I Hate Ram!!!!!!!!

o.k....i've tried searching notebookreview for some ram questions and the questions im gonna ask might sound stupid but im stumped. Here's the things i have a toshiba laptop bought 4 months ago, and i only have a gig of ram. Before i thought this was suffecient ram, but now it doesn look that great. So i want to upgrade to like 2gb. But i cant findy any ram for my laptop, and i have no idea what the pin thing means like 200 pin or sumthing.
This is what i have right now: 2 RAM slots - bottom of the unit (user accessible), both occupied with 512MB DDR2 PC2-4200S; can be filled with 256MB, 512MB, 1GB or 2GB DDR2 (4GB Max = 2048MB x 1 + 2048MB x 1).
And how much would this cost me, and would it be better for me to take out only one of the 512 and put in like 2gb or 1gb. OR would it be better if i were to take them both out and put in 1gb each. Whichever is cheaper, and thx for any help???
ps: im really stumped with the ram thing.

 

Most likely you have 2 512MB sticks in there now so you have to replace them both if you want to get to 2GB of memory. If you go to Crucial.com they have a memory configurator which tell which type you need.

 

Using 2*1GB sticks will be MUCH cheaper. 2GB SODIMMs are around $600 EACH. As for checking which slots are used, CPU-z worked for me.

 

A lot of notebooks won't even support 2GB SODIMMs. You'd need to use a max of 1GB per slot unless your system allows a full 4GB to be installed.

 

Use memory "configurators" as ZaZ mentioned, but then buy the exact specs via pricegrabber.com, newegg.com, or pricewatch.com to get the lowest prices.

 

I am just running with 1.5gb (1x512mb and 1x1gb modules) I did this so if need be I can swap the 512mb module for a 1gb or 2gb module in a year or two.

So yes you should be able to relpace just one of the 1gb modules resulting in a total of 1.5gb in the ststem. Just make sure the new module is the saem specs as the old 512mb module left in the system.

But before ordering call Crucial or Kennsington to confirm the planned memory configuration. I would not trust info from the Mfg most of the time as few of the people you might speak with actually know anything about the products only what is on the screen.

 

I love RAM.

 

Nirbs - I felt the same way as you, until just now.

I just finished installing 2GB RAM in my A8JP (first time installing RAM) and am typing from it now.

Finding RAM, installing it, not messing up my system, etc. were all pretty intimidating to me.

One site that a lot of folks here use (including me) is www.crucial.com. They're a known and well-regarded provider of computer memory. They have a scan feature that will scan your computer and recommend which RAM you need and give you several options. If the scan can't figure it out, it will tell you that and give you questions to answer instead. Their customer service is very good at answering questions.

Crucial memory is more expensive. You can also buy RAM from a reseller like www.newegg.com for much less money but just as good quality. Read all the user reviews on the site before buying though. Some RAM brands work better in some computers than others.

You could also call/email Toshiba and ask them for the specs you need to upgrade.

I'm now thinking about upgrading RAM in my desktop and in the Presario. So now I'm not a RAM hayta, I'm a RAM playa!

 

wow, thx alot you guys. I was also wondering about dual channel cause that's what my laptop is running right now, and if i say take out a 512mb and put in 1gb will it still run dual channel. And, what exactly does dual-channel do compared to the normal stuff???

 

If your laptop uses the intel 945 chipset you can use mismatched pairs in dual channel, if it doesnt, you'll need identical sticks. Dual channel isnt all that important, it'll give you a modest speed bump(5-10% usually, most chipsets will only work in dual channel mode when both slots are filled (you cant converge them into a single channel), meaning mismatched pairs wont allow you to boot, or if it does boot you will have stability issues. Some more information on your system, the chipset most importantly would allow us to help you better.

If 2 gig is your ultimate goal, a 2x1gb kit of DDR2 533 sodimms is baically what you need.Such as this,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231118

 

...and we have such a harmony today

Anyone in between?