Buffer memory lesser than in previous versions

[psgarcha92]

Hey Guys
i just installed Rockbox 3.8.1, and went to System>RockBox info, and to my surprise, the Buffer was lesser than the Buffer Memory i used to have (5.35 or 5.75 MB) as now i am seeing only 4.90 available.
is there anything wrong? can i change the buffer value to something bigger?

[Llorean]

Are you having performance problems? Unless its negatively affecting something, you shouldn't be concerned by changes in that value.

[saratoga]

You probably turned on dircache, database, or something similar. 

[psgarcha92]

@llorean,
smaller buffer memory, as much as i know, would mean more filling and emptying cycles (whether 5.75 to 4.85 is significant, i dont know), but that would affect the battery life for sure.
@saratoga,
from the first time i've had my sansa fuze and thus rockbox, things like dircache and database have always been on, and even then the buffer was more than 5 mb always.never did it fall below 5 mb.

I'd be making another thread on other issues i am having, so please do check that one too.

[Llorean]

The Fuze uses flash memory, which means the buffer serves much less of a purpose than on hard disk targets where a disk must be spun up to fill it.

So, not, it wouldn't necessarily have a measurable affect on battery life for your player, which is why I asked if you were having "performance problems" rather than simply "do you think it will affect you?"

So, please, check to see if it's causing a real problem. As I said, unless it is affecting something, you shouldn't worry about it.

[psgarcha92]

Dear llorean,

i)dircache has always been on, i never touched it, and the buffer (while the dircache still being on) always showed more than 5MB.
I know flash players dont need dircache, but less buffer (that too around 1 MB less) would affect the way i explained.

ii)i am trying to find whats wrong with my player because there is a lag in loading of songs while playing them.

AND, i, and my friend here, found a noticable lag in browsing folders on my fuze when i turned off the directory cache.
Thanks

[Llorean]

I didn't say anything about dircache, so I have no idea why you addressed that response to me.

You initially said somewhere between 5.35-5.75 decreased to 4.90. A half megabyte less buffer shouldn't significantly affect battery life on a flash based player, and could be caused not just by whether or not dircach or the database is on, but if they've expanded due to an increased number of files on the player. Or by other changes in settings (max files in folder, or other things). Or just by increases in the functionality of Rockbox (as the code gets bigger, it uses more RAM).

So again, rather than answering questions not asked, please try to answer the questions that we do ask so that we can actually try to help you.

Are features that use the buffer failing?

[psgarcha92]

I am typing and reading on my cell, i kind of read the "buffer" in your post.

In any case, i'd just say i am running with the default values and expected the buffer value to be the same as before.
Also, even if the buffer is important just for the hdd based players, we cant neglect the fact that it will still be filled and emptied more number of times?
Please dont be rude man.there's nothing in the manual that informs about the buffer and other stuff.

[Llorean]

Are features that use the buffer failing?

Don't worry about the number. As has been said a few times, it can be expected to change based on a variety of circumstances.

Are you experiencing real problems?