I know nothing about RAM. What should I get?

I have never dealt with RAM before so i know hardly anything about it. I have a Lenovo x230 on order and it appears to have this type: 16GB max / PC3-12800 1600MHz DDR3, non-parity, dual-channel capable, two 204-pin SO-DIMM sockets

Is this the RAM that I should be looking at? Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Memory, Laptop Memory, DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800), 8GB (2 x 4GB)

I would just put in one 4Gb stick but it appears that Lenovo ships them with 1333MHz RAM instead of 1600MHz. Is that a noticeable difference? Any advice is welcome as I'm lost. I think I should get 8Gb of RAM as photoshop gives me memory errors on my current laptop with just 4Gb.

 

If you order the 8GB kit like you linked, remove the stock 4GB and put the 8GB (2x4GB sticks) in it. The 1600MHz RAM you won't notice much of any kind of improvement. And if you were to put in a single stick of the 1600 with the 1333 it would just run at the 1333 speed.

 

Thanks! Is timing important? This G.Skill has the exact timing as the one the Notebookcheck had in their x230. Is that something to consider?

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Laptop Memory Model F3-12800CL11S-4GBSQ

 

Timing is about as important as speed, which isn't much. Its result in general performance is not noticeable.

 

Also a nice stick..

http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Technology-1600MHz-KTH-PL316E-4G/dp/B007R73G8C

 

Isn't that for desktops?

I ended up going with this: Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Laptop Memory Model F3-12800CL11S-4GBSQ

$22 with free shipping and no sales tax.

 

^ Even better - it is server memory. Well there isn't anything like "server memory'' but see how it says "ECC" in the name? ECC is usually used in servers or anywhere even minor errors need to be eliminated. That looks like a good stick for your use.

 

AboutThreeFifty - that RAM should be fine. There are rare occasions where there can be incompatibilities between different brand modules but 99.9% of the time they are fine. In that case, just buy another G.Skill module. I use G.Skill a lot and have had zero issues with them. Had one desktop stick go bad a few years back and they replaced it no questions asked with a brand new one.

 

Thanks again. 4Gb is enough for everything except when photoshop tells me it ran out RAM so if it doesn't work it won't be the end of world. Newegg is great with returns as well. Now I have to wait for the actual laptop to show up so I can pop it in....

 

read the wikipedia article on timing and how to calculate the ms from timing. Realistically, you want to get the timing with the lowest ms but they are all close though. Though getting the lowest ms is also dependent on how much bandwidth you need. If you get the lowest ms and your bandwidth is lower than your needs then that is obviously not beneficial.

My noob mistake for years before reading the wiki article was thinking lower timing was better but i didn't realize that you have to multiply timing with like bandwidth(or FSB) or something to get the actual ms. That might not be exactly right but you get the point. Timing doesn't tell you your ms you have to calculate it. Wikipedia article has all the timings spelled out for you. So no need to do math.

BTW i only browse the internet and i use 4-6GB of ram. more ram you get more gets reserved by programs. if you go from 4GB and put in 8GB you will notice your usage will automaticly double even though your usage hasn't changed. Also turn off virtual memory when you get more ram or if you already have 8 GB. it will help get rid of any potential hick ups

 

Speed, CAS, double channel/single channel really has marginal effect on performance at all except for IGP, even then the performance gains are 10% at best.

 

I ordered the G.Skill, but I keep noticing that the max speed is only 800Mhz for both sticks. Am I missing something?



I may have answered my own question:

So the RAM is actually running at 1600Mhz? Yes? No?

 

yes

10char

 

AboutThreeFitty - how did this RAM work out for you?

Just ordered an X230, and curious if you'd recommend this stick. Thanks!

 

i have the 1333 sticks and they work great. one of the best performance/value companies out there

 

No issues at all. I thought the RAM that came with my x230 was going to be 1333Mhz, but it turns out it is 1600MHz. Very happy with the RAM and the x230.

 

Thanks HopelesslyFaithful

Thanks, appreciate it. Great find!

(P.S. any other upgrades you've done, and would recommend, on your x230?)

 

A SSD if you have the money.

 

Got it, thanks. I'm likely going the mSATA SSD route.