTom. T5 has 4MB dynamic heap (reported by Resco Locker, UDMH, dbcachetool). I did try UDMH but it crash the tomtom couple of times (memorymgr error).

argh!!!! I guess I need to wait for tomtom.

TazUk · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 6:13 pm Post subject:

Just checked what Resco Explorer reports...

Available free space(K):
Dynamic: 3889/5440
Storage: 12438/23024

MaxDynChunk 1420K
MaxStorChunk 12438K

TazUk · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 6:20 pm Post subject:

Just read a review of the T5 and it quotes the dynamic heap memory as being 16Mb, that's quite a bit more than my Treo so I don't think your problems are memory related.

ndy4eva · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 6:55 pm Post subject:

This is what I get from Resco Locker after softreset (on my T5).

Available free space(K):
Dynamic: 3188/4096
Storage: 38970/65386

MaxDynChunk 3077K
MaxStorChunk 16383K

DbCache 5462K

eillo7 · Regular Visitor Joined: Aug 19, 2005 Posts: 199

About 4MB of dynamic heap sounds about right for a T5.

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for an answer from Tomtom you know... Evil or Very Mad

My guess is it relates to your particular device settings/contents...all T5s have the same dynamic heap size, and if this were insufficient for Tomtom to run then they would not claim it to be compatible with the device.

Have you ever tried a hard reset (with a good backup!) and installing just Tomtom on an otherwise 'virgin' T5? Does it work then? If so, reinstall your apps one by one until you find the one that causes the lockups to start...

ndy4eva · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:44 pm Post subject:

I'm not getting any useful answers from TomTom at all. Same response again. argh!!! I can't believe it. Evil or Very Mad

-------------------------------------------------------
Response 12/28/2005 07:36 PM
Dear Mr lee,

Thank you for your email.

You will have to ensure that, on your PDA, you have at least 5mb of RAM free.

With best regards,

The TomTom Customer Support Team
-------------------------------------------------------

ndy4eva · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:57 pm Post subject:

Hi, eillo7..
I once did hard-reset and loaded tomtom. It's really hard to do any trouble-shooting because I have to use during driving to see if it freezes. During just regular use in desktop/indoor, TomTom does not freeze at all. it works fine.

eillo7 · Regular Visitor Joined: Aug 19, 2005 Posts: 199

Yes, Tomtom's infamous 'customer care' (NOT!) strikes again.

Strange that they claim compatibility with a T5 which has only 4MB of dynamic heap, then claim that you require at least 5MB free - doesn't that mean it isn't compatible with the T5 at all, and you can therefore claim a refund as 'not fit for purpose advertised'?

Assuming you'd prefer to keep it, I would suggest regular soft resets - I don't fully understand the dynamic heap (in fact I hardly understand it at all), but from what I've read it can get a bit fragmented and Tomtom might then struggle to find a big enough continuous chunk of memory to do whatever it is trying to do. A soft reset clears the heap so you can start afresh.

ndy4eva · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 11:08 pm Post subject:

I really like the software, if it doesn't freeze on me all the time. I tried the hard-reset and just loaded TomTom alone and it still gave me .3/.5 MB free when I launched TomTom. Basically identical amount of free ram. I just don't get it.

For the soft-reset part, I usually have to do it otherwise it complains about "not enough DBCache Memory". I guess I have to thank Palm for this one (NVFS and DBCache memory architecture).

When I use smaller map which gives more free memory (~1MB), TomTom works fine. It's when I load bigger map (Canada, or western Canada), I end up with less than .5mb free. It starts to freeze on me during re-route.

I have used so many different palm application for long time and this is one really botters me. I used palmpilot personal, handspring visor, tungsten t, t5 and e2.

btw, my palm t5 works great with all the application I have. TomTom is the only application has "ISSUES". Twisted Evil

eillo7 · Regular Visitor Joined: Aug 19, 2005 Posts: 199

Have you considered moving somewhere smaller - Hawaii perhaps? Laughing

I say this because I'm all out of useful things to say - sorry. Wink

ndy4eva · Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2005 8:12 pm Post subject:

oh well... thanks for all your input on this. I sent an email to TomTom's main technical support guy. I hope I can get some resolution on this.
_________________
Palm Tungsten|T5 & Palm Tungsten|E2
+ GlobalSat BT-338, SANDisk 1GB UltraII SD

eillo7 · Regular Visitor Joined: Aug 19, 2005 Posts: 199

I found something that might interest you here:

http://palmpowerups.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=2

This suggests that UDMH can work just fine on a T5 - if you were having problems it might be because of fragmented memory. A hard reset will solve this and UDMH should work fine.

The forums look particularly lively with the UDMH debate - you might find some useful info there...?

I went to Hawaii once - it really is quite nice y'know. Wink

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