2.5GB of memory on TXN25N ?? (Vista performance boost)

So I just got a VGN-TXN25N that runs Vista Business and as others have noted.. performance is lacking quite a bit.

My laptop came with 1gb of RAM standard and after experiencing the slow performance with Vista, I immediately began to look at upgrading the memory.

The VGN-TXN25N has 512MB of fixed ram and one slot that is upgrade-able (in my case this slot is filled with a 512mb stick making a total of 1gb).

The VGN-TXN25N uses 200-pin SODIMM, DDR2 memory (either PC2-4200 or PC2-5300). Officially it only supports a maximum of 1.5 gb of ram.. this means that you could put a 1gb stick in the one upgrade-able slot.

However there are 2gb sticks of memory available that theoretically should work . Granted they come at a premium but I'd be willing to pay it if it would give me 2.5 gb of ram to use with Vista. It's my experience (based on other computers) that going from 1gb of ram to 2+ gb of ram can make a world of difference in Vista's performance.

I'm wondering if anyone might have tried installing a 2gb stick in their TXN25N?

A sony tech support rep says that it might work but they can't guarantee it. I asked them to please forward a request to the appropriate department to add BIOS support for it if necessary. They agreed.. if other folks do this perhaps they may actually listen.

You can chat with Sony Support here (choose live chat under Computers - VAIO®): http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/support-contacts.pl?mdl=VGNTXN25N



In any case I'm going to give it a shot soon and will post back my results here.

 

If you're going to upgrade and get a 2GB RAM stick, then let me save you a crap load of money and click on this link http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=121363

Let us know if your computer recognizes it afterwards. My guess you might have a tough time if the bios doesn't allow it.

 

Yeah.. its basically a fishing expedition. Sony didn't say that the bios didn't support it, they just didn't know. Asking them to add bios support for it was simply my own speculation that if it didn't work this would theoretically be the only reason why it didn't.

I'm hoping there is no bios limitation and that they just published 1.5 GB as the official maximum because perhaps 2gb sticks weren't available when they drew up the specs.

Thanks for the link to the ram deals! I may go with someplace that is more expensive for now just to be assured that I can return it if it doesn't work.

 

Update!!

Just installed a Patriot 2gb stick of PC2-5300 RAM purchased from Frys for 89.99

Result: Success!

There is only one caveat.. It seems that the bios will only recognize 2gb of ram total even though there is now technically 2.5 gb of ram installed (my 2gb stick plus 512mb of fixed ram).

That being said.. I am extremely pleased that it recognized the stick and Vista is *much* speedier having 2gb of ram to play with (as opposed to 1gb).

Perhaps a future BIOS update will enable it to use the extra 512mb...

 

Do you think it would work on my TXN15?

 

A couple weeks ago, I installed a Transcend 2GB PC-5300 stick alongside my 1GB of preinstalled RAM and it works like a charm ... not sure bout whether it recognises it in BIOS but when I run PCWizard and CPU-Z, it recognises it, as well as Win Vista! I've got startup running quicker (although I'd still like a SSD for this) and programs starting and responding quicker than before with just the preinstalled 1GB. I think my processor is finding it hard to keep up LOL

 

Does anybody have an update on the performance of the Patriot 2gb stick PC2-5300 RAM ? I'm looking for some way to speed this thing up, it's painfully slow.

 

Well I did just that. I gambled $100.00 and bought a Kingston 2GB ram chip. Guess what? I removed the 500MB ram and isnstalled the 2 GB and got a grand total ram of 2GB. Yes I double checked and the onboard 500MB just dissapeared. I updated my BIOS and still only 2GB. I am pleased that I was able to get 2GB and will settle for losing the 500MB. My laptop speed has doubled with another GB of ram - It was totally worth the $100.00!!!

 

i did the same thing with my TXN15 and it works great

2gig of memory

 

A friend and I each did the upgrade this weekend and it works like a charm. Speed is much, much better. Be sure to purchase the 2gb on a single stick...not 2 one g sticks (which is cheaper). You've only got room for the single.

 

Do you think it could reduce the battery life ? Maybe a 2 Gb Ram stick is less power-efficient than a 1 Gb one ?

Moreover, do you think it could be done on an european G11 ? I think it shares the same components as the TX, but I'm not sure.

 

i highly doubt it will consume more power

 

2GB of memory will probably consume more power than 1GB of memory - there are simply more banks of memory to refresh. My very non-scientific tests (ie. too many variables to be accurate) of going from the built in 512MB to 1GB, made power usage jump about 0.4W. That's about 12 minutes of battery life. However, don't forget that if you're swapping a lot, the loss of that battery life will be worth it with less hard disk access.

 

is the txn25n the same thing as a tx850p?

 

its not the same, its similar, couple different things though.

 

Woot. I didnt know we could do this, and had bought a 1GB for it, blindly believing the User Manual. Luckily they let me return it and get the 2. Nice.

 

Wookie... you are really going to like this... it may not let you fall in love with Vista....but it'll keep you from wanting to toss your TXN against the wall while it struggles to boot!

 

oh I dumped Vista off it shortly after buying the computer lol

 

can i use 3gb of ram with my tz191? :O should be awesome if I can!