Flash Memory and the Impending Doom
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 2:45 am
I didn't know where to put this topic, but I know that potential solutions do pertain to system modding. So here it goes:
I just found out some info about flash memory that I consider deeply troubling (and it's not the write/erase limit, I get that).
No, it's something about electrons leaking out of floating gates between the cells.
It sounds like crazy talk, and someone please set me straight if I am off base. But as I understand it, given enough time, data on flash memory will start to degrade and become unreadable, which can be as little as 5-10 years. I had it explained to me that each cell in flash memory stores a charge like a small battery. Like batteries, they lose this charge over time unless that particular file is saved again (which only renews the charge for another 5-10 years).
Now, I am prepared for some of that (I can always re-copy things on USB sticks and SD cards)...
But what about game systems that have their bios and/or Operating system stored on flash memory? Are they destined to die from this (I know there are other things that will likely wear out over time, but not my point)?
Are we going to see Wii's and PS3's and Xbox's just ceasing to even boot up because of this in the near future? What systems are in danger of this (and which ones need not worry)? What is the best thing to prevent it?
I know that my oXbox systems are older than 10 years at this point and are still kicking. I've only updated the bios on one of them. Wii's are at or approaching that timeframe. I have no idea if PS2's have info stored on flash, but the one's I have are working. Even PC motherboards have their bios on writable flash chips, and I have one PC that's almost 20 years old now and still boots (I suppose that can be reflashed simple enough if needed though?).
Flash memory has always been like alien technology to me; but as much as I love and use the tech, I have never completely trusted it. But maybe I do not understand what everything is loading from.
I just found out some info about flash memory that I consider deeply troubling (and it's not the write/erase limit, I get that).
No, it's something about electrons leaking out of floating gates between the cells.
It sounds like crazy talk, and someone please set me straight if I am off base. But as I understand it, given enough time, data on flash memory will start to degrade and become unreadable, which can be as little as 5-10 years. I had it explained to me that each cell in flash memory stores a charge like a small battery. Like batteries, they lose this charge over time unless that particular file is saved again (which only renews the charge for another 5-10 years).
Now, I am prepared for some of that (I can always re-copy things on USB sticks and SD cards)...
But what about game systems that have their bios and/or Operating system stored on flash memory? Are they destined to die from this (I know there are other things that will likely wear out over time, but not my point)?
Are we going to see Wii's and PS3's and Xbox's just ceasing to even boot up because of this in the near future? What systems are in danger of this (and which ones need not worry)? What is the best thing to prevent it?
I know that my oXbox systems are older than 10 years at this point and are still kicking. I've only updated the bios on one of them. Wii's are at or approaching that timeframe. I have no idea if PS2's have info stored on flash, but the one's I have are working. Even PC motherboards have their bios on writable flash chips, and I have one PC that's almost 20 years old now and still boots (I suppose that can be reflashed simple enough if needed though?).
Flash memory has always been like alien technology to me; but as much as I love and use the tech, I have never completely trusted it. But maybe I do not understand what everything is loading from.