Z35F - 2GB SODIMM, 2.5GB Total RAM?

A friend needs to replace her T40, which failed a couple weeks ago after being nothing but trouble for the past year or so. She doesn't want another Thinkpad, but she really likes my Z33. Right now she's looking at either a Z35 or the MSI 1057/1058.

Her only concern is the 1.5GB memory limitation on the Z35. She doesn't have a desktop so this will be a primary machine.

When 2GB SODIMMs become available/reasonably priced in the next year or so, will the Z35 handle a 2GB SODIMM for a total of 2.5GB of RAM? If so I think she would be happy with 1.5 for now and upgrade later.

 

or she could just make it 2GB with 2 DIMMs of 1GB RAM.
as for if it will handle it or not.....try websites like Crucial.com and enter the laptop brand model ect........it should tell you the max amount of RAM that the system can support.

 

Well the problem is that you cant do that because 512 MB of ram is soldered to the mobo so there is only one open slot for ram thus the 2GB sodimm idea. I don't see why it would not work but there could be some limitation in the mobo that would cause problems.

 

its a shame that the Z33 is no longer updated..its a mighty fine notebook!
how about moving a lil higher and considering the A8 or W3 series? she can get her 2gb that way..and since it'll be her main machine, I'm sure she'll appreciate the larger real estate..especially since both machines have the height of the Z33, but are wider. It's a good chance she likes the sleek lines of the Z33, so perhaps she'll fall the same way for the W3.

The Core duo model has become quite cheap.. I believe Btotech now has them for less than $1500

 

Uhm, the Z35 only has one slot. 512MB are fixed on the motherboard. I'm looking for confirmation that 512MB + 2GB will work.

Weight < 5lbs is a primary requirement. That rules out the A8 and the W3.

 

my appologies......i didn't know about the 512MB being soldered on the board.

 

If you don't want to bother with the 2GB sodimm then the Sony SZ might be worth looking into, I have heard that it is made by Asus (but don't go quoting me on that one) Also the Macbook might be an option. But I do not think any of the Asus notebooks under 14.1 have 2 open ram slots.

 

could get the tablet, 1gig stick + 1 open, but its got some funky battery problems.

 

The tablet was already eliminated.... She looked at it for a couple days then decided it would be too different.

I appreciate the suggestions on other models guys, but what I'm really looking for is a yes/no from a vendor on this working. I guess it's time to send some emails.

 

Yea may be if ProPortable could drop by he could give a little help, But 2GB sticks are so expensive (around $500) and rare (only 1 manufacturer I have found) that I doubt anyone has tried to do it. In theory it should work as the 945 chipset supports up to 4GB, so the question is more will the Bios support the extra ram. But you know a Bios can always be updated and with Vista out that might be a real possibility if if it does not already support the 2GB stick.

I know that this is being done in desktops since the 2GB ram stick are a little more reasonable, around $350.

 

Curious if anyone found an answer regarding this. If so, what RAM was used?

Thanks in advance!

Steve

 

Yes, a 2GB soDIMM will work in the Z35F and give you 2.5GB

 

as a general rule, if you have a laptop with a i945 chipset or newer, then it should take in 2GB modules.

 

z35 is a nice machine compared to a macbook 13".

I think max support would b 1.5gb.. it's still good man, as long as she's not a multimedia producer she doesn't need that much RAM. If she only do light task, Core Duo and 1gb RAm pretty much do the job well .

 

it uses the Intel 945GM Express Chipset, so chances are a 2GB module will work on this laptop just like many other laptops that has the i945 chipsets in them.

 

Just installed one single 2GB on my Z35F and it works well.

Both POST message and cpu-z 1.40 still report "dual channel mode".

It actually operate at "Dual-Channel Asymmetric mode"(flex memory technology) not "Dual-Channel Symmetric mode". I guess it is still a bit better than "Single Channel mode".

The memory score under Vista assessment jump from 4.5 to 4.8 (Was 512mbx2, Now 512mb+2gb).

Anyhow, my Vista runs much more smooth now.

Leo
www.inkjetfly.com