Sony TT Extra RAM/Upgrades

Hello,

I have a TT11 with 2GB RAM and i am looking to increase this to 4GB RAM as soon as i find a store in the UK which sells it.

I just wanted to know how much of a difference the extra RAM will make on the TT? I know it will proberbly depend on a number of factors, but i was just after a rough idea.

Oh can i use any of the following RAM for the TT?
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1873319276.1254933713@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccfcadeihkdldhicflgceggdhhmdgmk.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=992565&category_oid=-31443

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1873319276.1254933713@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccfcadeihkdldhicflgceggdhhmdgmk.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=843244&category_oid=-31443

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1873319276.1254933713@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccfcadeihkdldhicflgceggdhhmdgmk.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=375557&category_oid=-31443

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2GB-DDR2-533-667-MHZ-PC-5300-SODIMM-MEMORY-RAM-UK-NEW_W0QQitemZ200381844978QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_Laptop_Memory_RAM_ET?hash=item2ea7b04df2&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2GB-DDR2-800MHz-PC2-6400-soDIMM-Laptop-Notebook-RAM-new_W0QQitemZ220457601065QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_Laptop_Memory_RAM_ET?hash=item33544c0829&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14


Kind Regards

 

Does the TT11M/N notebook take the same RAM as the TT190 series notebook?

 

It takes DDR3 204pin PC3-6400 ram. It seems that you're ok buying ram on ebay.
If 2GB is enough this is what you need.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2GB-2Rx8-PC3-...M_ET?hash=item5ad3b7d6c2&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

Thank you Rachel.

 

I just bought 8Gb of Ram DDR3 4Gbx2 Here http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120476575668&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
can't wait to get them. I hope it will work with my VAIO VGN-TT11RM. Also going to install Blueray and WiMax.

 

I hope this works out ok for you, do update if you can how it went. I know that some early Z models had problems getting those models to address more than 6GB without a hack. Hopefully Sony hasn't restricted the BIOS in anyway with these early TT models.

 

Well, I saw the most powerfull TT modele with 2SSD drives in RAID and 8Gb of RAM installed, so I hope it will work

 

All the best with the 8GB RAM.

How much is a blu-ray drive for a TT? Cos if i get 4GB RAM, i can get a blu-ray to work, correct? Though my processor is only 1.20Mhz core 2 duo and 120GB HD.

Kind Regards

 

Well, on eBay drive costs $450, I'm not sure that it can be fitted, I'll try to fit it and will post the results.

 

In regards to the blu ray drive the part number this was discussed in the owners thread here, it takes a Mata BD-MLT UJ232AS.
I couldn't find any on ebay.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4420205&postcount=503

 

Here you go!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120469554405&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Thiss one is the point!

 

Hello Nectop ,

did you try your new ram?
I have my fiancee's TT290NBX and I would like to upgrade it up to 8gb,

please let me know

Hello Rachel,

do you think that the TT290NBX can hold that ammount of ram?

best regards

 

I have ordered it on eBay and still doesn't receive it. As soon as a get it, I'll post results.

 

Hello Rachel,

I have my fiancee TT290NBX and I would like to upgrade it up to 6gb or gb,

do you think that the TT290NBX can hold that ammount of ram?

best regards

 

thepinkpanther i don't know for certain. I would be a little surprised if it just worked straight of like that but it might. Later models were released in Japan that supported 8GB of ram. Whether one may need to flash their BIOS to a newer version or i'm not certain. Like i wrote before Z owners that owned earlier models of the Z had to do a hack to get their laptops to recognise 8GB.

This might not happen in the case of the TT but it might.

I think the most logical thing to do is to wait until someone tries it and nectop has stated that they will be able to say more on this soon.

 

if Nectop will do it .....that will be the greatest news ..he will create the smallest monster.....the vaio TT....

ciao for now

 

Hello Nectop,

do you have any news?

regards

 

Hello.
Unfortunatly not yet, still doesn't recieve yet.

