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    RAM of Compaq V2000

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by xmasry, Dec 4, 2005.

  1. xmasry

    xmasry Newbie

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    I upgraded my Compaq V2000 from 256M to 256M+512M. But when I checked the Windows, it said just 640M. What is happening? How to improve RAM?

    Thanks in advance!
     
    xmasry, Dec 4, 2005
    #1
  2. double_edge

    double_edge Notebook Enthusiast NBR Reviewer

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    I recently bought the same computer and have upgraded to 768mb (256+512) but it only recognises as having installed 640mb. However the strange part is that before I installed the extra 512mb it said that I only had 224mb instead of 256mb. Very strange.
     
    double_edge, Dec 4, 2005
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  3. powerglide

    powerglide Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thats probably because the graphics card 'shares' the memory.
    768MB - 128MB (for video card) = 640MB
    No?

    Anyways, I am thinking of buing the V2000 with 256MB from the factory then upgrade by adding 512MB.

    Which brand did you get and how much did you pay?

    This one has the right specs it seems but looks like its physically different:
    http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=25042&sku=ULT31765

    Is the perfomance really good with 768MB?

    Thanks

    PS Do you recommend the v2000? (I like the price, for a bit more there is the hp dv1000....so on the fence)
     
    powerglide, Dec 4, 2005
    #3
  4. zgamer

    zgamer Notebook Consultant

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    bite the bullet and get gig sticks ;)
     
    zgamer, Dec 4, 2005
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  5. double_edge

    double_edge Notebook Enthusiast NBR Reviewer

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    Now that I think of it, that probably right. No wonder its at 640mb.
    I bought kingston pc2700 ddr 333, seems to run well. I bought it in New Zealand so the price is quite high - about $120NZD which is about 80 USD. What a difference it makes, its so zippy and applications open without delay. Though graphics performance is still less than average.
     
    double_edge, Dec 5, 2005
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  6. double_edge

    double_edge Notebook Enthusiast NBR Reviewer

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    For the price the V2000 is definitely worth it. I did think about getting the DV1000 but it was more expensive for a feature ( the quickplay feature) I probably wont use that often. Otherwise the performance of both machines are the same. I like the look of the DV1000 better though.
     
    double_edge, Dec 5, 2005
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  7. powerglide

    powerglide Notebook Enthusiast

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    Totally agreed! I much prefer the look of the HP but cant seem to justfy coughing up 200$ more for it.....but design is important....but so is the cash.

    Stuck.
     
    powerglide, Dec 5, 2005
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  8. chinna_n

    chinna_n Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    Yes, V2000 uses shared memory. And the Intel IGP software increases it share of memory based on available memory. So at 256 it only took 32MB, but when it realized your system can cough more memory it snapped 128MB. It is typical for all most all IGPs. There is some control in BIOS to set it, but it can still take double of what you mentioned in bios because of Dynamic Memory Allocation (Intel DMA) technique.

    lol, It is like our GAS companies in US, they decide price of GAS based on how rich your neighborhood is?
     
    chinna_n, Dec 5, 2005
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  9. luee

    luee Notebook Deity

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    The V2000 comes with two 128 memory sticks, so if you replace one with a 512 it comes to 640, I think.
     
    luee, Dec 9, 2005
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  10. miner

    miner Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    No. virtually no OEM uses 128MB anymore! The lowest amount of memory one can get with the V2000 or any HP laptop is 1X256MB. What everyone above has said is true, if you have a graphics card which uses shared memory, it is going to steal it from your system RAM. So it is [512+256-128(video)=640MB].
     
    miner, Dec 10, 2005
    #10