New Ram for T400: DDR3 8500 or DDR3 10666

Which is better?

Mine came with a DDR3 8500. Does T400 support the 10666 one? If I want to get a spare 2GB is it smarter to go with 8500 or 10666?

 

no. it will not work
afaik t400 chipset doesn't support 10667 (DDR3 -1333)

at least everest says: Supported Memory Types DDR2-667 SDRAM, DDR2-800 SDRAM, DDR3-667 SDRAM, DDR3-800 SDRAM, DDR3-1066 SDRAM

 

The OP probably means DDR3-1066 (1066 MHz) which is the same as PC3-8500 (8x speed) and DDR3-1333 (PC3-10666). T400 is limited by the GM45 chipset, which only supports DDR3-1066/PC3-8500, but even if it supported DDR3-1333/PC3-10666, you would not notice any benefit. My advise, stick with the cheaper memory.

 

Ok so I should get the 8500 then?

I am also wondering if its ok to cross brands in the Ram. CUrrently I am using an unknown brand that came from Lenovo. I am planning to buy Patriot Ram. I heard from someone its also bad to use 2GB and 4GB. I plan to getting a 4GB when the price comes down.

 

yes. you should get 8500.
and I think it is ok to cross brand. I have one from lenovo and other from kingston

 

Oh wait so T400 supports DDR2 Ram too?

 

Intel GM45 supports DDR2. But this chipset in t400 is set to work with DDR3

 

Regardless of the chipset, DDR2 memory doesn't fit in DDR3 memory slots.

The T400 supports the newer DDR3 memory, it does not support DDR2.

 

Used to be true. No longer true with T400. Look up Intel Flex Mode -- it'll run dual channel up to the top of the smaller size memory module then single channel above that. So with a 4GB stick and a 2GB stick you'll get dual channel in the lower 4GB and single channel in the top 2GB.

 

As the others have said, get a DDR3-1066 (PC8500) module. Also make sure you get one with a CAS latency of 7, not the slower ones with CAS latency 8 or 9. Lenovo's included stick should have CL 7, so match them up and you'll get dual channel speed at the faster latency. And the brand does not matter as long as the specs are the same. If the specs are not the same, both sticks will run at the speed of the slower one.

Intel's Flex memory mode has its pros and cons. But at this point it's a better idea to not waste hundreds of dollars on the 4GB module. You can get the 2GB module for less than $40 shipped.

And I can guaran-damn-tee you, that in a year or two if you want to upgrade your RAM, you can get 2 x 4GB for probably half the price that you can get a single 4GB module now...

 

Unless you're maxing out your 4GB, you probably don't need more. CAS latency is a marketing gimmick - CL7, 8 or 9, there is NO noticeable difference in any real life programs.

 

x2, good points -- better have a real good reason for needing a 4GB module. ~$350 for a 4GB module, ~$60 for a pair of 2GB modules, ~$30 for a single 2GB module. (Newegg, DDR3 PC-8500 CAS7)

Over $300 to go from 4GB total system memory to 6GB. That's a bunch of money for a difference few people would probably ever use.

 

When is it likely that 4GB single DIMM Ram will be available at less than 200 bucks? do you think?

I plan on getting 64 bit windows 7 and by then I definately want at least 6 GB of Ram on my PC!

 

It does make a *very* small difference, but it is indeed there. Maybe like 100-200MB/sec difference, which is not much at all considering that the b/w of the stick is almost 8.5GB/sec. But when they're all priced similarly, why would you get the slower one? The new CL5 sticks are the only ones which which sell at a premium, so that's why I didn't even mention them.

CL7, 8, 9 are priced so similarly that depending on brand, you can sometimes get CL7 for cheaper than a CL8. So I stand by my original suggestion Paying extra for a minute performance gain is different from getting it for the same price if you're informed and you buy the right part.

Case in point from newegg.com, here are the cheapest 2GB CL7, CL8, and CL9 sticks:

SUPER TALENT 2GB CL7: $26
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820609467

OCZ 2GB CL8: $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227348

A-DATA CL9: $31
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211387

Now what kinda person would buy the slightly slower, AND more expensive CL8 or CL9?

 

In real life it makes zero difference in real life because nothing can come close to using that much bandwidth. It's like a 10 lane highway for 2 cars, if you get a highway with 11 lanes, it doesn't make any difference.

As long as the memory has a lifetime warranty, then it's ok. Personally, I would spend more (it's only a few dollars) to get a brand that I have tested and I know that if there is anything wrong, I will have a fast turn over time - such as Crucial, Corsair, OCZ, etc. The difference in CAS latency is meaningless to me, so even if it were a bit more expensive, I would choose the company that I know is reputable (not saying Super Talent or A-DATA isn't reputable).

As stated before, if you want it just for the cool factor then go ahead and get it whenever you feel you are willing to spend the money. But practically, if you aren't maxing out your current memory, then you will see no improvement whatsoever.

 

Not any time soon. Higher chip density = expensive prices for RAM.

Why do you need 6GB? Are you running Maya 3D? AutoCAD? What 64-bit apps are you using?

I'm running Windows 7 RC 64-bit with 4GB --and it runs beautifully.

 

I got Crucial 2GB DDR3 1066 PC8500 for $28 shipped from newegg a week ago.

 

i'm planning on buying that one too--i think the one already inside the T400 (if u get the 2GB 1-dimm) is that crucial card too. But it's the perfect match. I'm still crossing my fingers for a coupon or rebate... I still have time because my laptop won't arrive for at least another week. I orded my T400 on July 8th and the est. shipment was July 20th--but I received an email this morning saying it was shipped today (july 11th).

Haha, sorry, i'm just excited

 

The companies don't really matter. You can have the same chips in different companies since there are only a few suppliers. For example, Micron chips are sold directly via Crucial, but Corsair, OCZ and a few others also use Micron chips.

 

Doh! I should have checked to see what brand the RAM stick it came with was. Shame CPU-Z doesn't detect it, it does on my desktop.

 

Exactly. Chances are, if you run memtest on it when you receive it and it finds no errors.. It's basically gonna work forever. Just whatever you do, make sure you run a test on it when you install it. Use either memtest86+, or Vista's included tool. Either should be sufficient.

I think it doesn't make sense to say CAS latency doesn't matter, but then go and nitpick with which brand it is. Any major brand like OCZ, Kingston, Corsair, Mushkin, etc. will be equally reliable.

 

Why doesn't it make sense? Reliability and customer support is a lot more useful than CAS latency, hence why choosing the right company is the most important thing when choosing memory. Most major brands are reliable, for me the determinant is whether or not the company will back up the memory with a lifetime warranty. If they do then it's all good.

 

I bought the crucial DDR3 1066 ram. How could I check what lmemory does lenovo have inside the laptop?