Thread: Which is the limitation to the SD/microSD card size for Garmin devices ?

Each Garmin device see all SDНС card, but not all Garmin device can read info from it. And you say what SDXC surprise you?
I think SDXC require new hardware...

Originally Posted by Giomen

Each Garmin device see all SDНС card, but not all Garmin device can read info from it. And you say what SDXC surprise you?

Well, maybe i shouldn't be surprised that the nuvi can 'see' the sdxc card to 'read' the info on the Data Card Test Page in light of your comment above. But if it can't 'read' exfat how does it see that info? Is that card info hardcoded in some other way?

I think SDXC require new hardware...

SDXC can be formatted in fat32 by 3rd party software. Windows' inbuilt tool of course won't allow it with cards/drives above 32GB but that is an artificial limit imposed by M$ and not a practical one. I really don't want to reformat a brand new $70+ card from exfat to fat32 in case i damage it in some way, but my curiosity is this: if it was fat32 would the nuvi then read the data on it or would it choke because of the size of the card.

So i think maybe your comment should be 'I think exFAT require new hardware...'
Hint: If you stir me up enough i might just work up the goanies to reformat it!

Originally Posted by Neil

Originally Posted by Giomen

Each Garmin device see all SDНС card, but not all Garmin device can read info from it. And you say what SDXC surprise you?

Well, maybe i shouldn't be surprised that the nuvi can 'see' the sdxc card to 'read' the info on the Data Card Test Page in light of your comment above. But if it can't 'read' exfat how does it see that info? Is that card info hardcoded in some other way?

I think SDXC require new hardware...

SDXC can be formatted in fat32 by 3rd party software. Windows' inbuilt tool of course won't allow it with cards/drives above 32GB but that is an artificial limit imposed by M$ and not a practical one. I really don't want to reformat a brand new $70+ card from exfat to fat32 in case i damage it in some way, but my curiosity is this: if it was fat32 would the nuvi then read the data on it or would it choke because of the size of the card.

So i think maybe your comment should be 'I think exFAT require new hardware...'
Hint: If you stir me up enough i might just work up the goanies to reformat it!

It's now 3 months since that exchange between Giomen and me, and in spite of him not bothering to continue to stir me up, i have finally worked up the goanies to format my 64GB microsd in FAT32. Loaded about 7GB of maps onto it and it runs fine in my 1300. So what really is the card limitation size in garmin devices?

Originally Posted by PeterPerth

Any ideas for GPSMap62s and GPSMap60Csx? Thanks.

No ideas!
GPSMap62s support any card what you need.
GPSMap60Csx also but there is no way put on it more than 4Gb of map (with factory SW!).

4GB High Capacity and 2GB Standard Capacity respectively. See Post 26: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ].

@PeterPerth
LOL... i should have added 'provided you trust Garmin Germany, that is! They have proved to be greatly conservative, if you read the posts after #26 you will see what i mean'. In other words, just stick any big card in, see what happens and report back. But i'm sure Giomen is right anyway.

Moral of the story here is: Trust a flamboyant Russian over a conservative German any day!

Originally Posted by Neil

@PeterPerth
LOL... i should have added 'provided you trust Garmin Germany, that is! They have proved to be greatly conservative, if you read the posts after #26 you will see what i mean'. In other words, just stick any big card in, see what happens and report back. But i'm sure Giomen is right anyway.
Moral of the story here is: Trust a flamboyant Russian over a conservative German any day!

LOL...I like your "philosophical approach" to Garmin-German issue...it even rhymes another think is, which I didn't understand really is the workings-wise/limitation, when you use GPSMap62s with BaseCamp, you get 2 (two) different windows, (in my case Removable Disk (K) and the Garmin GPSMAP 62s (J) )
Here I have realized that the limitation for those different Folders/Disks are different...is that correct? For example I made a test for a 8 GB SD Card, see below:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Definition at BaseCamp:
All Data = Garmin GPSMAP 62s (J)
Memory Card: Removable Disk (K)
Providing that the "Properties" tool of Win7 shows correct (RightClick at the mentioned folders/disks), it shows 9.19 GB (for a 8 GB Card), (ok I can live with that, Fat32 etc issue), however, it shows also, that the Memory Card, Disk (K) takes the most of the space of 8 GB, whereas, the AllData (J), capacity (free space) is reduced to 1.8 GB.
What can we conclude now? I think, that for Tracks and WayPoints, the free space is ca. 2 GB, and the rest (6 GB) goes to Memory card, for maps,etc.)
I removed the bloody BirdsEye images to Memory Card, was fine and was still recognized at the GPS, however, the recording of the tracks/wp is always at (J), means it is limited to ca.2 GB, correct? (these extrapolation is for 8GB only for the time being, I will try later the same game also for 16 GB, as I am planning a big trip with no Laptop with me.I do anticipate, however, that the total capacity for (J) will be always the same: 2 GB, no matter how big the SD Card is, (but the capacity limit for the (K) Disk might be different)
P.S.: The other thing is, at bigger size of the SD card, say 16 GB, although the properties shows the high space, BUT WHETHER or NOT the GPS recognizes the whole content, (for all Maps for instance), OR is it also limited to a certain absolute size?!?[/COLOR]
P.P.S.: As a test, I had deleted the "GPX" folder totally from J and placed it to K, was fine, it was recognized by GPS, HOWEVER, when you start a new track, GPS creates automatically a new "GPX" folder at J and puts all new data (Tracks and WP), to J, not to K anymore, so your recording of tracks and WP is limited by Garmin anyway, just for your interest (FYI)..:Animated39: