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    Memmory Size = Power Consumption

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by wobble987, Apr 12, 2009.

  1. wobble987

    wobble987 Notebook Virtuoso

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    i currently have one 2gb RAM installed on my computer. thinkpad x300.

    if i put more memmory eg. two 2gb RAM module, does it impact the battery life?

    does two 2gb RAM consumes more power than two 1gb RAM module?

    thank you.
     
    wobble987, Apr 12, 2009
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  2. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    sodimm memory devices take around 1.8 watts of power. You can check the datasheets Kingston provides, and you can see that the size really does not effect power consumption, it is more based on the number of memory chips. At full load a single memory card uses less than 2 watts, so you should not notice more than a 5 minute drop in battery life.

    A single 2gb module should be more efficient than two 1gb modules.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Apr 12, 2009
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  3. FrankTabletuser

    FrankTabletuser Notebook Evangelist

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    a single module does not consume 1.8 watt even if they write it in their datasheet, and a difference of 2 watt does not only reduce battery life by 5 minutes, on my computer it would reduce battery life by up to 2 hours, depending on the system state.

    However there will be a difference but it will be marginal. Almost no difference when idle and maybe a difference of <5% in battery life when stressed.
    http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/showpost.php?p=115812
     
    FrankTabletuser, Apr 12, 2009
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  4. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    Interesting,
    when I went to see if I could pull some numbers from there site I found this:
    1GB PC5300 CL5 datasheet
    http://www.valueram.com/datasheets/KVR667D2S5_1G.pdf
    2Gb PC5300 datasheet
    http://www.valueram.com/datasheets/KVR667D2S5_2G.pdf

    It shows that the 1gb model consumes 2.665 watts, and the 2gb model consumes 1.944 watts.

    That is a tremendous difference in power in regards to relative power consumption. I sure wonder if these datasheets are correct.

    I would agree with Frank on the matter after his response.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Apr 12, 2009
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  5. IntelUser

    IntelUser Notebook Deity

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    That depends if your usage is actually stressing the modules enough to make 2x1GB not enough. Then there might be a chance 2x2GB will use more power. However, things aren't always that simple. Any increased power consumption will be negated by being able to use less power elsewhere.

    So no.

    And K-Tron, if it REALLY uses 2W at load, let's see the impact on battery life.

    50WHr battery, 2.5 hour battery life, so its 20W/hr usage

    20W+2W=22W. 50WHr/22W=2.27Hr or 13-14 min
     
    IntelUser, Apr 12, 2009
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  6. wobble987

    wobble987 Notebook Virtuoso

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    woah! great post frank! very worthy of a rep. danke.
     
    wobble987, Apr 12, 2009
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  7. stevezachtech

    stevezachtech Notebook Evangelist

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    Memory doesn't really effect much power consumption only the processes that you are running in your system since it stresses your computer..
     
    stevezachtech, Apr 15, 2009
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