Help Please | Upgrading HP Laptop (Walmart One)

Ok so now that Black Friday has came around and past, I happened to get that HP Computer from Walmart for like 450 with tax!!!!. :hp: The ze2000 is the kind. Its specs are AMD Sempron (1.6ghz), 40gb Hard drive, and 256 mb ddr ram.

This computer is sort of slow right now. Like when I have a couple of firefox pages opened and am messeging on aim, it is slow and freezes. I want it to be faster, even my six year old desktop HP is alot faster than it.

So If I upgrade the memory (DDR Ram) will that make it faster? Yes Im not that good with computers. Im thinking about buying a 512 stick, or even spring for a gig...but I got a few question. What is the difference between DDR and DDR2 (Which is better, which one should I get). Also, can someone suggest a certain one....Arent certain ones more compatible with certain computers and work better? :decision:

Sry to make this so long, but I appreciate anyone who responds. Thanks

Edit ---------------

I just found this memory stick while searching around http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80098-35&ps=ho1
Is it good for the price?

 

Well, upgrading memory is one of the most cost efficient and best ways to increase performance. You"ll need to use DDR memory. DDR2 memory and DDR memory are not interchangable. Also AMD processors do not support DDR2(they have higher latencies so they infact decrease performance). Their only use right now is on Intel based systems.

The memory you listed is for desktops and will NOT work in laptops. You"ll need 200pin DDR SODIMM's.

Also check out memory manufacturers website they have online configurators which list memory compatible with your laptop. Some examples -
www.crucial.com
www.kingston.com
Similarly OCZ, Corsair(google them). You can then search these model numbers at newegg or zzf(they are cheaper than buying direct from the company).

Other upgrades would be upgrading the HDD to a 5400rpm or 7200rpm. They should give loading times(win start up, starting programs) a good boost.

 

No, that stick of RAM would not be good. As that HP has a semperon processor, you will not be using DDR2 memory - that is only for Intel processors at the moment. My advice is to go to Crucial.com and search for the type of RAM your computer needs. You can also download a little program off of Crucial that will scan your computer and tell you what kind of RAM you have. I imagine you need DDR 3200, but check Crucial to be sure.

After you find what kind of RAM you need, you can either buy it off of Crucial (good RAM, ok prices, less chance of mistakes), or hunt around for better prices. If you already have one 256 mb RAM stick, another 512 mb would bring you to 768 mb, which is plenty for web browsing and other similar tasks that you will probably be doing on that computer.

 

Buy DDR4000 DDR 200Pin SO-DIMM, for around $50 you can buy Corsair 512MB DDR400 ram which works with this laptop.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145506

ALso make sure you get rid of that junkware installed.

 

I really want a gig of ram, not sure why, but you know the more the better and it wont hurt right? But, Will a 512 stick be good enough, since its going to be like 768 mb? Im not sure if thats a good amount... lol So, I need to find "DDR 200pin SO-DIMM" for my laptop? Man Im so glad I posted here because I was so close to buying a DDR2 Memory stick!

Edit: --------

I have tried that scanner thing on the crucial website and it says its not sure what model I have...When I try to manually choose it from the lists, Its not listed. Ze2100 is listed but not Ze2000.

Edit: --------

Ok after browsing through zipzoomfly.com, tigerdirect.com, and newegg.com...I think the one "chinna_n" posted is a very good deal! http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145506
I found it on another website a couple of bucks more... http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80098-02

Also, man those 1 Gig sticks are really expensive...I guess Im ganna go for the one chinna posted...Thanks. Does anyone think I can get a better one for the price?

 

Looks like the memory required is PC2700/DDR333 memory-

http://www.memory-up.com/Memory_Finders/HP-Pavilion-ze2000-Memory.html

You can use either PC2700 or PC3200-

Browse these-

PC2700 512mb-

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ce=&MaxPrice=&SubCategory=381&Submit=Property

PC3200 512mb-

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ce=&MaxPrice=&SubCategory=381&Submit=Property

 

More is always better. 768MB is sufficient for the tasks you listed. Do remember that your graphics card will take some amount away, so you'll most probably be left with 640MB RAM which is still pretty good.
If you a afford it get the 1GB stick, but adding 512MB will also provide a good improvement over the existing 256MB.

 

Whats the difference between the PC2700 and the PC3200?

I think I found a good price 512 stick. Tell me what you guys think.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16820145506

 

That Corsair should run just fine.
PC2700 - Memory runs at DDR 333MHz
PC3200 - Memory runs at DDR 400MHz -> This is obviously faster, but the difference is not noticable. You'llonly see benefit of the faster RAM in benchmarks, but there is virtually no difference in real world apps.

Also do remember that if you pair a faster RAM(the Corsair you are looking at) with a slower RAM(your current 256MB), the faster RAM wil always work at the speed as the slower RAM. But if you just use only the faster memory then it will work at DDR400.

 

So basically...I should just buy a 512 at PC2700, since my stock ram is going to determine the speed (because its slow) Ok..I get it

Anyone know of a good brand name I should choose...or seen a good price on a 512?

 

In notebook memory, pretty much anything that comes with a lifetime warranty will be fine. The big names like Crucial have the performance edge in desktop memory, where they have more room to squeeze performance out of things like latency, but notebook sticks are about all the same.

So, get whatever is on sale at NewEgg that has a lifetime warranty. Kingston, Transcend...

 

If you are going for a reliable brand(s) of memory, I recommend:
-Kingston
-Corsair
-Crucial

I have had the most success with Corsair.

 

DDR400 will work in the Walmart laptop but you will be wasting money for nothing. When you install DDR400, it will simply step down to operate at 333 Mhz, whether you use a single stick or pair it up. The BIOS has been set that way. So go ahead and order 2 sticks of PC2700 DDR SODIMM 200-pin and you should be set.

I only wish if that laptop supported dual channel.

 

I picked up the compaq version of the laptop and it runs good, only a couple of complaints.

Cons:
-runs hot
-slower than mollasis in january with stock 256meg shared memory
-no internal card reader

 

Yesterday night I remebered that my brother has a broken HP Laptop (He got mad one day and totally smashed the screen and then threw it on the ground and stepped on it! yeah hes pretty psycho) Anyways It had 2 sticks of 156 SD Ram. I put one of the sticks in my computer...It actually ran alot faster and the performance was very noticable. But Im still going to order a 512 or even a gig. Why is it that 2 512's are like going to 50$ cheaper than a stupid gig.

 

PC3200 ram in that laptop will only run at PC2700 speeds, as the motherboard chipset sets tha max speed at 333Mhz-

SO get whatever is cheaper- either one will run at 333Mhz-

 

Actually it might be able to run at PC3200. All AMD processors available right now support DDR400 memory. Since the memory controller is onboard the chipset does not have any influence on the RAM.

Check this thread...
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=33440

 

Wallmart sells computers????

 

They do here in the States. The one in question was really cheap on Black Friday, the day after our Thanksgiving. People were trampled and beaten for them. Ah, consumerism... doesn't it make us look civilized?