How Much Garmin Memory Should Be Available?

Do yourself a favor and spend a few bucks on an SD card. You can move either the map or the large JVC file to the SD card and have scads of room available on your unit. (For what I don't know.)

The 350 doesn't support Junction view, so no need to consider space for the .JCV file. But the SD card would resolve the space constraints for the map.

While this is a workaround, why should the consumer have to put in an SD memory card or erase files to be able to install a new map? It seems to me that the GPS should have enough memory capacity built in to be able to easily install new stuff for the foreseeable lifetime of the unit.

Since this is an issue for you, I assume that you have purchased lifetime maps as I have. How much more would you have been willing to pay originally to get the capability to keep updating maps without a SD card?

What would we do if the unit did not have the SD card capability?

While I agree that it would be nice if it were the case that my unit would be able to use my lifetime map purchase forever, I also want the map detail to increase over time, and I want more junction views, and I want more built-in POIs and ...

At the time of my purchase, I was not willing to spend more to get those maps.

Can I assume that you are in the digital camera forums asking why they don't put enough built in memory to take a vacation's worth of pictures? You have to put in a memory card in those. Besides, it is only another $10-$20 for the card.

As jgermann said, how much more would you want to pay? I'd be willing to say it is a lot cheaper for one to go out and purchase a memory card than to have it built in.

I bought a SanDisk 16 gig, class 10 card at Xmas for $21. It's fast, and has tons of storage for my BB Torch. I should have bought a couple more!

Cards are so much cheaper these days, and work well. I can update a card with POI's, the large JCV file, and swap it between my 3790, and 775 instantly. The cards do have advantages.

On the other hand, cheaper phones have fast processors, and at least 8 gigs of storage. Why doesn't a GPS that is twice the price?

I can see both sides of the story, but it does raise interesting questions for us consumers of gadgets.

Just my 2 cents.

I agree it's not ideal to have to add an extra memory card to get the lifetime updated maps you purchased.

However, when I look at the alternative - a stripped down map with fewer POI's for the 2 GB Garmin's just so they will fit (as they've done with the JCV file) - I don't really like that alternative.

The simple fact is as the maps keep getting bigger - there are really only 2 choices - take out detail or force the custom to buy an SD card. I for one am praying they don't start stripping out detail beacause I don't want to buy a $400 Garmin just to get a fully detailed map.

BTW - I just bought an 8GB class 10 micro sd card for $4.

As we all know Garmin does not provide memory sizes on their site when researching on selecting a unit to buy. We must rely on sites such as this for users to supply the information. The same model sold in the North America may have LESS memory than that of one purchased in Europe because of the larger European maps.

I think Garmin should standardize and use 8GB of memory in all their units since memory is relatively inexpensive. I'm sure a 8GB chip would be no larger than a 2GB chip so chip size should have no affect for the slimmer units. I for one would pay extra for having more internal memory. Garmin would also benefit in reducing their CS calls as well as parts reduction in the manufacturing process.. Most people are not computer savvy and will call when their lifetime maps don't get installed properly.

Owning two 8GB Class 4 SD cards, they are definitely an advantage since they can be used in different units. The higher class rating has no advantage when placed inside the Nuvi since it only reads from the card. It is an advantage when writing to the card from your PC since the higher the class the faster the files are transferred.

In summary, I believe if Garmin provided larger internal memory they would keep customers happy and avoid support calls which in turn would reduce costs.

I agree that it is to the benefit to put in enough internal memory to support the anticipated use of the GPS. Garmin sells the GPS with lifetime map update. I am sure that they know how much memory will be required for a map update four times a year for 'x' years. Memory is cheap. I doubt that it would cost them much more than a dollar to put substantially more memory built-in. It would save them far more than dealing with the support calls and unhappy customers who can not do their map update they paid for.

