Want to upgrade RAM and Storage Drive

Hello. I am really thinking about getting some more RAM. Changing this aweful OS to windows 7 once it comes out (hopefully less aweful), and also adding a second storage drive using an ultrabay adapter.

My question is what:

Does all RAM memory work? (so if I purchase blindly any DDR3 RAM and simply plug and play it will work?)

Do all storage drives work for the ultrabay? (so if I purchase blinidly any 2.5 inch storage drive it will work?)

Also, does windows 7 32bit support more than 4 gigs of ram on the get go?

Will installing windows 7 on the ultrabay harddrive mean I can have two operating systems at any given time? (current system is a vista business 32 bit)

 

Question 1 -- no, not all DDR3 RAM is the same AFAIK. Best bet is to go to a memory manufacturer like Crucial and plug in your machine's details. It'll tell you what is compatible (Crucial is also the best place for aftermarket memory IMO).

Question 2 -- not sure, but I assume it has to be a SATA drive and the ultrabay might have a limit on disk capacity.

Question 3 -- I believe Win7 32-bit can still only allocate 4GB of RAM max, which is more to do with limits of the 32-bit hardware architecture than the OS. A 64-bit system can allocate far more memory, obviously.

 

On the topic of the 4GB limit, on a 32bit operating system, you will not even be able to address 4GB, since chunks of the address space are carved out for other things (like device io). Usually you'll only see 3 or 3.5GB, so if you want to use 4GB or more, just get a 64bit OS.

 

First and more foremost, tell us which notebook you have(i.e. the specs)....

Now to answer your questions in a general sense...

1.) If your laptop takes DDR3 ram you have to make sure you buy laptop DDR3 ram(not desktop). If you buy ram with a higher speed, the machine will most likely clock it down, but I like to get the exact speed the machine takes. Make sure to check the instruction manual.

2.) Don't know about the Ultrabay, sorry.

3.) No, windows 7 32 bit will not support more than 4 gigs of ram. it is a limitation of the 32 bit architecture, has nothing to do with the brand of OS. If you want the 4 Gbs recognized, get the 64 bit version.

4.) If you want to have multiple OSs, look into multi booting.

 

Why bother installing a drive in the Ultrabay? You can dual-boot operating systems from a single drive. My T61 is dual-booting between Windows XP and Windows 7, though I've found Win7 to work so well that it's my sole OS on my new T400.

HDD and RAM upgrades are relatively simple. I added a second 2GB module to my T400 and went to a 500GB drive within 48 hours of its arrival.

Cturner, a 32-bit (Windows) OS can actually address 4GB, but cannot allocate more than 3GB to user applications. The remaining memory is allocated to kernel-mode drivers and some other resident processes by Windows.

4GB is the most practical upgrade anyway. A T400/T500 can take more RAM, but 4GB DDR3 modules run more than 3x the cost of a 2GB module.

 

1) Any 204 pin DDR3 NOTEBOOK Ram modules will work. However, you should buy 1066MHz CAS7 RAM if possible. Any decent manufacturer (Crucial, G-Skill, Mushkin, Corsair, Patriot, Kingston, OCZ) is fine.

2) Any 2.5" SATA drive will work. An older PATA drive will NOT. You can also use 1.8" drives (mostly SSDs) with the appropriate adapter.

3) Windows 7 32-bit supports at most 4GB of RAM. However, due to reserved address space the usable number is more like 3-3.25GB.

4) If you have a HDD in the main bay and UltraBay you can choose which one to boot by pressing F12 as the BIOS screen.

 

Mine is a T400.

I am assuming it can take DDR3 because my current RAM are DDR3? But theres no loss going over the specs right (for both RAM and Storage Drive)? I intend to blindly buy something that looks right and stick it in, but dont want to make a mistake and dont like hastle of returning things either.

Can a computer support a 32bit vista and a 64 bit windows 7?

 

OK Thanks.

I sometimes skip those menus quick. Is there a way to make it have an official login screen to choose which one everytime system boots? Is it slower on the ultrabay Storage Drive? Also will problems be caused if ever I need to hot swap the ultrabay out for a diskdrive (but running on the OS on the main drive of course).

 

Yes, as long as the CPU has a 64 bit core, which the new CPUS have.

 

how can I make a menu to choose between which windows to start. i have one windows vista in one drive and one windows 7 in naother. right now I am pressing f12 but this is annoying in the long run. how do I make a selection menu between the OSs

 

I too have Windows 7 build 7232 on my T400 and its so stable that its now my main OS. No reason not to use it. And it sees all 4gb of my crucial ram. I added 4 gb of ram and a 7200 rpm drive to my T400 it was very simple to do...

 

If the old drive is in there when you install the new OS, the new OS (presume 7) should detect the old OS and create a boot loader (menu to choose your desired OS). Linux does the same thing using LILO or GRUB.

However, if you already have both OS installed, I think you are SOL.

 

I currently only have 3 GB ram. Since a 4GB DIMM stick is expensive, Im thinking of just going with buying a 2GB DIMM to get my system up to 4GB total.

Also, is crossing brands ok? I guess the default from lenovo is whateer it is but I'm eyeing the patriot or oCZ ram.

ALso, is DDR3 1066 PC3-8500 better or DDR3 1333 PC3-10666.

 

Oh so it should be automatic?

Well the way I did it was I put in a second HDD into the ultrabay. I also have a USB dvd drive which I used to boot the windows 7 RC dvd. I chose the new drive in the ultrabay to store the windows 7. So basically my factory HDD has the vista that came with, and my new HDD has the windows 7. Right now because my old drive order boots first, it altomatically loads the vista. I have to manually press F12 to select to boot new HDD to load windows 7. Is there a way to add a menu to this now? or do they need to be on the same dirve?

 

The only other way I know is to go to bios and change the boot order there, if you use w7 more than vista

I have the same configuration, I don't like loading 2 oss into one drive. keep 'em separate, sez ai

make sure the drive thickness is ok with the drive. the standard for t400 is 9.5mm, and most drives are that.


Also, I've had my T400 for 9mos now and I've been using Vista x64. Never needed the 32-bit version. Ever.
Needed XP to run 16-bit programs but I've heard VMware is good for that