Why is notebook RAM so overpriced when configuring a new laptop?

I have been building desktop systems for myself and friends/family for years, but the only laptop I've owned is a g4 powerbook, which was great (nice battery life, and macs tend to age well and not feel slow) but I decided to take the plunge for grad school and look at getting a new laptop.

So I'm looking at HP, Dell, Asus, etc, and when I'm configuring the ram, they want like $150 to upgrade from 1GB to 4GB, and it's only 667MHz DDR2. So I assumed that notebook RAM was just really expensive, but being the newegg fanatic that I am, I decided to investigate.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&SpeTabStoreType=&Order=BESTMATCH&srchInDesc=

Those are 800MHz 2x2GB notebook DDR2 modules, and TOP BRANDS! (Gskill, OCZ, Crucial) versus the bargain basement crap that comes on dell/hp. Why is it cheaper for me to throw out the ram that comes with it and buy 4 gb of faster, higher quality ram? That seems ridiculous. It's not like installing RAM should warrant a huge labor markup lol.

 

because its an easy way for them to make money........

 

Because they can is the short answer. I'll tell you to save your money and get DDR2 667MHz, as there is currently no notebook chipset that can take advantage of PC6400 memory, but yeah - pretty much everyone here buys laptops with the lowest amount of memory and upgrades themselves.

 

If buying from Dell UK it is cheaper to get the upgrade from Dell (Unless you sell the RAM that came with the system). Thats what i've found with Dell Laptops. If it was say a Macbook you are MUCH better buying it and fitting it yourself. Apple charge £60 (approx $120) to go from 1Gb to 2Gb, now THAT is daylight robbery lol.

 

Oh that is good to know! Because I was looking at new Montevina (I'm out of touch with laptops which is why I registered here) and the new notebooks out now using it advertise 800mhz ddr2, so I guess it's '800 mhz ram' that operates at 667, which allows them to charge even more without an improvement in production. nice. lol, i hate companies.

if only i could build a laptop as easily as a desktop... /shrug

on a side note, i looked at the 667mhz and it didn't seem any cheaper. that's probably why companies are finally using it lolz

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&SpeTabStoreType=&Order=BESTMATCH&srchInDesc=

 

It is actually buying the warranty and the company's expertise to fix the ram that came preinstalled from the notebook's manufacturer, if it goes bad....!!
So, if a the whole notebook gets damaged due to the pre-installed ram, then the whole notebook will be cleared for a repair or replacement under warranty..!!

But if you install an after-market ram, such as G-Skill, etc. - It won't be covered under the notebook manufacturer's warranty or accidental breakdown, etc. You can reinstall the OEM ram and send the notebook under warranty, but if the manufacturer finds out that the damage was caused due to the after-market ram, then the whole notebook will not be subject to warranty.

 

Thats interesting because my roommate has a dell inspiron 1525? and he called dell to ask about a ram upgrade and they told him it was a 'user-upgradeable part' and that it wouldn't affect his warranty. Maybe that's just dell though.

 

Don't know about dell....but a guy had this problem on his acer (who are kinda reputed for their rubbish after-sales support )....he said he had some problem with his acer and it didn't boot, because he had bought some crappy ram from ebay, so he installed the OEM ram and sent it back to acer, who somehow came to know, that the issue was because of the ram, which screwed the BIOS....and refused to fix it....I don't know myself how they came to know, that the root-cause was the ram..!!
You can always sit on the phone, and clear all your doubts regarding warranty before buying....I normally do this for other gizmos (I don't buy new notebooks)....especially when there is a female with a hot voice on the other side..

But it is always best to keep the OEM parts with you even after an upgrade....and in that case, you really don't benefit from installing after-market stuff..!!

 

Just an FYI. February 2007 the Kite refresh platform supports PC6400. So, to say no notebook supports would be incorrect.

 

Wait a software refresh is going to allow for DDR2 6400 support? Or just when the hardware refreshes?

