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    Low-budget 2Gb notebook with Zacate, memory upgrade to 3Gb compatibility

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Gremo, Oct 31, 2011.

  1. Gremo

    Gremo Notebook Geek

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    I'm going to buy an HP A1E49EA AMD E450 2GB 320GB 15.6' LINUX, it comes with 2Gb of DDR3 1333Mhz Ram and a free slot. I don't know ram brand or timings. I'd like to expand to 3Gb (i would avoid 4Gb because i'm going to install Windows 7 32 bit).

    I dont know if i can mix different ram brands/timings. Is there any 3Gb "kit" that i can buy for maximum compatibility? What do you think?

    Thanks for helping :eek:
     
    Gremo, Oct 31, 2011
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  2. Xonar

    Xonar Notebook Deity

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    Is there a reason you are installing 32 bit over 64 bit? I ask this because the difference between a 1GB stick and 2GB stick is ~$5 in the states and 64 bit OS' are mainstream. Although, this isn't a very powerful machine to begin with and 3GB should suffice.

    As long as the RAM is DDR3 (204 pin), you can mix, match, have different capacities, different speeds/timings and it won't matter. Your BIOS will adjust the timings & frequencies automatically to try to match them to the best supported. Try to find something that is 1333mhz, don't pay more for faster RAM, your memory controller (on the E-450) can only handle up to 1333mhz.
     
    Xonar, Oct 31, 2011
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  3. Qing Dao

    Qing Dao Notebook Deity

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    You can mix and match any RAM you want. Also it is dumb to buy a 1GB stick. Buy a 2GB stick even if you plan to run a 32-bit OS. They are all really cheap.
     
    Qing Dao, Nov 1, 2011
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  4. Gremo

    Gremo Notebook Geek

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    Thank you both guys.

    I would buy 3gb not to save money but just to install 32 bit Windows without leaving 1gb unused. This because i think 32 bit os will run faster than a 64 bit one on the slow Zacate laptop.

    But if you think i'm wrong i'll go for 4gb and 64 bit os. Am i?
     
    Gremo, Nov 1, 2011
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  5. Syberia

    Syberia Notebook Deity

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    I tried running mismatched RAM in my desktop and it wouldn't even POST, so it's not a guarantee that it'll work (speed-wise, size-wise it should always work). You can always return it if it doesn't, though.
     
    Syberia, Nov 1, 2011
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  6. Xonar

    Xonar Notebook Deity

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    There is no difference in speed between 32 bit and 64 bit OS. Sorry, I run mismatched sticks right now: 2 x 4 GB Crucial 1333mhz + 2 x 2 GB Samsung 1066mhz and it works just fine. If there is an error, there are plenty of choices in the market.
     
    Xonar, Nov 1, 2011
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  7. Qing Dao

    Qing Dao Notebook Deity

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    The 32-bit OS will use 3.2GB of RAM, not just 3GB, and having unused RAM does not hurt anything at all.
     
    Qing Dao, Nov 1, 2011
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  8. DEagleson

    DEagleson Gamer extraordinaire

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    My Intel Atom 330 runs a x64 OS and its not slow at all. :3
    Ofc it can only use a maximum of 3,5gb since the last 512mb is reserved for the Nvidia 9400m. (Or Ion)

    Its actually the machine hosting my Mumble and Minecraft.
     
    DEagleson, Nov 2, 2011
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