 

At last guys, I have receive it!
Take a look at pictures:
Modules:

First installed:

BIOS Summary screen:

Second installed:

BIOS Summary Screen:

So .. as you can see It works on my VAIO TT-11RM/R, and the answer to quastion, Yes, it can use 8Gb of ram, but I didin't really feel any perfomance boost from 4Gb But anyway, now I'm waiting for SSD Drive to arrive and Intel WiFi & WiMax Intel 5150 Half-Size module.

 

Hello Nectop,

thank you for let me know..............this is a very good news !
just jesterday I saw the below web site and I think the price is very good.....

http://www.shopblt.com/cgi-bin/shop...1300000U0126_BBG6328P.shtml&order_id=!ORDERID

my TT has the blu-ray and I can't place the 128GB and unfortynately the 256GB
is too much fo r now,

if you find something cheaper please let me know,

regards

 

Hello.
I thing you can swap you drive to SSD without haveing problems with blu-ray drive. I have bought SSD from eBay, also I have foung this one 256Gb 1,8 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360190344097&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT but it's expensive for me by now. Maybe later I'll take it and my ordered drive will install to my wife's TT

 

Thank you for this report. I have a question: the 2gb RAM inside the TT right under the keyboard is not soldered? Thanks.

 

No, it's not, you can easely swap it.

 

I just signed up to thank you for posting the results of your upgrade. Thank you nectop for taking the time to take pictures of your mods.

I was also wondering if you had any pdf instructions on how you took apart the laptop to make the mods.


Thanks again

 

Unfortunatly my english is not so good to discribe take a part prosidure. Buy the way, there was an article about it with some pictures:
http://kunkoku.livedoor.biz/archives/51534770.html

 

Today I have bought Intel 5150 WiFi WiMax Lin card, just install it.
No perfomance boost in 802,11n, my router is Asus Wl500 with draft n. And unfortunatly WiMax don't work, I guess it's beccause VAIO TT doesn't have USB wired to miniPCI-E, and I'm going to ask a guys at our Russian forum to help me with it. I'll write later.

 

it's not surprise that you did not see any performance increase. the only time adding more memory would help is when you don't have enough of it. you can check and verify this from the task manager how much is being used, and what's the peak memory usage has been. generally, 4gb is already overkill for most things. adding more will just slightly drain your battery faster. only time you'll see an increase in performance is using large, resource hungry software, or virtualization.

 

Yes, I know that. I use a lot of memory hangry applications and some virtualisitaion apps. I system administrator in couple of companys so I have a lot of RDP opened in same time, so next upgrade, that, I think should increse overall perfomance is fast SSD drive insteed of stock HDD.


Today the guy from our forum helped me to make WiMax to work, unfortunatly now I mess one of USB ports. Could you guys help me with service manual or repair manual for VAIO TT (VGN-TT11RM/R) I need to find out maybe there is some USB ports that is not soldered, where I can solder my WiMax USB, don't want to miss my USB port

 

Hello again. Here is my very last mods.
Adding USB to miniPC-E slot:

WiFi/WiMax card:

USB Hub to solder in to the laptop, to not to lose any of usb ports:





Now replacing HDD with SSD drive!


That's it!
Now it's a small monster.
VAIO TT with 128Gb SSD, fast one, and WiMax and 8Gb of RAM. Now, after installing SSD I can really feel the perfomance improvment and bennefit of 8Gb of RAM, now system boots in a seconds and applications loads way faster. I'm going to buy 256Gb SSВ later. This SSD will be moved to my wife's VAIO TT11RM/N.

 

Hello Nectop,

congratulation! so the ssd made the difference....right?

where can I get the wimax/wifi 5150 half card?

thank you and have a nice weekend

 

Well, I really don't know where to get it, because I bought аакщь our local Russian trade forum, the card was from Ace WiMax Enabled Laptop. You can try to ask companys that selling separate parts for laptops.

 

I would be interested in seeing a HD Tune/Crystalmark of your HD nectop.

