Replacing Memory in 6130HS

I have 512MB of memory from my old laptop that I'd like to put in my Averatec. It's the right kind. I read the sticky post about warranty, so it appears to be OK to upgrade memory. Trouble is, where do I put it? On my old laptop, there was a dedicated cover to take off the back for the memory and it was obvious where it went, but on the Averatec there's just one big panel, which includes the fan vents.

I figured that the memory must be in there and that it would be OK to take off the panel without voiding the warranty (how else are you going to upgrade) but once I got it off I wasn't too sure. The only thing that looked like memory looked to be two things stacked on top of each other, offset slightly, with no obvious place for upgrades. So does this notebook come shipped with 2x256MB or 1x512MB?

And was I OK removing that panel? One of the screws appeared to have wax or paint on the end, which worried me warranty wise. There are two stickers on the back which say "warranty void if seal broken" but it wasn't clear exactly what that meant.

So anyway, any advice? I'm not really sure how to go about this because I'm useless at hardware stuff. I know about avoiding static and the like and not using tools, but it just didn't seem as obvious as upgrading the memory on my Compaq.

 

HMMMM. So I just downloaded the user manual and followed their instructions. The memory is very easy to take out and replace. So I did it. And the new memory didn't work, windows refused to boot properly and when I booted in safe mode the memory was showing at 256MB in total.

So I put the old memory module back in - and now this isn't being recognized. I have only 256MB! So what the hell has happened and how do I get my old memory back???

 

are you sure its seated right? it could not be in there properly and not connected and therefore not working.

And for reference, it would take a fairly large dose of static electrcity to kill a full ram stick at once.

 

Joy of joy of sweetness of hearts and flowers! My memory is back. Turns out it just wasn't seated right. Like a complete noobie fool and a big baby, I panicked and was ready to blame everyone from the midwife who delivered me to the guy who looked at me cock-eyed on the subway last week.

I don't have to slash my paws after all. [ ]

 

So I just called Averatec customer support and explained everything to the guy. He suggested there may now be damage to the top memory slot (the one whose memory I took out) and to swap the two sticks round to make sure. So I took out both and put the one I suspected of being faulty in the bottom slot. Sure enough, it works - so it's not the RAM, it's the top memory slot. DAMN! And this guy was of course, dropping hints that this wouldn't be covered by the warranty and that I have damaged it myself - but I couldn't have been more gentle, everything came out easily enough and nothing was forced.

Well, looks like this is going to ruin my day! Any suggestions?

 

Same happened to me, don't be ashamed

 

Maybe you should try the new memory again to see if it would work.

 

Yep I'm sittin' purdy with 768MB of RAM. Makes me wonder why manufacturers ship laptops with 2x256MB rather than 1x512MB - I could be chewing on a Gig right now.

Er...the fact that it's in the computer and working means that nothing should go wrong, right? I felt like I was taking a risk putting the memory from my Compaq in the Averatec since I know nothing of memory types really and all I was going on was the fact that it said "DDR", and the other stick in the Compaq said "333MHz" so I figured that one must be also.

Is there some way I can completely test this memory? I seem to remember a hardware testing program in Windows which did just that but I can't seem to find it.

 

You should go to http://download.guru3d.com/sandra/ and review the program called Sandra by Si-Soft. Great app for getting all sorts of great techy details out of your machine.

 

Great program. Two things made me wonder though - Sandra says my memory speed is 266MHz - I thought it was supposed to be 333?

Also, the program tells me my maximum memory capacity is 4GB. Is this true?

 

In the 6130hs the fastest memory that you can put in it is PC2700(333 mhz). I bought a 1 gig of ram from newegg for 180 dollars, the brand is made my kingmax. My laptop is running at 1.25 gigs.
-andrew

 

Any noticible difference with that much memory?

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by BaroqueJim

 

So I presume the 6130 comes shipped with 512MB of 333MHz memory. So I put in this other 512MB stick, and now Sandra is reporting my memory speed is 266MHz. So is the new stick only 266MHz, and it's bottlenecked the speed of the other one? I know nothing.

So if the new stick is only 266 MHz, I'd just be better off all round replacing it with a gig of 333MHz memory, right? And what IS the maximum amount I can upgrade with? 4G like Sandra says?

 

I think 2 gb is the max, as there is only two slots and 1 gb sticks max available. I am running 2 gb myself but I used matching ram. I have 2 256 chips left over, bummer.
If onr stick is slower the system rev erts yto thagt speed. You have the choice of repacing the 256 with a slower 512, or buying a 333 512 or 1 gb to replace the compaq memory. I did the same thing by the way, it is hard to tell the memory is seated right.

 

The chipset may support up to 4gb, so you could "design" a laptop that could handle that much ram, assuming you design enough memory slot for it (you would need 4 slots to achieve 4gb!)

 

Yeah I can notice a lot of difference with having 1.25 gigs of ram.
1. The HD isn't as accessed as much so it doesn't heat up as much.
2. open more programs and it'll run pretty good.
3. encode video faster.
4. run's more efficiently then before.
In my opinion the more memory you have the better the computer you will have. The Hard drive may last longer with more memory because you won't be accessing the hard drive as much.
Just save about 200 dollars and go out and buy 1 gig ram stick and you'll notice the difference.
-andrew

 

I'm sure they'll come out with 2 gig memory sticks but they'll be very expensive at first.
-andrew

 

So what about speed of memory on this laptop? Can you put in faster memory than 333MHz?

 

The fastest memory that you can install in the 6130hs is PC2700(333 mhz). That's what it says in the manual.
-andrew