Best firmware for the 3G

[baskie]

I'm about to setup an old 3G for work use, but what firmware version?

It's presently at 3.1.2, so I have the choice what I can upgrade to. I have previously tried 4.0 & 4.1 and found both pretty laggy, but I hear 4.2.1 fixed this. But then I also hear some say 3.1.3 is best. And by best I mean fastest and smoothest running.

iOS4 offers the 3g some nice features, but most are just window dressing ,except the "all in one" mail inbox, which for me is a big bonus, but I'm will to suffer the old style 3.0 inboxes of 3.1.3 if that version generally runs better.

So, what's the definitive answer on this on now?

;-)

[DevouredDreams]

3.1.3 all my 3g iphone are on 3.1.3. i have 2 4.0+ just isnt for the 3g IMO

[baskie]

Thanks for that, have you tried 4.2.1?

[DevouredDreams]

Thanks for that, have you tried 4.2.1?

yea, its smooth just not as smooth as 3.1.3 but its does ok for everyday use. my lil sis has 4.2.1 and she dont complain.

[baskie]

OK, thanks.

Out of interest, do you run Winterboard on any of the 3G's at 3.1.3?

If so, much of a hit on performance?

[DevouredDreams]

no problem.

[i.Annie]

If you choose to go to 4.2.1 make sure wallpaper and multitasking are disabled for optimum performance. Won't ever be as smooth as 3.1.x but it will do for apps that require iOS 4.

Winterboard doesn't do too bad on iPhone 3G on 3.1.x. That's what I used to have. Never upgraded past 3.1.3 with it so it was fine with WB. It does take up a bit of free RAM though.

[Filosofo]

3.1.3 is nice the only problem that i had was that when i was trying to install some apps, they wont install becasue they must have 4.x that was the only problem. But is more faster that 4.2.1. Now i have 4.2.1 and i hate it in the beginning because it was slow like idk but i did something of a video that i found in youtube and its more faster now.

[Mes]

^4.2.1 with NoSpot (via Cydia) is a bit better.

I gotta have wallpaper . For me, it's just crazy without that.
The biggest issue with a 3G is memory. Winterboard is OK but it uses memory (for its-self and for the themes) and any app or tweak that adds a MobileSubstrate dylib. The more you have the less responsive it will be.

Enable features and add tweaks only required and 4.2.1 is usable. Not fast, but usable.

[baskie]

Have settled on 4.2.1, initially with multitasking & wallpaper activated via the Jailbreak, but then disabled via Ztoggle (couldn't be bothered to re-jailbreak it without multitasking & wallpaper).

It's running fine. Not as smooth as 3.1.3 but the extra features are worth the trade off for me personally.

What's interesting is the amount of available ram in various states. After a respring neither multitasking or wallpaper use more ram but still slow the phone down a lot. The reason for multitasking slowing it down are obvious but wallpaper less so. I think it has more to do with the drop shadow effects applied to the font when wallpaper is used than the actual image itself.

Either way, as said above, 4.2.1 with no multitasking or wallpaper seems to be a good compromise between performance and features.

Thanks for the help.

Quick update.

I had already turned off all options in spotlight, but just installed nospot to completely disable it. Based on the ram usage figures a got yesterday, I seem to be getting about a 10% increase in available ram now. Maybe down to nospot, maybe down to the direction of the wind today. Who knows, but it certainly don't seem to have slowed things down any so worth a try for any 3G users.