I should be more clear. No laptops currently on market (unless based on desktop hardware - it will have a desktop processor too) will support PC2 6400.

 

FYI, no it is not a software update or desktop hardware it is all mobile it is what I called it before. Kite refresh platform. It runs PC6400 at 800Mhz you need to trust me.

 

Sorry powerpack, I'm tired as hell. I read "February 2007" and my brain registered "February 2009."
Because of that I figured Kite was a code word and refresh meant it was either going to be software (BIOS pushed for current systems) or hardware (not a refresh that would help the OP)

I trust you. Didn't know that existed, thought it was only Socket 775/939/AM2 laptops that supported PC6400.

 

I was being a little coy with you was going to come clean with you but you have got on it. Did not know you were tired and all. Yes Kite refresh is the one before Puma and it gave us PC6400 for socket 1 AMD. I know if I had said AMD from the start it would of clicked for you. Have a good night.

 

So there is no intel chipset/mobo that allows ddr2 800 then? Not even the new montevina?

 

i965 allowed 800MHz ram frequency....if you OCed the FSB..!!
Montevina supports 800MHz, 1066MHz.....DDR2....DDR3..!! Depending upon the various MV chipsets..!!

 

Oh alright, so we just gotta wait for a new chipset then =)

Notebooks frustrate me, it seems like they never update their lines at all, and tech is so dated. I wanted a lenovo, but up until 2 weeks ago the best ram they offered was 533mhz ddr2 and their 'top' video card was like a 128 mb quadro or something.

 

I see it the other way around. Intel just released Montivena/Centrino 2....and in a few months we're going to start seeing nehelam creeping out. They're churning like butter.

 

Well maybe now, and that's good. I started looking at getting a laptop in May and I have been checking pretty frequently to see new offerings to no avail. Dell, Lenovo, HP, etc have had the same cpu's, ram, and gfx cards for the same prices, except for the occasional sale.

I know that notebooks lag behind desktops because of the size, heat, and power issues, but I don't like how much they lag behind and the ridiculous markup on their components. Ram prices have dropped 73% over the last two years according to CNN, but the upgrade costs on manufacturer sites are more or less the same, as my initial post said.

And it's not just the money. I'm willing to pay for upgrades where I want them, and I understand that to a large extent I'm paying for the convenience of their building and shipping it to me. Fine. But in a lot of ways, the upgrades just aren't there. The Dell 1530 has had the 8600GT as its top card forever, and to get all the bells and whistles the 1530 still costs almost 2 grand. I don't want a computer that has the same components as one from 8 months before if I'm not getting it at a significant discount.

I guess that with desktops it's different because the prices are fluid. A video card that's $200 this week on newegg may be $170 next week, and may even drop to $150 two months later. But the upgrade cost for the same card on Dell.com will remain the same, at least for a long period of time. The upgrade cost on the m1530 to go to the 2.5ghz t9300 has been $300 (more than the cost of the processor by itself, and they're charging that for just the upgrade) forever, though it may be different now since montevina, I haven't looked.

But then again I'm fussy. =)

 

i have to agree. seems like pc companies love taking advantage of the less knowledgable people.. Sony wanted 150 extra for 4 gb ram. they prob will use crappy ram too.

anyway, i bought ocz 4gb memory kit. hope it works. i got it for 90 bucks after tax and shipping chargers...still saved alot of money, and now I will have 5 GB ram all together technically. i was going to sell my 1 gb stick that comes with my laptop, but if i ever need to send it in for repair THAT **** better be covered under my extended warranty. the sales rep it was fine to install your own ram...

BESIDES.... THEY MAKE A DAMN LATCH SO EASY TO ACCESS the RAM. I could unstand changing the HDD voiding warranty...but wtf? plug and play devices that require no drivers, no opening the entire pc up, ect..? thats bull.

 

Well I think companies use their own branded RAM when configuring systems, it just costs more bits and parts directly from the company...