QSPI Flash memory size

[CFourie]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to add some storage space to a project and I'm looking at the GD25Q16. I know this chip works since it is used on the Adafruit NRF52840 Feather.

I would like a little (a lot) more space for testing purposes and the GD25LQ256 caught my eye - will this work? Spec-wise it seems similar, except for having 16x the storage space. Is there a limit to how much memory the NRF52840 can access?

The other option is soldering a MicroSD directly to the board - since for some reason you don't get SMD Micro SD cards.

Kind regards,

Chris Fourie

[CFourie]

Thank you for pointing that out. I keep confusing myself! The GD25LQ256 thus has only 32MB, which frankly is not a lot.

Is there anything like a Micro SD card that you can actually solder directly to a PCB? Embedded SD is mentioned in a few places, but the chips I have found thus far are physically huge compared to a Micro SD which gives you incredible storage density.

[wpaul]

I'm not personally aware of anything like that, no. I'm working on a hobby project with a friend, and I prefer to have a removable SD card since it makes provisioning a little easier, and it allows for simple firmware updates (unplug the SD card, connect to PC, copy new firmware image over, plug back into board, run firmware update app). But our design is big enough that the size of the Micro SD card slot doesn't matter.

I do know that serial NAND flash parts are available in higher capacity than NOR flash, but even then you are lucky to find any above 1GB.

-Bill

[CFourie]

I've found tiny little SD slots, but even that takes up a lot of space in a device that is 20mm in diameter. So I am looking for something a little more compact.