For my V6Va: any recommendations on 1GB RAM sticks and 7200RPM 100GB HD?

I probably will upgrade both RAM and HD soon.

 

Best to just do comparison shopping and get the cheapest. I use pricewatch.com and pricegrabber.com for that. There are some considerations for RAM and HDs to think about - you want low latency for ram, and lower seek times for hard drives.

 

Thanks, gautam3.

How can I determine latency of RAM?

For HD, am I confined to PATA?

 

I just read on Crucial's website's configurator that the V6Va can take the 667MHz PC-5300 as well as the 533MHz PC-4200. Is this correct? None of the other configurators have told me this; they have mentioned only the PC-4200.

If the V6Va can take PC-5300, can it automatically also take PC-5400?

 

It's a value from 1-5, I believe, and it's posted with the ram's specs when you are buying it. Lower values are better, 3 is average.

ECC is also an expensive option, but it's not useful for the most of us.

I would not use faster ram than the highest posted for your notebook. If your notebook can take 5400, then go for that, but keep in mind that when it's paired with a lower speed, the pair will run at the lowest speed.

If you currently have 667-PC5300, then get another at that speed to avoid having to lost your current stick's speed potential.

 

Thanks, gautam3.

On newegg's site, I see latency only of 4 for all the PC-4200 sticks, and latency only of 5 for all the PC-5300 and PC-5400 sticks.

What is ECC?

I am buying two new identical 1GB sticks to replace the two 512MB sticks that came in the V6Va.

 

5400 ram is exactly the same as 5300 its just a different company calling it 5400.

 

Thanks, stamar. Man, this stuff can be confusing.

 

Notebook RAM is generally the same all around; the only thing I would suggest is getting a more prominent brand. If you have a V6VA, then that notebook takes PC4200 (DDR2-533) modules, and not PC5300. Now, PC5300 will fit and probably work, but it will only run at 533MHz since the Front-Side Bus of your processor (Pentium M) runs at that. There is always a chance the the memory might not clock down properly so that is why it is better to go for the compatible RAM.

As far as latencies go, don't worry about them. Like I said, notebook RAM is generally the same regardless of the manufacturer/brand. PC4200 typically has a CAS latency of 4, and PC5300 a latency of 5. The higher latencies of the PC5300 RAM is why it has the same performance as PC4200 despite its higher clockspeed.

With regards to the hard drive; if you have a PATA (Ultra ATA/100) hard drive, then you cannot put in SATA. Considering that your notebook is an older one, it is probably PATA.

 

I ended up buying the 5400 ram because I didnt want to be wrong about it lol

but all it is is ocz calls 5300 ram 5400. And then a few generic companies decided to do the same thing just to confuse you.

I dont really know whether this gets them more sales or less. I can think of more reasons why it would get them fewer sales. I ended up buying it because it was actually cheaper.

 

Thanks, Chaz and stamar.

Chaz, very enlightening stuff; I think I am less confused! By the way, the drive in my V6Va is PATA.

Also for Chaz: do you think the fact that stamar's 5400 works is evidence that it clocks down correctly?

If so: stamar, do you have that 5400 in a V6Va, and if so, what brand of 5400? I may want to buy a couple of it if its price is still really good.

 

For Chaz: Is the logic in getting a more prominent brand of RAM that you might stand a better chance of all the parts of the RAM working (I seem to have read that point before)?

Also for Chaz: If the 5300 does not clock down properly, what happens, practically speaking? Also, if it does clock down properly, will it be running slower than a 4200 would on the same machine because of its higher latency?

For anyone: Does the drive I buy need to have the same diameter as that of my current drive?

 

You will need to get a 2.5" laptop hard drive. If you have ever looked at a larger hard drive, you will notice that they are bigger than the V6j in many ways. Also, I would put some serious consideration into the drive you get. At this point, I would wait for a hybrid 5400 PMR drive. That gives you better power, a fast drive, but it is still quiet, and not hot. I have used both 5400s and 7200s in my V6j, and the 7200 is way hotter and louder, enough for me to pick the slower drive, and I like performance when I can get it. Also, the hybrid drives will just be nicer, and as I said, they will perform close to as well as the 7200, plus capacity will be better, and more future proof.

 

Thanks, CalebSchmerge.

I want to get the new drive because I want to keep the drive I have and clone contents from one drive to the other periodically for backup and of course replacement if necessary. I have been considering 7200RPM as the kind to keep in the machine all or most of the time, but you have me strongly reconsidering whether to get a 7200. Also, I want to figure out the brand; if I learn of a brand of 7200RPM that runs particularly cool, I still might opt for 7200--quietness is basically not an issue for me.

 

I have been using the Hitachi 7200 RPM, the seagate ran cooler, but I have no idea how much cooler in this unit. The problem with 7200s in the V6 series that you have a really thin casing made of metal, so all the heat is transfered to a palm rest. Most laptops have thicker casings made of plastic, which is a far better heat insulator, so the heat isn't as noticeable.

 

Can someone here tell me if the HD in the linked article should be considerably cooler (temperature-wise) than other 7200RPM HDs would in my V6Va? According to the article linked here:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article297-page1.html

"As mentioned, the 40°C operating temperature for this drive is very low, but probably represents the tighter tolerances that are expected of server equipment than an inherent part of the drive's design. Most notebook drives are rated for either 55°C or 60°C."

I cannot tell if this passage means to imply that the drive would *not* be cooler in my machine than its cousin drive, the 7K100, would.

 

Believe it or not, you still going to feel the 40C, and its not the best thing to have. My drive is at 26C now and its just barely cool to the touch. Mine usually idles at 30C, which is OK, but my 7200 RPM at idle was hot to the touch almost always. I doubt that drive will be much better (temps were routinely around 40C).

 

I seem to recall that Justin of PROPortable ran a Seagate 7200RPM HD in a V6, possibly a V6Va.

I would appreciate any comments Justin, or anyone else (other than CalebSchmerge, who already commented) who has run a 7200RPM HD, Seagate or Hitachi, in a V6, would make about the heat conditions they have experienced.

I figured out that I do not need to upgrade my RAM yet. Maybe when I upgrade to Vista I will need to do so.