Samsung X60 Questions

Hi guys - been reading here for a while and have some Q's...

I really like the look of this laptop and have read some good reviews.

1. However - as of yet Samsung have not listed this laptop to get a free Vista upgrade. Does anyone know the why's/whats/if's/buts of this? I won't get this laptop if they dont offer it.

2. If I got the 7200 Ghz version, what ram would I need to upgrade this to 2GB RAM. Also - If I did upgrade the RAM, would 2 x 512 & 1 x 1gb perform not as well as 2 x 1gb ram?

Many thanks,

Dave.

 

I can't say much about the VISTA upgrade, but at least a hint about a ram:
the X60 has only 2 memory slots. Normally, these are already in use, most of the time by 2x512MB modules. So if you want to upgrade, your best choice would be to ask the dealer to configure it with 1x1Gb or straight with 2x1GB.
THe RAM needed would be the 667Mhz laptop memory module (also known as PC5300 SODIMM DDRAM2).

 

I'm not sure whether Samsung have got the Vista upgrades working yet. I've tried following the links (see separate thread) and end up at a dead end. I'm planning to ask Samsung customer service nearer the time. Some suppliers (eg Laptops Direct) claim that they have their own Vista upgrade arrangements.

My X60plus - T7200 came with 2 x 512MB. This was not an issue for me because I already had 2 x 1GB. However, unless you really need 2GB from day 1, I would recommend replacing one module and see if it meets your needs. The measure of RAM sufficiency is swap file usage. Suppliers tend to charge a premium for a RAM upgrade compared with DIY.

John

 

Hi John,

Im not so sure about the Laptops Direct vista upgrade. They claim on their site that "any" laptop bought with Xp pro etc is eligible for an upgrade but then below list all manufacturer contacts except samsungs.

Im going to give L.D a call tomorrow probably and ask them what the deal is i.e. do i need to apply to samsung for my vista disk or them?!?

I'll let you know the outcome...

 

I've had a reply from LaptopsDirect regarding the free upgrade to Vista:

"The Vista upgrades are claimed by yourself through Microsoft when you have recieved your laptop from us.

I should check with Microsoft before you order just to make sure you can claim the upgrade, we do not have the info here to confirm either way."

Hmmm...

Has anyone heard anything from Samsung??!!?! Im gonna email them now...

 

A few days ago I was in contact with samsung regarding the upgrade on the X60lus, and they said this

I'm guessing it'd be the same for the X60

 

Hi guys,

Im going to order this laptop tomorrow and upgrade to 2Gb of RAM.

Just to double check....do you know if this ram will work...

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=462693

Also:to install the RAM is it a case of lifting a hatch on the bottom of the laptop and inserting or do i have to take out screws etc? Will I have to use a CD etc to install anything or will the computer auto read that it has 2GB RAM?

many thanks for your help.

 

That RAM is fine. I've got one module of the same RAM from the same source (except mine was £48+VAT as a "Today only" offer). The timing isn't particularly good:5-5-5-15 at 333MHz. However, faster RAM (where those numbers will be a bit lower) carries a bit of price premium and is not so easy to find.

Changing the RAM is easy: There are two screws to remove the cover on the bottom of the computer. See here. There are two clips holding the ends of the RAM modules. Hold these slightly outwards so that you can then rotate the module by about 30° by pulling up on the free edge (the right side on the above photo) and then pulling the module out of the socket (upwards at about 30° . The second module is underneath. To insert the new modules (bottom one first!) push them into the slot at about the 30° angle having first check the orientation of the connector (there is a notch). Once well seated in the slot, push the module down so that it is held by the clips. Repeat for the other. The only problem I have encountered is not making sure that the modules are pushed far enough into the socket to make a proper connection.

******** Anti-static precautions apply *********
You can look these up elsewhere, but the key thing is to make sure that you have earthed yourself (I touch a radiator) before handling the RAM modules.

The computer will automatically see the new RAM on boot-up. If nothing happens or it sees 1GB then something isn't seated properly.

John

 

Thanks John.

So to get faster ram with slightly lower numbers would I be looking for a 800Mhz+ chip?

Or can you get a 667Mhz one with lower than 5-5-5-15?

Will it make any significant difference getting a better RAM chip than the one linked above? How do I find out whether it's 5-5-5-15 or lower?

Sorry for all the questions...

 

Yes, in principle RAM rated at CL=5 at 800MHz should run faster (probably CL=4) at 667MHz. Sometimes the timings are listed on the web pages, sometime you have to look into the datasheets. Kingston make such RAM but unfortunately the link to the datasheet is dead. However, pricing here and here show a substantial premium over 667MHz RAM. I wouldn't spend the extra money for something which will make a small improvement. The key thing is to go to 2GB and minimise use of the swap file.

