Question on adding memory on M17

Hi everyone! I was considering buying some additional memory for my M17 this holiday season to supplement the 2g it already has. Also, I'd like to this without totally breaking my wallet (VERY important).

As far as purchasing and installing additional memory however, I'm a complete newb.

Can anyone point me in the right direction of what to buy and/or how to install it? I know Newegg has a great selection, but I can hardly make out one from another.

Also, since there are two hard drive bays on the M17, if I wanted to add an additional HD, would it be as simple as buying a drive, and inserting it into the slot? Wouldn't you simply mount the HD and use it as normal from that point on?

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Good God, I'm asking a ton of questions in this thread! Last one I swear !

Does anyone know if there is any chance at all of finding two of the 4850 cards that AW started offering for the M17 as an upgrade from my 3870's?

I know they are probably near impossible to find, but I was just curious if anyone has heard of getting them somewhere.

Thanks very much! Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

1 - Match the ram speed, and use sticks of the same size (you may prolly have 2x1gig sticks, so you would need to buy 2x2gig sticks to dbl up). Make sure you have an OS that will make use of the additional ram.

2 - Sure. Just slap it in and format it, it's good to go. Unless you're setting up raid, which I wouldn't advise you attempt.

3 - Who knows, we've been speculating about that for a year. From what I can tell, the cards work, but they're not stocked ie chances are slim of ever getting them.

 

Also I think for the additional HDD your going to need an interposer and a caddy. Search for it and you might find a thread on it. I don't know where the threads are off hand. Also know that your computer only has TWO slots for RAM. Probably 2, 1gb sticks. So in order to up the RAM your going to need to buy 2, 2GB sticks. Just open the RAM covers, spread the metal tabs and pull out the old stick, Put in the new one at an angle and the push it down and it should pop into place if i remember correctly. As for the GPU cards, no idea, never had an M17, M17X however is in production

 

Actually for the M17, the caddy and interposer are included, the only thing you'll need are screws to screw the hard drive into the caddy. What I did was I just borrowed two screws from the primary drive caddy.

Don't hold your breath for the 4850s.

 

you can visit nodeffect.wordpress.com and check out the pictures I took on my M17... It's very easy to change the ram and inserting a second HDD....

 

Are they included on the M17X as well?

 

The m17x needs a kit ordered for it

the m17 will let you slid it right in(HD)
the m17 will fit and ddr3 ram, 204 pin sodimm I believe.

The 4850's are not avalible for a upgrade right now

 

get this is the best you can get now tha price was lower before i think is a lot of people recomends it that's why is high http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104158&Tpk=kingston hipperx

 

Do keep in mind unless you overclock you don't need the best even the cheapest ram will work just fine

 

In terms of RAM, you need to look for 1066MHz DDR3 SO-DIMM (204 pin). Ideally you need 2 sticks, 2GB in each stick, for 4GB total RAM. The Kingston HyperX memory works brilliantly especially with its low latencies but in the real world it makes little difference if any, just go for any memory that'll fit the above if you're on a budget.

 

How do you know what latency to get? Meaning, my m17 now will allow me to OC the cpu (via setfsb) to 300-400mhz. I am sure getting lower quality ram than what comes with the laptop will impace this amount. Which ram works best for OC but is still cost effective?

Thanks!

 

give me a price range

 

You can purchase 2X2gb at fry's for under $100 patriot or crucial. Anything with decent latency comparible? Thanks!

 

my M17 came with additional screws for another HDD.
it's easier then changing ram.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'm using all the info you guys gave me and starting my search right now, in fact I've already ordered the new HD. Working on finding a decent pair of memory sticks before the holiday sales disappear .

Once again, thanks very much!