T61 Memory upgrade any DAW users? (working with vsti audio samples)

Hi ppl, I'm i ok to add another 2gb to make it 4gb or should i raise it to 3gb?
I'm not interested in how much it will cost as it's coming out of my other laptop.
My primary use is audio apps. I use Cubase 4 and kontakt which load up the samples or i could stream from HHD. I'm not expecting great things but i just thought 4gb is better than 3gb...seem as though i have access to a couple of sticks.

Also should i leave the paging file to windows or set it myself? If yes then how do you set 3gb/4gb to work effectively.

Thanks for reading a repetitive question.

i've pasted my specs below as i cant find the signature window in my CP on this particular forum...though i've ticked the box...there's nowhere to write it.

IBM T61 Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 (6464)
(2.4GHz / 4 MB L2 cache, 800 MHz front-side bus)
2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 RAM

15.4” WideScreen TFT, with Intel GMA X3100 Graphics 1280x800​

 

is your laptop using 32 or 64 bit OS?

 

hi, i thought it was in the specs...sorry.

32bit i'm afraid.

 

is it worth upgrading OS just for 4gb?...i need an operational machine for a short film this xmas and i don't want to spend my holidays looking for 64bit drivers plus cost of replacing software.
I know i can manage to do the work with 2gb..there's always ways around these things but if i have the access to free ram? i suppose i wondering of any negative effects of having 4gb. Thats the question.
I know of a switch thingy...but i've heard lots of negatives bout it.
Thanks for the reply Lead org!

is that a real dog or a stuffed toy? i love it p.s i've heard ppl getting 8gbs ram with the right operating system! Now i'm very open to upgrading the OS to 64, but not this month.

 

The is no point upgrading the OS just so that you can upgrade from 3 to 4 gigs of ram (but it maybe worthwhile if you are contemplating 8 gigs or 6 gigs of ram). There is no negative effect of having 4 gigs in 32 bit OS, you just won't put the extra ram to much use.

I have 4 gigs in many of my newer thinkpads with 32 bit OS installed.

 

You state you have 2GB, so making that either 3 or 4GB will help speed up your laptop.

If you can get the 4GB for free, which you say you can, you have nothing to loose.

Let Windows manage the paging file itself.

 

Thank you for your time Leadorg and realwarder, Pretty straight forward then!

Just one more...regarding my t61 specs, would putting 8gb with 64 os be akin to putting 1gb ram in a win 98 Pentium 3 machine in comparison to a i3/5/7 core laptop with 4gb? ya follow? or is it better to upgrade machine when i get to that crossroads : )

 

upgrading to 8 gigs is only necessary if you are actually using up all the ram, otherwise you are better off getting 3 gigs of ram under 32 bit OS with a good quality SSD, etc.

This is like getting a car with a top speed of 300 miles versus 200 miles per hr top speed, when the maximum speed you are ever going to reach is 55 miles per hr. You should consider whether you have utility for any upgrades that you are going to make, and whether there is any performance return when you do the upgrade.

 

Many thanks again! can you recommend me a decent ssd..i'll want it more for streaming samples or loading into memory..i heard they are as equal as a 7200rpm when writing data. but read alot faster. my samples are about 50gbs.

 

I loved Robert Shaw in Jaws!

While your at it....I'd add both an SSD and a new 64Bit OS. I run 64 bits on my 4 gb T61. I have not bought an ssd for it yet. If you can...I'd insure it too.

Renee

 

i use an intel 160 gig SSD G2 in my T400, this is probably a good starting point. There are other brands of SSD available, so you could look into that.

 

so what's all this speed cap on the SSD amount to then? will i get 1.5gb restriction or has all that changed? or is there a better cheap solution i.e e-sata II/III for the price minus the restriction on the SSD Cap?.. sorry if i'm talking gibberish here.

 

you can activate SATAII mode by using Middleton's bios mod.

 

i'll read into that. thanks

 

HD tune reports my Main Seagate hard drive 7200rpm is a Sata II with average speed of 77mbs. Does that mean it's fine? or is my bios not reading it as a sata II?? Infact it's get more confusing as i'm not sure if this bios mod is for SSD or normal HDD as they are both classfied as Sata II??
I think i need a simple paragraph in plain english as to why this mod fix was made 'without' numbers. : )

 

yep he is the great in the movie, check out link in pm

 

ok from what i understand is, middletons flash is for SSD 'only' though i don't understand why HDtune recognizes my seagate as a sata II, whilst other ppl report theirs as sata I before the bios flash.
i've no idea what SLIC flash is for...but the alt/fn swap is useful, but swapping the buttons around wldn't work as they are different sizes?
i also understand you need the 'trim' functionality for the SSD to function at best..so it looks like a windows 7 upgrade. oh brother..thats alot to think about.

1. Middleton bios
2 SSD $$$
3 Ram $$$
4 win 7 (64) plus drivers/software $$$

i think maybe it's a good idea to get a brand new computer with none of these problems! I've had this laptop for a month, was really getting into it..very very nice machine...but too damn much to think about. I'm sure the newer low end machine could flatten this machine. Good idea?

 

It is-it's a very nice machine and I don't think lenovo has made a better one or even one as good. Take one step at a time. Memory first.....

Renee

 

i think Ram and win 7 64...followed closely by ssd & mid's bios..i can't see why this machine can't be as good as a bog standard i3, if used in productive way.