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    Crucial scanner says i can upload to 4 gig

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by kevinscotland, Jun 12, 2008.

  1. kevinscotland

    kevinscotland Notebook Consultant

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    However, its an alienware laptop and the slots are under my keyboard and there is only 2 slots and both are occupied by 512mb modules!

    ???
     
  2. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    You need to remove the current DIMM's and to get 4GB you must install 2X2GB's. If using a 32bit OS will only be able to make use of about 3GB's of RAM.
     
  3. sirmetman

    sirmetman Notebook Virtuoso

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    But there is a small and contentious gain to be had if using 2X2GB sticks over 1X2GB+1X1GB due to the full ~3.2GB of addressable RAM running in full dual channel mode vs mixed mode. Basically, even though you can only use ~3.2GB of the RAM, a match pair of DIMMs (2X2GB) will run slightly (and from what I've seen, I emphasize slightly) faster than a mismatched pair (1X2GB+1X1GB).
     
  4. kevinscotland

    kevinscotland Notebook Consultant

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    how can it happen tho. it is SDRAM DDR pc3200.

    isn't the max modules 1gig each? i've never seen them in 2 gig modules.
     
  5. sirmetman

    sirmetman Notebook Virtuoso

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    Hmmm, that is problematic.
     
  6. nobscot6

    nobscot6 Wise One

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    I think you've figured this out yourself!!!!!!!!! ;)
     
  7. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    Your system cannot support 4gb of memory if your system only has two memory slots. The largest pc2100/2700/3200 ddr sodimm module is 1gb, so the most you can upgrade to is 2gb. If your running xp, than 2gb will be more than enough memory. You will only need more than 2gb if you are running vista.

    K-TRON
     
  8. kevinscotland

    kevinscotland Notebook Consultant

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    u think i'll notice a big difference with the extra 1 gig. i do run alot of applications.
     
  9. TheRealFireblade

    TheRealFireblade Notebook Consultant

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    Yes.
    A RAM upgrade is probably the best/cheapest way to see better performance in applications/games ;)