... but they are the best out there. I have run into a lot of problems with Garmin (eTrex Legend C & 765T) and I went off and tried a TomTom 1530TM after reading some reviews. That was a joke! Supposedly I had bought a mid-line TomTom but you could not put in waypoints in the middle of your route. All it allowed was start and finish. What a disappointment! So I am back to Garmin with all their wrong locations, non-updated maps after years and a whole list of other faults/discrepancies. Sad to realize although they suck, Garmin is the best GPS out there - IMHO.

Whatever the case may be, the only solution is to use an SD card. At least Garmin allows that.

I would also like to know the minimum amount of memory needed by the different models. After all, a GPS is a computer and it will need 'some' memory for internal house keeping and calculations.

Minimum 10% is a good rule of thumb.

I really hate to appear stupid here but 10% of what? The maximum memory the CPU can address or 10% of what it comes with?

@Jim1348,
Yes you need a certain amount of memory, we just don't know how much that is because it can be variable. Apparenbtly you can go right to the point where the unit can not calculate a route any more.

So it uses memory when calculating routes, to store Archive GPX Trip Logs, Error logs, xml file data, Custom POIs, Favorites, etc. I personally would start being uncomfortable below 100 mb of space for it to operate, especially while traveling. 50 mb if you already have your Favorites and Custom POIs installed. Note that the original sales brochure I read for this unit states it initiately had 700 mb of memory for your use.

I searched Garmin's site for "Nuvi 350" and then selected "FAQs" and from there isolated the FAQs search to "memory" and received a few articles in the group that will tell you a little of what to expect when you have reached that point.

Note that you have to copy between the quotes and past the link in your browser to go to the link below. It keeps dropping the 350 on the end because of the space. Then you have to type "memory" in the search box to filter the FAQs fromm 247 down to 17. It won't let me coy and paste the filtered search.
"http://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/search.htm?search_key=nuvi 350"

10% of the total drive space.

Okay but....
If I add a 10 gig SD card to my 750 does that mean that it needs 1 gig of memory free? If so, where does that memory have to be located, in the GPS itself or can it be on the SD card? Remember that the GPS does not use the SD card for temporary working memory. I think you maybe confusing the GPS with Windows' need for about 10% of working memory set aside on the hard disk for a page file.

The nuvi also uses a page file, as evident in the diagnostics area. Defrags, calculations, etc. are used by it, and all OS's use it for a memory buffer.

You are correct in saying AFAIK, the SD card cannot be used as temp memory allocation. There is no provision for that option.

Ditto

I am hoping someone on this thread can help me. I am more than happy to buy an SD card to buy larger maps from Garmin, but the last time I bought a unit (265WT) I registered the unit at Garmin web site and tried to install the free map upgrade. It kept telling me I don't have enough memory on the unit and did not seem to recognize the space on the sd card. In the end I had to download the map to my PC and use Garmin map manager to copy maps on to SD card. The problem with the map manager is that you can't seem to be able to tell it to copy the whole map of Europe and I had to keep klicking on parts of the map I wanted and transfer to SD card. There's got to be ab easier way of doing this. Can anyone advise?

You have to install it to your computer first then copy the map onto the SD card.

Hi Troy

Thsnks for your reply. Do you know on a MAC where the map is downloaded to? If I know the location then I'll try copying the file to SD card.

I deleted a bunch of foreign languages and barely fit maps on the internal memory. I have almost no free memory.

I do find my 750 a bit sluggish which I attributed to the newer firmware, but perhaps it is a lack of free space?

The SD card I have is not super reliable. I should have purchased the sandisk brand.

...for all of my POI's. Ssves space on my 350 and I don't have to worry about moving stuff around. (However, I may have to if the maps keep getting larger; which they will.)

Every unit I've owned I had to clean out every possible file to make enough room for some updates.
It can get frustrating.

First, an SD card is the way to go. I think most Garmin units can handle a 2GB card, but maybe more. Also, leaving space on your unit's internal memory does nothing. This is only done on PCs to facilitate using HD space as virtual RAM, which I don't think a Garmin does.

What? Really?

an 8 GIG SD Card on Amazon costs about $10, best purchase I've made for my Garmin.

Thanks everyone for the info - apprecaite the help and you have to love Amazon.
Cheers