Sony Vaio SZ3 max RAM

I have a Sony Viao SZ3 and want upgrade the RAM. The sticker on the front says 2GB is maximum (note, there are 2 slots and one is occupied with 1GB stick).

1. Does anyone own the same laptop and have successfully upgraded their RAM beyond 2GB? Or if anyone just knows the answer please let me know.

2. I am using Windows XP Professional (32-bit), and want to double check that the maximum RAM supported by this particular operating system is 4GB because I want to get 2 x 2GB for dual channel.

3. I found something interesting on the Microsoft site but since I am computer illiterate could someone confirm whether the article means there is a way to disable system paging on the hard drive by allocating part of the RAM for that function?

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/pae_os.mspx

Many thanks.

 

all I know is that xp (and vista) 32bit, will only be able to USE 3Gb RAM, and not 4GB

If youd want 4gb, get 64 bit

 

According to Crucial memory, the most memory your system supports s 2Gb (2 x 1024mb of memory)
Unfortunately you cannot install more than 2gb of memory, cause the limitation is the Bios of your system, it can only recognize less than or equal to 2gb of memory.

K-TRON

 

WRONG

The SZ3 has an Intel i945GM. Hence your max physical ram is 2 x 2048MB.

SZ3 specs here: http://www.trustedreviews.com/notebooks/review/2006/12/20/Sony-Vaio-VGN-SZ3XP/p4

 

There are like 10 different SZ3 models on Crucials site, so if the OP can give the exact model number, than we can know if it supports 2Gb or 4gb of memory.

EDIT:
I have a i945PM chipset in my E1505, and its maximum memory support is 2gb. The Bios is a limitation factor which also needs to be addressed when figuring out how much memory the system can use.

K-TRON

 

K-T is correct. Depends on MoBo. Also as said 32bit will not recognize 4GB regardless of if system supports.

You can mix different size sticks of RAM and get the full benefit of Dual Channel for the amount that is matched. Also the frequently modified migrates toward the front so your used applications will get full benefit of true Dual Channel.

 

I checked the following SZ3 models and they all hae the same chipset: SZ320, 330, 340, 360, 370, 381, and two 390 and they all have the intel i945GM. So in theory 4GB is feasable.

I think the reason that this model is listed with a max of 2GB (2 x 1024) is when it was launched the price for the 2GB module was $1600 or there about.

 

The OP can try 3GB, as the i945GM/PM chipset won't recognise more than 3.2-3.5GB (irrespective of the OS)

 

1gb old + 2gb new

 

Thank you all for your replies.

@Naton
Thank you for taking the time to check the models, but, unfortunately, my laptop model is: VGN-SZ38GP/C (purchased in Hong Kong). Sorry about that.

@Simonov
If you refer to the links provided in my first post it mentions that the 3GB limitation on 32-bit XP Professional can be increased to 4GB using the PAE feature. Just some minor code adjustments are required.

However, according to the information provided by K-TRON, my motherboard may be unable to recognise beyond 2GB. Is there a program I can use to check my motherboard?

@Andy
Thanks for the information. My laptop contains a 945GM Express Chipset, does the limitation still apply?

Many thanks.

 

no problem

PAE will create problem. A better solution is to use XP 64, Vista 64 or 3GB instead of 4.
Actually depending on you hardware configuration, XP 32 and Vista 32 will be able to see up to 3.8GB. The rule is:
4 gb - graphics card ram (this applies even if you have a descrete graphics)

If you check above, there is a bit of an agreement between me and K-TRON because the 945GM can handle up to 4GB. But we don't know if the BIOS is not limited to 2GB.

 

Sony's website says 2Gb max, even though it has the i945PM chipset.
http://www.sonystyle.com.hk/ss/product/vaio/vgn_sz38gp_c_e.jsp

However a guy on this forum has 3gb of memory installed :
http://www.jcxp.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=26540

As naton mentioned earlier, Sony may have only said 2gb of memory on their website at time of purchase cause 4gb was ridiculously expensive.

It looks like you can install 4gb of memory in your system.

K-TRON

 

Nice to have a link to support my claim

 

Thanks for your replies.

K-TRON thank you for that link, it was very helpful.

@Naton
I do not want to upgrade my operating system to 64-bit at this point in time. Could you tell me more about these 'hardware configurations', is this something I can modify or is it preset and cannot be changed?

If only 3GB is possible, should I purchase that exact amount or would I still benefit from the dual channel configuration despite my laptop being unable to recognise it?

 

Check Page no. 325 of the Intel 945GM Family Datasheet

The 945GM/PM chipset will only recognise upto 3.2-3.5GB, irrespective of the fact that a 64-Bit OS is installed. (It has a 32-bit memory controller)

This was corrected in the Intel 965GM/PM chipset.

So, unless you get a cheap deal on a 4GB Kit, go for 2+1GB....

 

I read in the forum that dual channel can give a boost up to %20-25.

For the ram if you hae less that 4GB, for example 3GB, windows XP or Vista 32 bit will see and use all 3GB.

Now what will happen with 4GB is that the 32 bit operating system will use a chanck of the RAM to address the hardward. The amont of RAM used is equal to the Vram used by the GPU + more ram for the management of the other devices.

For instance someone has reported that out of the 4GB, he had less than 3.5GB (about 3.4GB) because his/her graphics card had 512MB Vram.

So if your GPU has 128MB dedicated, you're likely to be able to use 3.8GB out of 4GB.

