Memory Hardware Considerations (Windows CE 5.0)

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For information about how software utilizes RAM, ROM, and mass storage, see RAM, ROM, and Mass Storage Comparison. For information about developing device drivers for a specific type of device, see Windows CE Drivers.

RAM

For execution of software on a networked media device (NMD), your hardware must have 32-bit wide SDRAM with a minimum frequency of 100 MHz. To provide a better user experience with smoother audio and video playback, use more SDRAM to buffer more audio and video data. Additionally, having more SDRAM allows more applications to execute in parallel on the target device.

The following table shows the required and recommended amounts of SDRAM.

ROM or flash

ROM or flash stores the operating system (OS) and the application software. It can be 16 or 32-bits wide. You can use NAND-based or NOR-based flash. You can use other media, such as a hard disk drive, to store the run-time image. Keep in mind that due to moving parts, hard disk drives are less reliable than solid-state media.

You must reserve 2 MB of ROM or flash for the boot loader. In the boot loader, you must implement a master reset method for all ROM or flash memory, which includes the file system and the registry.

To support execute-in-place (XIP), you must use the appropriate type of ROM or flash. If you do not take advantage of XIP, then before executing software, the boot loader and the OS must copy software from ROM or flash to RAM.

Using more ROM or flash permits more features and applications to reside on the device; this can create a richer user experience. The following table shows the ROM or flash requirement levels.

See Also

Hardware Architecture Diagram for Networked Media Devices | Core OS Services | Developing a Board Support Package | Developing a Device Driver | Developing an OEM Adaptation Layer | CETK Tests

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