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    4gb memory possible in current 2gb max laptops someday?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by markm75, Apr 25, 2007.

  1. markm75

    markm75 Notebook Guru

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    Anyone know if any of the laptops offered by HP/Dell may be capable of taking 2, 2gb chips down the road.. IE: alot of them advertise 2gb max, such as DV6000 or E1505..

    Would a bios update later on allow support for 2gb x 2.. whats the past history on this ability.. ie: in the past maybe the limit was 1gb, was this ever expanded without buying a new laptop.

    A quick search didnt reveal any real answers on this one..

    Thanks
     
    markm75, Apr 25, 2007
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  2. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    If they are advertising a max of 2GB, it is because there is a hardware limitation on the amount the laptop can use. Most/all consumer laptops support only up to 2GB as the 2GB mobo/chipset/ram parts cost less.
     
    Greg, Apr 25, 2007
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  3. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    usually it's a limitation of the FSB's ability to address the memory. Even if you could get a module to physically fit in there, the addressing of the module could quite possibly fail. There used to be problems with high-density and low-density SDRAM modules, where you could get either, they'd both fit in the same slot, but only about half of the chipsets out there could actually address high-density modules, and sometimes boards couldn't supply enough power or lots of other issues. That said, you MAY be able to, if your chipset will support 4GB of memory (a 945PM chipset is able to, and it is a very common mobile chipset). But I wouldn't guarantee anything.
     
    Pitabred, Apr 25, 2007
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  4. PhoenixFx

    PhoenixFx Notebook Virtuoso

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    I wouldn't worry too much about the 4GB capability with current generation notebooks, because by the time 4GB becomes a necessity rest of your components (CPU/VGA etc..) will be out of date.
     
    PhoenixFx, Apr 25, 2007
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  5. markm75

    markm75 Notebook Guru

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    I dont know bout that.. Right now in Vista on my desktop machine.. 3gb is what i really need and use with as many apps open as I typically utilize.

    I guess on the laptop maybe I wont open quite as many (say 85% of what i do on the desktop depending on the laptop i get), but I know how windows gets "bloated" over the years with their updates etc.. and a newer version of windows in say 3 years (if i expect the laptop to last 4 years).. I still think the ability to have over 2gb is almost a must for someone like myself / power users?
     
    markm75, Apr 26, 2007
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