The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Upgrading Laptop Memory to 6GB

    Discussion in 'HP' started by computerstriker, Dec 12, 2009.

  1. computerstriker

    computerstriker Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    359
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    If you were to upgrade your laptop with dual channel memory, what combination would you use to upgrade to 6GB? Currently, I have a dv8 with 4GB (2x2GB). Would you have a combination of 2GB and 4GB? Wouldn't the ram pieces have to be of the same value and from the same manufacture?
     
  2. DJRiful

    DJRiful Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    23
    Messages:
    289
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    amount of GB doesn't matter as long both is DDR3
     
  3. computerstriker

    computerstriker Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    359
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Would it be fine if I mixed the ram with 2GB stick and another 4GB Stick?
     
  4. Th3_uN1Qu3

    Th3_uN1Qu3 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    214
    Messages:
    1,192
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Using different size sticks will work but you lose dual channel (it'll run slower) However, the impact isn't noticeable if you don't game much.
     
  5. Krane

    Krane Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    706
    Messages:
    4,653
    Likes Received:
    108
    Trophy Points:
    131
    A matched pair is best. Think of it like changing only one tire on your car. You can still drive it, but performance (and ride) won't be optimal.
     
  6. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

    Reputations:
    2,637
    Messages:
    6,370
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Psh, that use to be the case back in the day. Now it isn't the case since chipsets these days support async dual channel.
     
  7. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

    Reputations:
    5,504
    Messages:
    9,788
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Assuming that the dv8 has 2 memory slots (which I think it does), you don't really have much of a choice. It's either:

    1 stick of 2 GB and 1 stick of 4 GB.
    OR
    1 stick of 4 GB and 1 stick of 2 GB.
     
  8. fantomasz

    fantomasz Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    147
    Messages:
    1,113
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    why not 8GB ?
     
  9. Krane

    Krane Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    706
    Messages:
    4,653
    Likes Received:
    108
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Money, I suppose?
     
  10. Th3_uN1Qu3

    Th3_uN1Qu3 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    214
    Messages:
    1,192
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Remember it's a laptop, you aren't able to know whether it's enabled or not. :p Besides, even if it works, asynchronous dual channel in his case would be dual only on the 4GB portion so there will still be a performance hit.
     
  11. computerstriker

    computerstriker Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    359
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    So do you guys think that I should take out one of my 2GB sticks and replace it with a 4Gb stick to create 6GB(2GB+4GB)? Or should I just stick with my configuration
     
  12. Th3_uN1Qu3

    Th3_uN1Qu3 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    214
    Messages:
    1,192
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Unless you definitely have a need for more memory i'd stay with 4 gigs. I have 8GB in my main computer but my laptops do just fine with 2 gigs.
     
  13. jerry66

    jerry66 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    80
    Messages:
    764
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I run 6gb in my 8510 , don't notice any performance hit . a
     
  14. computerstriker

    computerstriker Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    359
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Okay, thanks guys, I wasn't planning on upgrading any memory anytime soon but I wanted to plan for the future. I'll probably upgrade to 8GB when DDR3 is cheap.
     
  15. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    613
    Messages:
    6,705
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    good choice.. 4 GB is more than enough unless u use RAM intensive programs...
     
  16. Krane

    Krane Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    706
    Messages:
    4,653
    Likes Received:
    108
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Right! Unless you have software that specifically require the additional ram, (and 64bit) more is just going to be a waste.
     
  17. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    The DV8 does support async dual channel.

    The difference between 8gb and 6gb will not be much. And you can always upgrade the second stick later.

    EDIT: Sorry, didn't see the second page. 4gb is plenty.