VAIO SZ61 extended RAM to 4 GB!

Hi there,

I just wanted to let you all know that I managed to get 4GB of RAM installed and up and running on my Sony Vaio SZ61.

This despite the fact that both my local sony reseller and the sony helpdesk argued that this was not possible.

I bought the laptop two years ago, with 2GB on board. In my memory they back then said it could be extended to 3GB but i have no proof for that.

Anyway, steps i took where very simple:
-update the BIOS to version R00122S5(downloaded from the sony site were the SZ61 was not even on there anymore...) It was compatible with the SZ71 according to sony so i took the change but is updated smoothly.
-bought 2 SODimm modules of 2GB pc5300 compatible (kingston)
-opened the laptop changed the dimm modules and off we go.

I run dual boot mostly Ubuntu Linux Jaunty and occasionally the vista that came with the laptop.

In both environments it is recognized and i can use 3.8GB

The laptop now is again up to the job(every day heavy usage, testing on VMs and datamining applications with big datasets etc etc.)

 

There have been debates as to whether the SZ6-7 can actually support up to 8GB of ram.
I would have thought with a 64bit OS in speed mode it would be able to make use of the whole 4GB.

 

I have been running 4G in my SZ61 for almost a year. Used to have XP installed, but now I have W7 for a few months.

Actually did not see any huge improvement over 3G, what did improve its performance was the SSD. That thing flies.