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    Which 4gb ram module in t420?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by magic08, Apr 12, 2011.

  1. magic08

    magic08 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi, I am looking to buy another 4th ram module and I want do use dual channel. Is the 4gb module one sided or two sided? Is the speed cl9?
     
    magic08, Apr 12, 2011
    #1
  2. James D

    James D Notebook Prophet

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    use cpu-z for that
     
    James D, Apr 12, 2011
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  3. magic08

    magic08 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for the advice, but I am still waiting for my T420 and wanted to order the additional RAM now so I can set it up all at once. On Wikipedia in the article about Dual Channel I've read that the capacity, the speed and the number of chips and sides may be important in order to use Dual Channel.

    Am I ok with just ordering a "4GB DDR3 SODIMM PC3-10600 1333MHZ 204Pin" module or is it also important to order the same speed (CL)?) and number of chips(?) and sides(?)

    Thanks
     
    magic08, Apr 12, 2011
    #3
  4. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    It doesn't matter. Just get the cheapest brand new 4 GB stick. CL latency, dual channel will not matter.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Apr 12, 2011
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  5. Jesper Juul

    Jesper Juul Notebook Consultant

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    In my T420 the ram is one 4 Gb samsung stick.
     
    Jesper Juul, Apr 12, 2011
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  6. James D

    James D Notebook Prophet

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    I bet CL will be 9. 4 gb sticks usually have the same density but if it is double sided or single you can ask Jesper Juul. I think it will be double-sided.
    P.S. Jesper Juul, could you tell what exactly RAM do you have? And do you know that using only 1 stick mostly is twice slower than 2 sticks? You also can check this in CPU-Z in Memory menu in the right upper corner.
     
    James D, Apr 12, 2011
    #6
  7. Jesper Juul

    Jesper Juul Notebook Consultant

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    I actually have 2 4Gb sticks in the T420, the other one is a Kingston module. And yes they are CL 9 at least it says so in CPU-Z.
    The Samsung stick is DDR 3 PC3-10700(667 mhz), with partnumber M471B5273CH0-CH9
     
    Jesper Juul, Apr 12, 2011
    #7
  8. magic08

    magic08 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thank you Jesper! So you updated the RAM by yourself or the shop did it for you? As far as I know, Lenovo always ships with RAM in the slot under the keyboard, so the slot on the bottom is easily user replaceable. So I guess the Samsung one was added by your shop? Do you know the part number of the Kingston module?
    When you boot up your machine, do you see a message stating that your RAM is in Dual Channel mode?
     
    magic08, Apr 12, 2011
    #8
  9. Jesper Juul

    Jesper Juul Notebook Consultant

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    Actually the shop did it for me, the Samsung is placed under the keyboard, and the Kingston on the bottom. The Kingston module is Kingston DDR3 PC3-10700 (667Mhz), partnumber 9905428-012.A00LF, I haven't seen anything about the Dual channel when booting up, but i also have fast boot enabled in the bios, so there is not much information given when booting.
     
    Jesper Juul, Apr 12, 2011
    #9
  10. magic08

    magic08 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thank you very much, just ordered the M471B5273CH0-CH9 Samsung :) I will see if its the right one in a week or so and report here...
     
    magic08, Apr 12, 2011
    #10
  11. Kaso

    Kaso Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yes, that will do.

    Manufacturers get huge batches of those memory modules. I often see 2 sticks of different sources, like Elpida sitting next to a Kingston or a Samsung. "Uneven" combos -- like 2GB + 1GB, 2GB + 4GB, or 2 x 2GB + 2 x 4GB -- work fine.
     
    Kaso, Apr 12, 2011
    #11
  12. magic08

    magic08 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Just want to say thanks, my t420 shipped with exactly the samsung module mentioned above!
     
    magic08, Apr 21, 2011
    #12
  13. sml

    sml Notebook Guru

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    2Gb RAM removed from Lenovo Thinkpad T420 ...
    hynix Korea 05
    2Gb 1Rx8 PC3-10600S-9-10-B1
    HMT325S6BFR8C-H9 N0 AA 1101
    FRU: 55Y3716

    4Gb RAM sticks (x2) installed into Thinkpad T420 ...
    G.Skill F3-1066CL9S-4GBSQ
    DDR3-1333 PC3-10666
    CL9-9-9-24

    Installed 4Gb sticks .. one on base and one under keyboard.

    Works perfectly!
     
    sml, Apr 21, 2011
    #13
  14. bmastenbrook

    bmastenbrook Notebook Enthusiast

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    bmastenbrook, Apr 21, 2011
    #14