That TT you've got there is quite powerful with 8GB of ram and an SSD drive. You seem to use it for quite intensive purposes. Is the CPU powerful enough for your needs?

 

Well, I'm thinking of upgrade CPU to 1,4Ghz, because it's not so powerfull as I'm expacting, and not always enough for my applications but it's quite ok.
As you asked, Crystalmark test results:
---------------------------------------------------------------
CrystalDiskMark 3.0 x64 Beta1 (C) 2007-2009 hiyohiyo
Crystal Dew World : http://crystalmark.info/
---------------------------------------------------------------

Sequential Read : 121.970 MB/s
Sequential Write : 55.530 MB/s
Random Read 512KB : 125.349 MB/s
Random Write 512KB : 50.504 MB/s
Random Read 4KB (QD=1) : 8.565 MB/s [ 2091.0 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=1) : 1.838 MB/s [ 448.8 IOPS]
Random Read 4KB (QD=32) : 12.130 MB/s [ 2961.5 IOPS]
Random Write 4KB (QD=32) : 1.611 MB/s [ 393.3 IOPS]

Test : 1000 MB [C: Used 41.7% (50.1/120.1 GB)]
Date : 2009/11/15 23:27:01
OS : Windows 7 Enterprise Edition [6.1 Build 7600] (x64)

 

Thanks for posting that nectop. I see that the TT can address full SATA II speeds.

 

Rachel, why don't you post your CrystalMarks on your new SDD for him to see -- they're twice what he's getting. He might be interested.

FYI, the original Samsung SSD that came with my TT190 is not even HALF the speeds you posted on your new SSD; however i did install a new Intel X18 and though i have you beat slightly on the reads, my writes are only half as fast.

Your NEW Samsung rocks...alot better than the ones they originally put into their units back in February.

 

Hi howaboutnow, i did inform nectop over PM. Even though the standard drive is ok the drives we all have are a big improvement over the standard drive. The Kingspec are quite expensive though on Ebay. I paid £160 for my drive a Samsung PB22J-S with the most recent firmware.
As i mentioned in the posts i linked to below it was advertised as having 100/80 speeds but i got a little lucky with that and mine has 220/200 speeds. I did suspect that might be the case that it was advertised wrong and that is partly the reason why i bought it. If i did get those speeds i would have been ok with it as well.

I posted this in the TT thread.
This was my benchmarks with the standard drive.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5502068&postcount=1109

This is with my SSD
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5531148&postcount=1132

My 4k speeds improved a tiny bit since i did that benchmark but just add another point to the scores for my read and write.

I'm pleased, i'm not a power user and it serves the purpose well for me.

I installed Intel Matrix manager today and i again did my boot up times and was averaging between 28-30s. This is really good for a notebook of this type. I also have W7 Aero enabled.
It is not quite as fast as the 2.5 Samsung drive in my SZ as that can get about 24s-26s in W7 but it is perfectly acceptable and i'm pleased with the overall performance.

What are your boots times like nectop and howaboutnow?

I also added a HDMI port and WWAN to this laptop. Well, not me i got someone else to do it. The TT is a pretty amazing laptop.

About bluray, i guess the jury is still out as to whether it is fine for SSD drives. I read that it may trash SSD drives a bit more but i don't know if there is any truth in this. If i do upgrade down the line it will adding a bluray drive.

 

My VAIO specs and CM specs are as follows for the 2 VAIO tt's i have --

TT150N-Computer Spec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1.2GHz, 4GB RAM, W7 Ultimate 32-bit, Intel X18-M 80GB, Bootime=70sec

TT150N-CrystalMark Spec (5@1000MB)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Reads=240.5, 183.7, 16.59
Writes=68.85, 72.57, 28.25


TT190-Computer Spec
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.4 GHZ, 4GB RAM, W7 Ultimate 32-bit, Samsung 64GB SSD, Bootime=60sec

TT190-CrystalMark Spec (5@1000MB)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reads=93.71, 89.10, 10.53
Writes=23.48, 3.4, 4.8

I am very disappointed at the stock Samsung SSD. I have another Intel X18 that i am soon to put into the TT190. The Intel cranks on reads but the writes are alot slower than yours, Rachel.