 

the above is taken from an HP document:

RAM Allocation with Microsoft Windows XP Professional (32 & 64-bit)
Increasing workstation performance and RAM affordability have enabled more and more users to push the limits of 32-bit computing. This paper discusses those limits with respect to RAM allocation when using Microsoft Windows XP Professional on x86-based computers. Specifically, the 32-bit version of XP Professional limits available RAM to noticeably less than 4 GB while Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition eliminates this barrier.
Microsoft Windows XP Professional, designed as a 32-bit OS, supports an address range of up to 4 GB for virtual memory addresses and up to 4 GB for physical memory addresses. Because the physical memory addresses are sub-divided to manage both the computer’s PCI memory address range (also known as MMIO) and RAM, the amount of available RAM is always less than 4 GB.
The PCI memory addresses starting down from 4 GB are used for things like the BIOS, IO cards, networking, PCI hubs, bus bridges, PCI-Express, and video/graphics cards. The BIOS takes up about 512 KB starting from the very top address. Then each of the other items mentioned are allocated address ranges below the BIOS range. The largest block of addresses is allocated for today’s high performance graphics cards which need addresses for at least the amount of memory on the graphics card. The net result is that a high performance x86-based computer may allocate 512 MB to more than 1 GB for the PCI memory address range before any RAM (physical user memory) addresses are allocated.
RAM starts from address 0. The BIOS allocates RAM from 0 up to the bottom of the PCI memory addresses mentioned above, typically limiting available RAM to between 3 GB and 3.4 GB.

From a user’s perspective the graphics card selected and amount of installed RAM have the most impact on available RAM. A high end graphics card with 256 MB of memory may limit addressable RAM to about 3 GB while cards with less memory may enable higher limits. Industry memory architectures impact the opportunity to install just the amount of RAM that can be made available. Today’s high performance chipsets use dual memory channels which require matched pairs of DIMMs for the best performance. On a 4 DIMM slot computer, the 3 to 4 GB capacity choices fall to 3 GB or 4 GB (two 1 GB DIMMs + two 512 MB DIMMs or four 1 GB DIMMs).
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition uses 64-bit addressing enabling virtually the entire amount of installed RAM to be made available on computers that have large address infrastructures (where the entire system has more than 4 GB addressing capabilities via the processor, chipset, physical memory capacity, etc). The HP xw4300, xw6200, xw8200 and xw9300 Workstations have the required infrastructures and even the PCI memory address range is recovered by re-mapping it above the top of physical memory.
In contrast, some 64-bit capable systems use 32-bit chipsets, limiting physical memory addressing to the 4 GB limit even though Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is installed. The HP xw4200 is such a system (like all systems based on the Intel 925 Express chipset) and it continues to typically allocate between 3 and 3.4 GB of RAM. The benefit is that the system is able to take advantage of larger virtual memory and process sizes.
Conclusion: If you are planning to use Windows XP x64 Edition on your HP xw4300, xw6200, xw8200 or xw9300 64-bit enabled workstation, install as much RAM as you would like up to the physical limit of each workstation.

 

Not correct. Memory addresses are not just the VRAM used by GPU.

 

I've never said Vram only.

I said

 

But you did say that? And that is nuts? Should I say more?

 

Ok, I didn't read the previous long posts. (I hate reading long posts)
To confirm my previous post:



Pg. 55 Document 316273

Forget about VRAM, and stuff, the 945 chipset will simply miss the 0.5GB

 

yes say more and show me where I got it wrong. But before check this out:
http://www.vistaclues.com/reader-question-maximum-memory-in-32-bit-windows-vista/

 

And here post 41
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=298600&messageID=2796199

 

Please do not link to people and groups that know less than I do? All I said was correct. You can link the Internet until hell freezes over. It will not change the facts. Sorry bro.

Not kidding. No 32bit OS (Windows will see 3.8GB) you should reconsider your point.

 

Guys, I think you are all trying too hard.

Did you look at the post I linked you all to. The guy put 4Gb of memory in his system, and it only could make use of 3gb.
That means if the OP bought 4gb of memory, he will only see 3GB.

No offense guys, but the VGN-SZ38GP/C only was offered with the nvidia 7400, so whatever the guy in the post said the maximum memory is, it is. Their are no other gpu options, so it must only be able to see 3.0Gb with a 32bit operating system.

K-TRON

 

I agree K-T? Read what naton said? 3.8GB and he linked? Sorry he did it not me.

 

@Andy
Your document does not contain information regarding the 945GM Chipset.

Right, I get the point that I wont be able to access the full 4GB and there was a guy on K-TRON's link (with the same system) who could only manage 3GB out of 4GB.

So does everyone agree that I can still benefit from dual channel despite the fact that not the entire 4GB is acknowledged by the system?

Many thanks.

 

dual channel does offer a performance increase, but that increase may not be noticeable at all in real life. A 2gb memory card can be had for about $30-40, and it will cost about $70 for a 2 x 2gb kit. So if its worth the extra money, than it is. I cant promise that it will be any faster with 4gb than with 3gb.
A lot of benchmarks are synthetic and show no real life difference.

K-TRON

 

Okay, thanks for all your help, I know what to do now!

 

Ok, here is the real world deal. I have an SZ260P and I bought 2 x 2gb ram a year ago for $65. I installed both sticks and removed the 1gb ram that was shipped with my laptop. I am running Vista Business 32 bit SP1. My BIOS shows 3.2gb RAM installed. My OS reports 4gb of ram installed. CPUZ reports dual channel 4gb. From reading this thread I think 32 bit memory controller limits the ram to 3.2gb like others have said, despite what Vista OS reports. I know it is all very confusing but my system is faster with the 4gb of ram than it was with 1gb. I have not compared to 3gb but given how cheap ram is I would just go for the 2 x 2gb. Happy Trails.

 

All I did with these links is to show what I've read, so you can argue and tell me why and where I'm getting it wrong.

So, plz explain why a Vista system Can't see up to 3.8GB?

 

@MxMoney
That information was perfect! Thank you.

I am going to buy 4GB of RAM right now!