T400 RAM Compatibility

I'm looking to max out my T400, and upgrade it to 8GB of RAM. After reading a lot of threads with people having issues, I figured I'd verify the RAM I'm looking at will be supported.

Option A: Cheap Crucial RAM ( link). People have generally been successful with Crucial RAM. 39$
Option B: Crucial Ballistix Sport ( link). A higher-end Crucial model, about the same price as the previous set. 42$
Option C: G. Skill RAM ( link). The most expensive, but the speed (1066Mhz) is the T400's recommended spec. 50$

Thanks in advance!

 

Man With Arrow, I believe you need 1.5V RAM, not 1.35V, so A and B are a no-go, while C is too expensive. Find something cheaper, preferably used.

 

That's a problem, as I don't live in the U.S. and I've already looked at the small market of used modules and found nothing but old DDR ones. I guess I'll just have to save up 100$ and get two of the G. Skill ones.


Edit: Will two of these be OK? I'm kind of skeptical about ordering PC parts from Hong Kong...

 

Man With Arrow, they look OK to me. There are options starting with $24, and some auctions if you want to save a bit more. However, it's always much better to buy RAM in person and test it with Prime95 for at least 20 minutes before paying, even if you end up paying a bit more. Show seller the cheapest eBay listing to convince lower the price. =)

 

I can't do that, the place I'm buying is a chain of stores. You can't haggle, you either accept the price or walk out.

 

I would stay away - as in *very far* away - from no-name RAM, as well as from "value RAM" offerings.

 

So should I just go for the G. Skill RAM? Where I'm buying, it has lifetime warranty. If it doesn't work, I'll just bring it back to the store.

 

If there's nothing else with a first and last name that costs less, then yes. I've never had a problem with their RAM.

Obviously, YMMV.

Happy shopping.

 

Yeah, it's the cheapest RAM I could find that's compatible. Thanks a lot!

 

You're very welcome. Please keep us posted on how the update went.

 

Man With Arrow, T400 is an old machine, paying twice more for expensive memory which is small in capacity and you won't be able to reuse in newer notebook seems unreasonable. No reason to buy from greedy stores selling these modules with premium, it's an EoL product worth almost nothing. Even $25 per module asked on eBay is too much in my opinion, but at least it is bearable and understandable because sellers also pay eBay, Paypal and shipping fees.

 

Actually, OP would be able to re-use that RAM in the 1st generation Core i system such as T410/510 or W510 but not in anything newer without slowing the machine down .

 

I sure will! It might take me a while to get around to it, maybe a few weeks, but I will.

 

Both of you are, of course, correct. However, I intend to use this machine during my 3 years of high school. I don't have the money for a new system, and if the T400 does what I need it to do and it does it well, I don't see why I should replace it. And 100$, spread across 3 years, to ensure that the machine is performing as well as it can, are IMO a justified expense.

 

MWA is correctly applying the proper actions to the choices and limitations he currently faces.

His/her case is also an example of why I recommend maxing out the RAM as soon as possible too of when a system is bought/a platform comes out.

The cost of the same quality RAM at one time may have been in the $20 range (depending on location) and will have provided many years of greater productivity from the same system.

Instead of upgrading the RAM today, the O/S, the storage subsystem (to an SSD, of course) or both might have been on the table to consider.

 

I agree. I rescued my T400 this January from my aunt, who had gotten a new laptop because the T400 was "getting slow". Imagine my horror when I flip open the lid- the keyboard is missing two keys and the rest don't work, as there's a carpet of cat hair underneath the keyboard. I thought it couldn't get worse until I booted the poor thing into 32-bit Windows Vista with 4 users. So I threw the keyboard away, found a new original good one (sturdy T60 keyboard) and installed that. Replaced the HDD with a Crucial BX100 256GB SSD and ordered an original 9-cell battery, which is on the way now. So I figured I might as well max out the RAM as well.
If I want to upgrade the OS, I'll have to compromise the ability to have switchable graphics (which I may not use anyway- I'll have to think about it). Windows 10 is coming soon, so maybe that paired with the RAM upgrade will squeeze out every last bit of potential this machine has got.

Waste not, want not I guess.

 

Man With Arrow, upgrading OS is always worth trying. Try 8.1, and buy it if everything's OK.

 

Windows 7 actually supports switchable graphics on these machines and that would be my preferred choice of OS for this system.

 

Switchable graphics support on a 7 year old O/S or support for all major software going forward (not to mention the beneath the hood upgrades over that time period with a new O/S).

Win: Win8.1x64Pro... w/Free Win10 upgrade.

 

Not on a ThinkPad.

No official support for Power Manager from Lenovo on anything past W7, and if you know anything about ThinkPads, then you know how many other aspects of their performance PM - or lack thereof - affects.

 

I'm a bit new to all this- is there any guide or post detailing what I can do to improve battery life/performance on my T400?

 

Do you have Power Manager - both the driver AND the utility - installed? Looks like a small green battery in the taskbar, in the lower RH corner...

 

Yes, I do. And I have correctly configured Switchable Graphics if it helps.

Edit: However, I don't have a battery currently installed. I have purchased a new 9 cell battery, which is on it's way to my house now (as you suggested in a previous thread).

 

Well, once the battery arrives we can set the PM to prolong its useful life to begin with. I'll be happy to walk you through it.

 

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it! As I said, I'll be using the T400 for ~3 years. Will the battery still be able to hold ~6 hours of charge by the 3rd year? It's an original 9-cell.

 

You're very welcome. Happy to help.

I don't think that anyone can predict that. Batteries - as we all know - are consumables.

 

Alright. So shall I PM you when the battery arrives, or should I create a new thread?

 

Please create a new thread. This way whatever info gets shared there could help those who deal with similar issues in the future.

 

Man With Arrow, if there's an option to prevent it from charging over 80%, possibility is much higher. You shouldn't bother with that, it is indeed a consumable as ajkula66 rightly pointed.

 

There seems to be a lot of confusion with RAM and lots of spreading of false information.

Starlight5 is really far off base with his 1.35v and 1.5v information. It doesn't matter. All the DDR3 SODIMMs I currently own are all DDR3L 1.35v modules and all are running in systems that give them 1.5v. The 1.35v designation means that they can be used at 1.35v, not that they have to be. The only problem that can arise is if your system gives the RAM 1.35v and the modules are older 1.5v modules. Then it may simply not boot. In your case, this does not apply.

Regarding cheap and expensive memory, in my experience it really doesn't matter one iota. All you need it to do is work at its advertised or, with these kinds of Thinkpads, even slower settings.

As far as compatibility, I have noticed my T400 and T500 Thinkpads to be extremely picky. However, any DDR3 memory made in the last several years is going to be fine. It was only with much older 4GB sticks that I could find any issue. Just buy new memory or any DDR3L memory and you should never have a problem.

What I personally buy and recommend is Micron or Crucial (Crucial is a brand name for Micron) DDR3L 1333Mhz or 1600Mhz modules.