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    What are the best DDR3 SODIMMs?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Faruk, Aug 11, 2008.

  1. Faruk

    Faruk Notebook Evangelist

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    Hi all,

    I guess a lot of us are buying Montevina laptops soon, so I've been searching around for the best DDR3 SODIMMs - any suggestions? Is there a big difference between 9-9-9-24 and 8-8-8-27? Which one is better? And any idea about the best "bang for buck" modules?

    I'm buying from Lenovo, so I'm wondering whether I should save some money and upgrade the 1GB module to a 2GB, and then buy another 2GB module myself.. or if I should just leave it as it is and buy 2x2GB modules myself (if the timings make a big difference).

    Any suggestions? :D

    Faruk
     
    Faruk, Aug 11, 2008
    #1
  2. JagerQ

    JagerQ Notebook Consultant

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    I think it is a question of CAS latency and memory speed more so than just the CL numbers.

    I'm thinking to go with a 2x1GB for now and upgrade to a 4GB or 8GB kit as prices come down. I think you see better performance from having both slots populated and I prefer to buy ram in kits so that they're identical.
     
    JagerQ, Aug 11, 2008
    #2
  3. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    I have not seen DDR3 SO-DIMM's at many places yet. What do they want for 4GB? XoticPC and PNB I think charge $120. I would pay that.

    The ones you mentioned? The final # is higher on the lower CL? Is that not the recovery time to send new request? Does that not almost negate the benefit of the others front end improvement? I think if the same clock not going to matter. I could explain more but heck I might not know what I am talking about.
     
    powerpack, Aug 12, 2008
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  4. claudione314

    claudione314 Notebook Deity

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    I'm also buying for Lenovo and they charge $210 for 4Gb... but the price is actually higher, because 1Gb is already included, and there's an additional $80 too since you have to select a 64-bit system to be able to choose 4Gb in the first place. So you end up paying upwards of $300.

    Cheapest I can find online is $84 for one 2Gb so-dimm, or $168 for 2x2Gb, all from PriceGuideNetwork.com, which seems to be fairly reliable... It's not too bad. I'm personally ordering my X200 with 1gb, which I'll resell, and then upgrade to 2x2Gb. Like that, you can have 4Gb and spend around $130-ish.
     
    claudione314, Aug 12, 2008
    #4