More RAM increases temperature?

Just wondering if more RAM = higher temperatures.

My T61p came with 2gb RAM (2 dimms). The idle temps at that time were around 40C for CPU and 60C for GPU.

Then, because my machine can't play games when 2 dimms are occupied I took one out and the idle temps went down to 35C CPU and 57C GPU.

Then, I bought a 2gb stick and swapped the 1gb for the 2gb stick for a total of 2gb (1 dimm). Now my idle temp went up to 41C CPU and 61C GPU, higher than it was with 2gb (2 dimm)

 

More ram shouldn't affect the temps of the cpu nor gpu. Ram will most likely affect the hard drive more (which should decrease the temp if more ram is added).
I'm not exactly sure why you have a big temp difference when using more ram. Have you tried using other temp monitoring software? Do they give the same results?

 

hi webdtc,
yes, more Ram will need a little more power, that leads to a little more warming.
That´s why i didn´t upgrade. On the other hand on XP i don´t need more Ram.

Kind regards.

 

I use CPUID Hardware Monitor and Rivatuner. Both report the GPU temps about the same.

I can see RAM needing more power but why it makes my CPU and GPU temps go up I don't understand.

 

more ram will DEFINITELY mean more heat.....those suckers get HOT.

 

i agree, as with any computer more ram definetely willl mean more heat. Thats why you see all the desktop Ram with crazy heat spreaders, fans, and liquid cooling for just the memory. Some memory will run warmer than others. I dont think its anything to worry about though. When you said that your machine wont play games with 2 slots occupied, what do you mean exactly? It crashes, will not start them, ???

 

May not necessarily increase the temperature: with more RAM you have more virtual memory that reduces swapping to the HD. The HD is a heat-producing device too.
Thsi is true especially when running memory intesive applications (like CAD etc.)
Peter

 

in theory it should cut down on HD usage, but remember no matter how much ram you add, windows will use it. With two sticks you add another 1.8V +/- to your system as a result creating heat. Laptop Ram gets very hot, especially after heavy paging. No matter how you swing it, adding an additional component to your laptop will in fact add heat.

 

Having more RAM far outweighs a 1-2 degrees increase in temperature.

 

if in fact an increase in ram does increase ur cpu and gpu temp...which seems a little odd to me....get some Arctic silver on both...quick n easy...and cheap...and will bring ur temps down a few notches....

nothing to do with ram and temps but an easy and well known way to reduce HD usage...get a cheap 2 or 4 gig SD card...and providing u have a card reader...allocate the whole system page file to the SD card...reduces hd usage and fragmentation...and flash cards have blazing fast access times

 

Ok, I guess I learned something new. I never knew RAM increased heat that much.

techboydino, there is an issue with some T61p's where 3D games (or other 3D intensive applications) will cause the machine to either BSOD, freeze or totally shutdown. Mine usually just shutsdown but any of the 3 usually require a restart of the machine. It seems to only happen when 2 dimms are occupied. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with software or drivers as some people have sent theirs in, got a motherboard replacement and had the issue go away. Others like me are waiting to see if Lenovo will come up with a fix.

 

got it. was not aware of that issue. they might be able to fix it via chipset update or controller software. try a laptop cooler, this will draw the heat from the bottom of the laptop and out the sides. i added a second stick of ram to my machine and saw a little temp increase, but nothing dramatic enough to make a difference. open a ticket with lenovo just to see their response.

 

This was hardly a scientific approach to measuring temps. I would have to say that any results that fail to at least mention ambient temps and at what point the temperature was measured are of marginal relevance at best and shouldn't be used to draw even the most basic of conclusions.

 

I installed hwmonitor to view temps. The results were very interesting. CPU and harddrive running cool (41C,35C). My memory banks are peaking at around 55C on M0 and 40C on M1. On M0 I have a 2gb G. SKILL chip on M1 I have the 1gb chip from the factory, a Samsung. Do you think the 2gb chip should be replaced or should I open a ticket?

 

but it went up only 1 degree?

 

M0 with a 2G stick peaks at 55C. M1 with a 1G stick at 40C.

 

Someone needs to write a sticky about the 3D-game-with-two-dimms problem. It's been discussed quite thoroughly, and we don't need to go over it again every week.

 

Yes, i agree.

See the thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=2
"Two dimms crashes games"

User should be aware of this problem.

Greets your

Andreas