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    Laptop RAM upgrade

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by JamesRoss, Jun 7, 2008.

  1. JamesRoss

    JamesRoss Notebook Enthusiast

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    I currently have a Samsung X60 (slightly different spec from that link; 2Gb RAM and ATi X1600 256mb) and am thinking of upgrading the memory in it.

    According to CPU-Z i have 2* 1024Mb PC2-4300 (266MHz) Samsung memory in there currently. They're quite simple to access and remove, so physically swapping them out shouldnt be a problem. I'm looking to buy either a single 2Gb or double 2Gb (for 4 total) upgrade and had some questions.

    I know i won't be able to use the whole 4Gb only running 32-bit XpPro, but as the X1600 card can use up to 256Mb of main memory as well as its own I'm wondering if there would be any benefit in 4Gb over 3Gb. Can the video card access the extra memory that the OS won't be using?

    And would either this RAM or this RAM be suitable? (basically does it matter that these are PC2-5300 not PC2-4300, as i know brand is pretty irrelevant)


    and thanks ;)
     
    JamesRoss, Jun 7, 2008
    #1
  2. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    If you're running XP I doubt you'll need more than 2GB unless you have a specific need. Both memory sticks should work.
     
    ZaZ, Jun 7, 2008
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  3. jisaac

    jisaac Notebook Deity

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    nope it does not matter- if you system only supports pc24300 and you use pc2-5300 ram it will just downclock
     
    jisaac, Jun 7, 2008
    #3
  4. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    No your GPU cannot make use of the unseen RAM. Why? Because 32bit OS can only make use of 2^32 (4GB) of memory addresses. More than just RAM needs these memory addresses. Your GPU needs 256MB so that is subtracted from the 4GB total. The reason only around 3GB of RAM can be addressed is because hardware and drivers are using the other 1GB of the total 4GB of memory addresses. If your GPU could make use of it then your OS would report more RAM. It may be confusing as the same word is used "memory" but memory addresses are not RAM. They are something RAM needs to use to function but so do other components of your system. Hope this helps. Bottom line if the OS can't see it it can't use it. And for those of you with Vista SP1 They could of made it say you have 200GB's of RAM but well you don't and you suffer the same limitation. The OS does not see (at a functional level) what it now reports. MS just got sick of answering the same question and figured tricking all of you was easier and would make more people happy than explaining. I can't say as I blame them on this one!
     
    powerpack, Jun 7, 2008
    #4
  5. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

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    You dont need any more RAM. For your system, its unnesesary.
     
    ahl395, Jun 7, 2008
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