Installing new HD today and need tips (G73 Best Buy)

Hi,

Today I should be getting my hard drive caddy from HIDevolution, anyone ordered it from them? Wouldn't you know, the other day I checked back at the asus store after months since I'd last looked into this whole thing, and although they now had the caddy listed, it was showing as out of stock. I figured after how long it took them to start offering it at all, it probably wasn't my best move to sit around waiting for them to get more, if they ever did.

Nonetheless, I put my e-mail address in the "notify me when you get more" thing and went about continuing my search, found HIDevolution and ended up ordering one. Paying about $40 all told, so somewhat more (though not dramatically) than from Asus directly. Then of course, after it's ordered... next day I get the notification e-mail from Asus that they have more :|

Ah well... at least I'm finally taking care of this.

My questions to any helpful, nice people are:

1) Has anyone dealt with HIDevolution on this, and do you know if the caddy they're selling is straight from Asus, just resold? or does it have any disadvantage in any way? Does it come with screws?

2) Is there a good thread somewhere showing step by step how I install my second HD? I haven't found one yet.

3) I'm planning to upgrade my RAM too, I was about to order some but I learned the whole thing is more tricky than I realized. I have the G73 Best Buy model and it came with 6 gigs, I assumed I'd need to lose the existing RAM to get up to 8 gigs, but I also had assumed I was working with 2 DIMs, but after looking into it a bit more I'm hearing that I am probably working with 4, and that 2 of them are almost impossible to access? I would really appreciate advice on which to buy, what to do, what's going to be practical for me to replace in there... etc, I had been planning on ordering from Crucial, I think.

 

There doesn't really need to be a thread about it because it's very straightforward. Just put the HDD in the caddy, open the access panel on the bottom of the laptop and stick it in, pretty much it. The access panel also has your memory there where you can easily stick a 4th stick of ram no problem. Only one of the sticks is unaccesible unless opened, the access panel has access to 3 of them.

 

Thanks much, so just to clarify... are you saying I can get my RAM up without getting rid of any current sticks? There's just a slot in there to add one? Do you know exactly what type it has to be to play nice with the existing? and how large it can be?

 

Of course, there's a slot open right above the other two, just stick it in and that's it. The memory you need depends if you have the 1066MHz set or the 1333Mhz set. You can stick up to 4GB per slot IIRC, I know the limit is 16GB. I'd just get a 2GB one, more than enough for most people.

 

For all I know, they never run at 1333MHz anyways. Just make sure its DDR3 and only get the Dual-channel ones, since buying triple channel would be a waste as it'll treat it as dual-channel (not sure if laptops have triple channel RAM). Also, must be DDR3.

Seriously though, what do you need 8GB of RAM for? If its not professional graphics design work, 6GB is more than enough.

 

2GB, 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-8500 upgrades for ASUS G73Jh (Intel i7-720QM/i7-820QM) Laptop/Notebook, CT1316373 from Crucial.com

So that should be what I need then? as for why I want 8gb, well I believe there was another model available at the time with it and it sort of nags at my brain that I got the lesser one, plus I figure for 20 some bucks... it can't hurt, it leaves me more prepared for future stuff... *shrug* plus if there's an open slot, I want to fill it.

 

Download CPUZ, and it will tell you the ram that's already in there. Take a look at the speeds and see if it is 1066 or 1333 ram. Also note the CAS latency (under SPD tab) and look to purchase something that is either better CAS and the same speed, or same CAS and the same speeds. This ensures that you will not end up downclocking your current RAM

 

thank you bluefalcon, I downloaded that program and for memory it's saying I have DDR3, 61444 MBytes, Dual channels, NB Frequency lists 2135.0 MHz, 711 (fluctuating) DRAM Frequency, FSB RAM is 2:10 - unfortunately I don't see 1066 or 1333 anywhere.

on SPD tab, CAS# Latency field has 4 columns, JEDEC #2 through #5, they go up from 6.0 to 9.0 increasing by 1 each time.

So I remain a bit confused about these numbers.

 

DDR = double data rate, so you times the frequency by two and you get the actual frequency it is running at. 711x2 = 1422MHz.

 

Look at the SDP tab, the furthest SDP profile on the right is the 'max' the ram is specced for. Also turn off the twin turbo, it gimps the procs natural turbo boost.

 

2GB, 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-10600 upgrades for ASUS G73Jh (Intel i7-720QM/i7-820QM) Laptop/Notebook, CT1316369 from Crucial.com

should be my proper RAM then? to get up to 8gb? using the existing empty slot in there? and how do I turn off twin turbo, in bios?

Also thanks a ton for all this help guys

 

If you still have power4gear installed just hit the speedometer looking button in the upper left, if you do not have it installed there is a setting in the bios that can be set to normal or turbo, make sure that is set to normal.

You can also set it on or off in the power4gear application I'd you do have it installed

 

HWINFO32's Overview tab will list the brand and rating of each of the memory modules. (lower right hand side)

 

Thanks all for the help, I really appreciate it. New HD is in and seems to be working fine. RAM stick is ordered.