Better to keep the money ready for a bigger / faster HDD.

John

 

Hi John,

thanks for all your help - just ordered my X60 - should be delivered tomorrow!

I have a few final questions before getting some ram but first please excuse all my ignorance lol.

When you mentioned the timing isnt good at 333Mhz is this because although both RAM sticks are at 667, because there are two sticks the speed is halved?

It's just when I purchase the ram, I dont want the comp to underclock etc...

 

Sorry to confuse you about the RAM speed: The data rate on DDR2 RAM is actually double the true clock speed. That is, DDR2 667 RAM actually runs at 333MHz.

I've actually got 1GB of 533 and 1GB of 667 RAM and couldn't measure a significant performance difference between them. The nominally slower module means that the timing in use is 4-4-4-12 at 533, instead of 5-4-4-15 at 667 (I won't try to explain the meaning of those mumbers except that they are the number of cycles taken to do something, so the lower the number, the better). 12 clocks at 533 is the same amount of real time as 15 clocks at 667.

It's nothing to lose sleep about.

John

 

Hi John,

It makes more sense now thanks. If you had approx £200 to spend on RAM what would you go for then?

 

It is hard to find firm facts about the timing of faster RAM. I think I would email sales at Orcalogic to ask if they had any 1GB 200-pin DDR2 SODIMMs (either 667MHz or 800MHz) which would have CL=4 at 667MHz. Orcalogic sell both Transcend and Kingston RAM.

John

 

Thanks John.

What is Crucial.com like? I looked at their recomendations after selecting the X60 model and although it comes to £208, I'd be willing to pay if its a decent speed?

What do you think to this?

http://www.orcalogic.co.uk/asp/basket.asp?show=yes&FF=yes&T1=2&Recalculate=Recalculate

I promise I will stop asking questions soon lol.

 

Crucial used to be good value, but these days the prices direct from Crucial are higher than if you buy their memory from others.

Your link to Orcalogic doesn't work. Were you pointing to the Kingston KVR800D2S5/1G or some Transcend RAM. Either are possibilities. My 1GB of 533 RAM is Transcend and nearly 2 years old but it has slight better timing at 533 (4-4-4-11) than the newer 667MHz Corsair RAM (4-4-4-12 at 533 and 5-5-5-15 at 667). CPU-Z gives you this information.

I'm happy to offer advice as long as I get feedback, good or bad. And I hope the goods outnumber the bads by a healthy margin.

John

 

Sorry about that...I was on about the Transcend 1GB stick found here.

I'm just confused because 533Mhz sticks seem to perform better than 667Mhz ones

I have found the following RAM which I believe to be of good speed:

1

2

3 - not so sure about this one

 

CL=4 at 533 is about the same physical time delay as CL=5 at 667 (CL means clock latency in timing cycles). I would go for 667 RAM and ideally, if it exists, CL=4 at 667. The Transcend RAM may be good, hence my previous comment about emailing Orcalogic.

John

 

Hi John,

I have just purchased the following RAM:

http://www.dabs.com/productview.asp...&SearchKey=All&SearchMode=All&NavigationKey=0

Hope this works ok.

Many thanks for all your help over the past week. I received the Laptop yesterday and really like it. Its brilliant.

Cheres,

Dave.

 

Glad to hear that you are happy with the computer. That RAM looks to be good. It would be interesting to run some benchmarks with the present RAM and the new RAM. One possible software would be SiSoftware Sandra which includes a memory bandwidth benchmark. CPU-Z will give all the timing details.

Sandra's result for my current RAM (533MHz 4-4-4-14) is:

first run
RAM Bandwidth Int Buff'd iSSE2 : 2767 MB/s
RAM Bandwidth Float Buff'd iSSE2 : 2818 MB/s

second run
RAM Bandwidth Int Buff'd iSSE2 : 2659 MB/s
RAM Bandwidth Float Buff'd iSSE2 : 2687 MB/s

third run
RAM Bandwidth Int Buff'd iSSE2 : 2698 MB/s
RAM Bandwidth Float Buff'd iSSE2 : 2719 MB/s

There's some variability, but all are lower than what is suggested by Sandra's database, possibly because i have a lot of other applications open at the moment.

John

 

I'll do the tests and get back to you about it. I just need a wireless mouse, case and I'm done

Looking forward to getting Vista on this too. Im going to try and get a free upgrade and If not i'll just purchase XP with the Vista Home Premium upgrade voucher.

 

Get a bluetooth mouse such as the Logitech V270. Bags are a completely different issue. I've got many, depending on where and how I am going and what i need to carry. If your local WH Smiths has any Swissgear backpacks remaining, take a good look at one.

