Upgrade T61 memory--what model(s) should I look for?

I have a T61 with 1GB memory (1GB PC2-5300 667MHZ 1DIMM). I'm thinking of upgrading it by adding maybe a 2GB. I see various model numbers being sold. What model(s) should I look for?

Corsair and Crucial, which is better?

More memory will consume a lot more power? Adding too much memory is not good if you use battery?

Thanks for your patience with my ignorance

 

What do you mean by Model? Do you mean brand? If so get the cheapest one with a lifetime warranty. They are all the same.

I am not sure the exact difference, maybe someone else can explain it. You should get the SO-DIMM ones. These are the memory sticks you should be looking at, this page or this one. Memory on either page will work for you, no difference. DDR2 memory is dirt cheap right now. I suggest you max out your ram(i.e. 4GB).

I don't think adding more memory will have a noticeable impact on the battery life. The big things for battery life is GPU, screen brightness, Wifi on, Bluetooth on, etc

 

Thank you so much, Fire Snake! I meant specs by "models", sorry. I see the ones you linked to are DDR2... I just found an old thread on this forum:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=144497

Will that one work?

 

DDR will not fit, but DDR2 will

 

Ignore him. The Fire Snake above pointed you in the right direction with the right advice.

 

DDR2 RAM slots are not backwards compatible with the older DDR RAM. (Slightly off topic but DDR3 RAM slots are not backwards compatible neither). In your case, the T61 will only accept DDR2 notebook memory.

You want to buy a 200-pin DDR2 SO-DIMM with speed of at least PC2-5300 (667 MHz) for your T61.

Crucial and Corsair are both good brands. Just get which ever is cheaper. I have had good experiences with Crucial, Corsair, OCZ, and Mushkin brands of memory.

 

Thanks!! One more question: Will PC2- 6400 (instead of 5300) work, too? Just faster?

Also, would 3GB generate much more heat than 1GB?

 

PC2-6400 DDR2 should would work in the T61. However, the memory will be down-clocked back to PC2-5300 speeds (since the "Santa Rosa" motherboard only runs the memory at PC2-5300 (DDR2 667 MHz) speeds.

The differences between 3GB and 1GB, in terms of thermodynamics, is negligible.

 

Does that mean there will be no difference at all between using 6400 and 5300? Or is the "down-clocking" even somehow undesirable? In other words, would there be any reason to opt for the 6400, other factors being equal?

 

I really don't think so. I don't think you have to worry about that.

 

I should clarify what I said earlier. The T61 motherboard can run the memory at a maximum speed of DDR2 667 MHz (PC2-5300). The T61 should treat the DDR2 800 MHz (PC2-6400) memory the same as DDR2 667 MHz (PC2-5300) memory.

For notebook computers, there is no real speed advantage to using PC2-6400 memory. On the other hand, there are desktop computers that can take full advantage of PC2-6400 memory speeds. Most newer computers will soon use DDR3 instead of DDR2.

The only disadvantage I can think of for PC2-6400 notebook memory is perhaps some motherboards would have minor problems accepting PC2-6400 memory. I have heard of Macs having that problem, but ThinkPads should be fine.

 

Many thanks, everyone! Thanks pacmandelight for the explanation! Fire Snake, the "SODRAM" I mentioned should be "SDRAM", sorry It seems all are SDRAM as far as I can see...

 

I use Crucial in addition to the OEM memory that came with my T61. Works like a champ.


Check this out: mms://a1981.v26823e.c26823.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1981/26823/v0001/cstvcbs.download.akamai.com/8108/open/usc/08-09/video/m-footbl/12dec/fb-fnv-ucla.wmv

 

buy 2 x 2GB G.Skill PC-5300 with 4-4-4-12 timings. I have same thing, works awesome. Check newegg.com

it is cheap and slightly faster than the normal 5-5-5-15 modules.