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    Best place online to buy laptop RAM

    Discussion in 'HP' started by mujjuman, Nov 26, 2008.

  1. mujjuman

    mujjuman Notebook Deity

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    I am looking to upgrade my RAM to 4GB (from 2GB)
    Yes I know about the whole 64bit OS thing.
    What I want to know is the best place to buy RAM online...
    I live in the United States (New York)

    I checked the BestBuy store and they had a 2GB module for about $150
    So 4GB would be $300.
    I checked crucial.com and they had it for $56!!!! It was the 4GB RAM kit, so it comes with 2x2GB modules.

    Why is there such a difference in price? Is there another places where I can buy? Please help, because I am not an avid online shopper.
     
  2. netkiller

    netkiller Notebook Consultant

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    check newegg.com and frys.com
     
  3. lipiciu

    lipiciu Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'd check kingston dot com for the exact model and then newegg dot com for prices and reviews.
     
  4. mujjuman

    mujjuman Notebook Deity

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    Kool, thank you!
     
  5. mujjuman

    mujjuman Notebook Deity

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    Oh another question... What kind of RAM goes in my laptop?
    I have dv9500t (intel proc)

    I feel like a noob. But I always treat noobs with respect :p

    [EDIT]
    Ok so I found out my laptop has DDR2 PC-5300 (333MHz) modules installed.
    Does this laptop support DDR2 PC-6400?
    I know they are backwards compatible but will my laptop benefit from PC-6400?
     
  6. lipiciu

    lipiciu Notebook Enthusiast

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    It probably supports PC-6400 but it wouldn't run at that speed. A memory module cannot run at a higher frequency than the computer's FSB, so I don't think you're laptop would benefit at all.
     
  7. mujjuman

    mujjuman Notebook Deity

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    I see.

    I'm using a program called CPU-Z and it says that my Rated FSB is ~800MHz
    and my Bus Speed is ~200MHz
    At the same time my memory is running at ~333MHz

    I noticed that PC-5300 comes in 667MHz and PC-6400 comes in 800MHz according to some site
     
  8. lipiciu

    lipiciu Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'd help you if I'd be able to start up my crappy dv9500t, which has 4GB of ram. As I remember, the memory in mine was running at 667MHz, so I guess it's PC-5300. By now, I'm having a hard time to corroborate the PC-XXXX number with the actual frequency.

    I'm gonna google the specs for the dv9500t memory and I'll post them here. But just to be sure, I'd go for the kingston pc-6400 2X2GB kit from newegg not to mention that the PC-6400 is actually $20 cheaper than PC-5300. I guess now is the time to invest in it.
     
  9. mujjuman

    mujjuman Notebook Deity

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    I have a dv9500t too, but with 2GB of RAM and what is installed with it is the PC-5300 @ 667MHz
    I figured out that each RAM module runs at 333MHz with a combined speed of 666-667MHz

    Since our CPUs are rated @ 800MHz, I believe the PC-6400 @ 800MHz will work at full speed.
    I just did some research :p

    Are you talking about this:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134603

    Because I'm seeing alot of the PC-5300 go for the same price as their PC-6400 counterparts.

    And what do you say about OCZ?
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227251

    It has alot more reviews (vs 1 review for the Kingston) and most of them 5 stars
     
  10. lipiciu

    lipiciu Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yeah, I was talking about the first Kingston memory you submitted in the first link. And I wouldn't choose my memory based on the number of reviews. In the end it comes down to a matter of personal choice; I'd choose Kingston over OCZ because whenever I bought Kingston I never had any problem (be that compatibility or reliability). So why should I change something that works?

    Oh, and when it comes to reviews, I'd read the bad ones especially because it gives me a glimpse of the nature of the problem, this way I can decide to go with one manufacturer or another. If 10 clients are complaining about rebate but almost nothing about the product - for me it means green light (don't have too much faith in rebates anyway). But if those reviews are spewing out some nasty things then definitely I have second thoughts.
     
  11. mujjuman

    mujjuman Notebook Deity

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    Haha yeah man I agree completely. About changing something that works.

    Yeah I go for the bad reviews as well. The biggest reason I mentioned the OCZ was because I had more reviews/user experiences to look at, versus only 1 who said its wonderful (not that I'm saying its not wonderful).
     
  12. mrsnicks

    mrsnicks Notebook Enthusiast

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    Check out

    http://bensbargains.net

    It's a website that has daily collections of deals. You can sometimes find 4gb kits (2X2gb) for around $15.00 after rebate. Get the 5400 speed and a known brand name regardless which path you choose.

    Patrick
     
  13. Skeat15

    Skeat15 Notebook Enthusiast

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  14. Mr0wyx

    Mr0wyx Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thank you a lot!
     
  15. rot112

    rot112 El Rompe ToTo

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