Yet Another RAM Thread

Hi everyone, sorry if this has been discussed to death; I just want to make sure that I understand this...

Anyway, some relevant facts:

• I'm running a 32-bit OS (Vista)
• I have 2 GB of RAM (single DIMM) installed
• I will probably migrate to a 64-bit OS during the lifetime of this laptop

I want to buy more RAM.
I understand that a 32-bit Vista OS will not be able to address more than ~3 GB.

My question: if I buy another 2 GB DIMM to make my total 4 GB, will Vista still accept whatever it can from the new stick (around a GB)? I want to buy a 2 GB stick now instead of a 1 GB stick because when I upgrade to 64-bit, I don't want to buy new memory again.

So, just to reiterate: I'm afraid that Vista will reject the new whole 2 GB entirely. I hope this won't be the case?

I've got a bit of a hang over -- hopefully my question makes sense.

Thanks in advance.

 

The answer to your question is yes, it will accept whatever it can from the 2GB stick.

 

Thanks for the reassurance! =)
Much appreciated.

 

Once you receive your RAM stick, make sure to test it.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=142746/

 

Thanks! I'm running MT86+ as we speak (on my original TP memory, though). =)

Edit: Actually, I have another question.
I'm browsing through a bunch of hardware stores and I see that the modules are more or less the same in terms of price.
Is there a particular brand that I should buy?
My T61p came with the following stick: ELPIDA 2 GB 2Rx8 PC2-5300S-555 (MT86+ says CAS: 5-5-5-15)

Does it even matter what kind of 2GB stick I buy?

Thanks!

 

Any 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300/5400) RAM stick will do. Just make sure it has lifetime warranty (most do).

Make sure to check out the RAM Deals section here on NBR as well.

 

Thank you once again, Arkit3kt!

 

I recommend G. Skills. They come at CAS 4-4-4-12 at DDR2-667. At DDR2-800, they come at 5-5-5-15 (last I checked), but when your system downclocks them to DDR2-667, the CAS latencies get better.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231154

 

Thanks for the advice, EateryOfPiza.=)

 

I currently have a T61.6459CTO with 4gb of G. Skill 5-5-5-15 memory.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231135

Would I see any performance gain if I upgraded to 4gb of G. Skill 4-4-4-12??
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231154

Thanks for the help!

FYI: The factory installed memory is also 5-5-5-15 and I *THINK* the fastest CL it supports is 5-5-5-15.

 

From everything I have been told, most likely not. You will only see the improvements in benchmarks.

 

I have 32 bit vista right now...I have single dimm 2gb in and have another 2gb that I'm going to install. How much memory will be used since its not 64bit..I know not all 4gb wil be used. Will the memory that 32bit cant see, be used as video memory? or will it just be put aside to rot

 

With Vista 32, only ~3.3gb or so of your 4gb of RAM will be addressable. Rest will fester and eventually start to smell like yesterday's fish. ;-p