BASIC RAM Upgrade Questions

Hello Everyone ...

I am thinking of upgrading my notebook RAM up to 2 GB (Maximum it can hold) ... but i have a few questions that may seem basic to many of you.

1) Will there be a great difference between 1 GB and 2 GB RAMs ? heared that it's the difference between a night and a day .. others say that not a major change one can do ...

My current RAM base score is 4.5 ... a friend of mine has 2 GB and her RAM base score is 4.8 ... does this mean there isn't much difference ?

2) Is there is a major difference between 667MHz RAM and other MHzs ?

3) Heared that my Graphics memory should be maximized when I have 2 GB installed .. is this true ?... currently BIOS reads 128 MB maximum .. using windows it reads 224 MB ... the store i bought my laptop from say that up to 256 MB ..

4) DDR2-SDRAM , 1024MB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) .. that's what is written on the HP website for my model and the store I bought my laptop from ... What may this be referring to ? will it be reccomened to buy a kit of 2x1GB or buy two 1 GB individually ?.. and is there additional information I need to know before I buy my new RAMs ?

Thank you in advance ..

 

Here's what I can tell you -

The difference between 1GB and 2GB is probably quite noticeable, especially if you're running a huge memory hog like Windows Vista (which you seem to be, based on the experience score reference). While I don't know too much about Vista, my impression was that those scores were based on the speed of the memory, not the size. If that's true, adding more won't increase that number, but it will allow you to run more applications with less of a slowdown. Someone else correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm also guessing that your graphics card has shared memory. This means that it can use some of the system's memory when it runs out of its own dedicated memory. So yes, if you add more memory that might allow you to use more memory for the graphics card. However, note that this memory is a lot slower than the dedicated graphics memory, so it probably isn't necessarily that important.

Based on that 2 DIMM comment, your laptop currently has 2 sticks of 512 MB ram, which means there are no slots left. If you were to upgrade, you would need to buy either 2 sticks of 1 GB or 1 stick of 2 GB. 2 sticks might be cheaper and enable you to do dual channel, which has a very slight performance edge (3%, perhaps).

Someone else can fill in some more details and correct my errors.

 

Also if you do upgrade make sure you buy the the best memory you can afford. Never skimp on RAM, get the best brand name. I've always use Crucial.

 

please will u tell me what the best memory is ?? I'm new to these stuffs actually . thanks

 

thanks for ur information ... do u recommend a kit of 2 GB ( 1x2 GB) for dual channeling ? heared that it's recommended ...

 

What I think is most important about getting RAM is that it has a lifetime warranty. No matter what the brand is, if it has a lifetime warranty, you can always get it replaced if its defective or starts to fail. As long as it has that, you'll probably be ok.

Like I said about dual channeling, it's probably about a 3% performance increase, at least from what I've seen on these boards. You'll probably want to get it because you said your computer has a 2GB maximum. Other people might get one stick for future expandability, but you're already at your maximum, so you may as well get all the speed you can get.

 

I am 99.99% sure you can run 4gb on that machine but only 3.5 of it will acutally be read because of the 32-bit vista os...soo u can ugprade to the 64 bit version but thats just more problems right now anyways

 

There is no best RAM, just brands with a higher standard than others.
Like I wouldn't buy value RAM, cheap RAM. I would choose either of these brand names - Mushkin, Corsair, Crucial, Kingston, Geil.

 

well I hope this is true .. but compUSA (where i get the laptop from) says that maximum it can hold 2 GB RAM ... also in the system information(using Auslogic) it says just like that too ...

please... what is the SO-DIMM and Pin ... written next to any DDR2 RAM ?? and is there more than 667MHz for RAM ?Thank you

 

if you are running windows vista a jump from 1gb of ram to 2gb will be like night and day!

 

Whats the specifics of the ram my notebook will need? pc2...? /..pin??

thanks

 

Most memory comes from the same place, it just has a different name on it. As long as it has a lifetime warranty and good chips on it, it doesn't matter if is has a label of "Value", or "Super Awesome". It's the same and will work with fine quality. The only time that might make a difference is for overclocking, but that's very rare on a laptop, so unless you're doing that, don't worry about it.

You should check out the hot ram deals thread. Also, when you get your new RAM, you should test it out. Check the guide in my sig for info on that.

Your notebook takes PC5300 SODIMM RAM. Make sure you get laptop RAM!

 

Just ordered these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231091
two sticks of 1gb each are cheaper then the dual kit.

 

orev speaks the truth.

Value to super awsome, all that matters its that you test them, and they either work, or they dont. Inside, they are all the same (and as orev said, they probably came from the same place, and may have even come from the same batch. Learned that lesson many years ago from someone who worked for a chip manufacturer, and the lesson has served me well ever since.

Joe