I think it's taking a little extra time for either of my machines to boot because of loading antivirus (AVG full), Microsoft Live Messenger, and connecting to and authenticating to a Storage Area Network that i have.

Net-net, i am happy with these cool little boxes.

I think based on Nectop's work with installing more RAM than Sony says they will allow (4GB) on *my* boxes, I will also crank mine up to 8GB and install 64-bit Windows on at least one of them.

Thank you Nectop for being guinea pig on testing 8GB -- that's alot of $$ if it doesn't work.

Rachel, i am sooooo jealous of that drive you bought. SMOKIN' !! Then again, i only paid $189USD for the Intel.

Nice chatting with you all...talk to you again when i have anything worthy to contribute.

 

howaboutnow, the Intel drive is a very fast drive.
I don't have any antivirus installed or anything like a storage area network.
I'm sure if you didn't have these things your times would be similar.

I do have about 53 processes running at start up which is quite a normal amount really. I've installed everything i need and left out a few of the Sony bloatware. I also disabled my server and workstation settings but i'm not even sure if that makes any difference as i do that automatically with any drive more for battery life purposes.
I've also tweaked what i want running at startup.

 

Those of you who have bluray drives what is your CPU usage like when watching a movie?

I have seen these
http://cgi.ebay.com/ThinkPad-T400-B...C_Drives_Storage_Internal?hash=item3a54e3503c


They have branding on them which i dislike but may be some can be removed and they appear to have something attached to the back. I don't know if that can be removed but may be this can be a much cheaper alternative?

 

You want to to swap your DVD-RW drive to Blu-Ray? I saw one genuine on ebay. Just from TT.

 

Thanks nectop.
I'm thinking about it but do not wish to pay £300 for the drive plus shipping. If you've seen a second hand one for a reasonable price then do let me know.

 

I'm using PowerDVD 9 on my TT11M (1.2GHz) and CPU usage is about 20% for Blu-ray playback. That doesn't tell you very much though because its using the X4500MHD for decoding and there's no option to disable it. Anyway, playback is nice and smooth and I get nearly 4 hours battery life with the backlight set a few stops down from maximum. Something to note if you are planning to do the blu-ray drive upgrade yourself is that the bezel for the Panasonic drive is not compatible with the one for the Sony NEC Optiarc drive. I managed to get one from the US spare parts store but it wasn't cheap and I only saw it in black and gold colours.

 

I've also followed nectop's example and upgraded my RAM to 8GB. In my case I used a Crucial memory kit. Now I'm just waiting for the Intel X18-m G2 160GB to become more generally available.

 

Thanks shawkie, the upgrade doesn't seem that simple then.

 

Actually, I had another look and I think they do have the bezel in white. I think X-2320-802-1 is the part you would need. Its about $55 plus shipping though. So its simple enough but expensive.

 

What is it? Is it SSD?

 

Sadly, no. Its a small piece of plastic!

 

As a few of you have opened your notebooks does anyone know what the PLL that this model uses?
I might try overclocking using setfsb if it is possible just to see what this model can do. I'm not interested in any pin modding.
I know that UL30a owners are struggling to do this and that model uses DDR3 ram also.
May be down the line it might be something that i use more if i demand more power from TT. The SU9600 can naturally overclock to 1.8ghz due to IDA as i have seen in Everest when set to high performance mode but how good this feature is debatable.

 

Rachel, Woe! Phased Lock Loop !! What in the World!!

To show the depths of my ignorance, I had to Google PLL to see what it was you were asking about. I still don't know what it looks like. If you told me, next time i open the patient up i will take note !!

 

Thanks howaboutnow, how to locate the PLL is explained a bit more in this post.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3584455&postcount=1