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    Vaio S13a memory: DDR3, DDR3L, or DDR3U?

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by kanati, Jul 18, 2012.

  1. kanati

    kanati Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm looking at getting an S13a with 4GB of RAM, and then going aftermarket to upgrade it to 8 or 12GB (saves a fair bit of money). I've heard that the S13a uses a lower voltage spec for the memory, so does anyone which spec it uses? So far as I'm aware there is DDR3 @ 1.5v, DDR3L @ 1.35v, and DDR3U @ 1.25v.

    Thanks!
     
    kanati, Jul 18, 2012
    #1
  2. voyanger

    voyanger Notebook Consultant

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    Well Sony soldered on 4GB 1333MHz DDR3L onto their motherboards.
    It's best to upgrade the other module with DDR3L.

    However some people had success with normal 1.5v sodimms.
     
    voyanger, Jul 18, 2012
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  3. kanati

    kanati Notebook Enthusiast

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    The answer I needed, thanks!
     
    kanati, Jul 18, 2012
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  4. brandi

    brandi Notebook Enthusiast

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    1.35v is hard to find. Are there any downsides on using 1.5v?
     
    brandi, Jul 19, 2012
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  5. Supranium

    Supranium Notebook Evangelist

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    Sony uses low voltage Samsung chips.
    Chips have marking: k4b2g0846d-hyh9
    Those chips can handle 1.5v as well.

    The 4GB so-dimm memory which has identical chips is:
    M471b5273dh0-yh9

    Identical or close to identical ram:

    Amazon.com: M471B5273DH0: All Departments


    :)
     
    Supranium, Jul 19, 2012
    #5
  6. kanati

    kanati Notebook Enthusiast

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    Brandi: I would assume that 1.35v memory will give slightly better battery life/slightly lower heat dissipation. I figure the Sony engineers must have chosen it for a reason, so that's what I want to go with.

    Supranium: Great find! And Sony wants $100 for that upgrade...
     
    kanati, Jul 19, 2012
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  7. EiSl

    EiSl Notebook Consultant

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    FYI:
    According to some readings, the battery / heat difference between those memory modules is very very very minimal (with other words: you cannot measure by means of laptop battery duration).
    So I would suggest just to stick to the regular modules...
     
    EiSl, Jul 20, 2012
    #7