John

PS: If you use hibernation then you will also need the 2GB hibernation patch from Microsoft (KB909095).

 

Hi there, first post having stumbled across this forum while looking for information on x1700 drivers...

I have upgraded to 2gb of RAM, it cost me £108.88 (to my door) from ebay US and here's the CPUZ screen...



I needed the hibernation patch JR mentioned, for some reason MS don't make it easy to find but it should be easy with the # listed

Also bought a Presenter 8000 mouse that works nicely with the inbuilt BT module and has a funky carry case so it doesn't get scratched in the bowels of the Dicota BacPac Rain I bought as it looks nothing like a laptop sack and is really functional

Just proof read that and it sounds like I have far too much money to spend

 

Welcome to the forum.

The hibernation patch is here.

If you can get PowerPlay working for the X1700, let me know. I'm sure ATI know that they haven't got this fixed, but when I contacted them they told me to contact Samsung. A month ago Samsung said that they were looking into it. Persoanlly, I blame Vista, which is demanding attention from the people who work on the drivers.

John

 

Hi John,

Just a quick query - I know internal laptop speakers are not generally good but the Samsung X60 ones seem exceptionally tinny when listening to music.

In addition to this, I have hooked it up to my sony speakers and the sound is awful. I have played around with the advanced sound/speaker settings on the laptop and nothing has changed.

It's defo not a problem with the mp3, cable or speakers because I used all of them on my dekstop.

Do you have any suggestions?

 

I rate the X60's speakers as above average.

Did you find the SRS control panel and try the different settings? On the old X60 this as Fn+F7, but now you need to look for SRS in the programs. I have created a quick lauch short cut.

John

 

Problem solved. Thanks John. I promise not to make any more silly comments without fully checking the system out

 

Good. Isn't a key function of the forum to provide such help?

So how do you now rate the X60's audio quantity and quality?

John

 

Yeah the sound quality is very impressive.

To be honest, the whole computer has impressed me. I have no problems with it at all so far (touches wood).

The widescreen makes for brilliant viewing not only because of the size but because of how bright and sharp it is

 

Hi guys

i have just a question to ask about the x60plus. i have one by the way but recently ran into problem with my audio jack.(green) when i plug in my earphones into the jack, i still get the speakers sounding which was not the case a few months ago and i have checked all related audio options in my control panel and updated every single driver and firmware available for the x60-plus. i contacted samsung customer support about this, but they are not willing to assist me because they feel that it is the same for all x60models(what!!..yeah i know) the staff i spoke to claimed he had the x60 but not the x60plus model with him and when he plug a headphone into the jack..sounds where coming from the speakers at the same time. obviously they re similar models but not the same. i tried explaining this but his defense was they have the same sound card in both models so i would like to be sure that my claim about this issue is valid or true as they(samsung) say this is the same for all the x60 models.
if that is the case, why was a headphone jack invented in the first place. isnt one of its features to ensure privacy and reduce environment disturbance wen listening to and audio content!!
please let me know if this is the same for your x60-plus

 

My first thought is that this is a feature hidden away among the SRS options, but I can't find it. My speakers always go off when I plug something into the green socket.

Normally, the headphone socket has a simple mechanical switch in which the inserted plug breaks the circuit feeding the internal speakers. This should give the right impression. I've got a nearly new Samsung TV at home which has the opposite problem to you. Sometimes the sound stops. Plugging in and removing a headphone restores the contact and the sound restarts.

Before you try to RMA the computer, try some different headphones. While the plugs are all meant to be the same size, maybe the plug on yours is slightly thin and doesn't trigger the mechanical switch. Testing with another pair should eliminate this possibility from further enquiries.

John

 

exactly! mine did always turn off when you plug in a headphone and am pretty sure it is a standard mechanism for most personal computer and notebooks.i have tried series of earphones and external speakers and although am no technical wiz, it doesnt need a genius to realise its a hardware part problem because the headphone socket seems a bit loose. i mentioned this to the so called "technical support" during an hour long conversation but well they believe sounds should be coming through both the speakers and headphone at the same time!!! in x60models so they would not address that!!that doesnt even make any sense!..they would not dispatch any pickup because from their point of view everything seems ok!i will be calling again tomorrow, hopefully, there would be someone who can reason with me among the bunch of &*^?$(i mean gurus )

 

My impression, mainly from electronic correspondence, is that the Samsung support people have a range of competencies. If you are lucky, next time you will get though to someone who understands your problem and agrees that something is not right.

The next challenge will be to ensure that the right spare parts are in stock before sending the computer for repair. This is one area where Dell have been good (perhaps because they have such a big repair workload).

John

 

thanks have noted the advice..

Andrew.