Vaio TZ - Is 2GB RAM worth extra $?

Hi, I've been lurking on these forums for quite a long time now. I've noticed that a lot of people recommend getting 2GB RAM with the Vaio TZ. Is it really worth the extra money, though?

I see a Sony Vaio TZ130 with 1 GB RAM, here on Amazon for $1600. http://www.amazon.com/Sony-VGN-TZ13...5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1205091275&sr=8-5

And a Sony Vaio TZ240 with 2 GB RAM, for $2068.
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-VGN-TZ24...?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1205091275&sr=8-13

That means over $400 is added to get an additional 1 GB of RAM, for a grand total of 2 GB RAM. Is it really worth it? Is there an extremely significant, noticeable difference in speed?

 

Buy machine with 1GB then fit another 1GB yourself; its cheaper. If you intend to use Vista, yes 2GB is recommended.


rgds.

 

You can get another 1GB module on newegg.com for $25. So, no, Sony's upgrade price is not worth it.

 

Wow, thanks for the super fast responses. Oh, I didn't know you could add in RAM yourself. Is it a simple procedure? I have absolutely no experience with opening up laptops. Any soldering required, etc?

 

Unless I'm mistaken, the TZ has only 1 RAM slot and I guess that the 1GB version comes with 512MB on board and 512MB in the slot (that's how it was on my G11). However, you can put a 2GB module in the slot and it will work. You will then have a total of 2.5GB of RAM, but the chipset can address only 2GB so the balance gets ignored.

It's a very beneficial upgrade if you are running Vista. It would also be useful with XP if you plan to have lots of application open.

John

 

I prove it to you that there are 2 sockets :

http://www.memorygiant.com/index.cf...turer_id=77&model_id=65353&submit=Find+Memory


rgds.

 

definitely buy the 1gb version and upgrade yourself....always cheaper that way - and very easy to do yourself (no soldering, just pop it in!)

 

yah ram is easier than lego, you will have not problems.

 

Thanks for the great responses, everyone. I really appreciate the help.

I'm thinking of getting a Vaio TZ150, which has only 1 GB RAM, and upgrading it to 2 GB RAM myself, now. But it seems almost too easy. Isn't there a catch? Is there a guide that I can follow, or something?

 

A general RAM installation guide :

http://www.memorygiant.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=links.guides_200pSODIMM

Some sellers like Memory Giant provide phone-in technical support if you need further advice.


rgds.

 

I see, thank you.

I noticed that the Vaio TZ150 has only 1 slot for RAM, compared to the TZ130 which has 2 slots. So, if I wanted to upgrade a Vaio TZ150 to 2 GB RAM, do I purchase the 2 GB stick?

 

The laptop will probably come with 2 x 512MB of RAM, totaling up to 1GB.

You can either buy a 1 GB stick and get a total of 1.5GB of RAM.

Or a 2GB stick for a total of 2.5GB of RAM. You'll only be able to use 2GB of that though.

Lastly, you can also buy 2 x 1 GB of ram and sell off the 2x 512mb sticks. This might be inconvenient however.

RAM upgrades are generally relatively simple.

If you intend to upgrade the TZ150 to 2GB of RAM and it only has 1 slot, your only option is to grab the 2GB stick.

 

Yes, get a 2GB module.

The TZ User Guide has an illustrated guide for the RAM replacement. I've looked in a couple of different guides and they each show only one slot.

John

 

Given that you've changed your preference from TZ130 to TZ150, then there is only 1 socket for both TZ150N/N or TZ150N/B.


rgds.

 

All TZs have one ram slot, as does my TZ130, where'd you get your info?

 

memory giant is WRONG! there is only 1 slot on all TZs. if you want 2gb, you will need to replace the 1gb SODIMM with a 2gb stick, which can be had at newegg.com for under $40.

 

Well said, scottyinco ! I did a tally with a few more sources and noticed that Memory Giant made a mistake (wrong cut and paste maybe). It was accurate on the TZ150.


rgds.

 

rofl the first page of this thread is a jubilee of misinformation

 

Partially. At least the OP was informed in first page of the possibility of swapping RAM, which the OP did not originally thought possible. Also, the OP received a RAM installation guide.


rgds.

 

Thanks for all of the information, everyone. This was really helpful for me.

I've decided to go for the Vaio TZ150. The cheapest deal I can find is $1700 at Best Buy Online. I hope they have a good return policy, in case I discover a dead pixel on the screen...

 

really? Here I am selling my tz150 w/2gb ram for $1400. too bad you dont live Hawaii or we could meet.

 

That sounds like a smashing deal, starstreak. That really is unfortunate that I don't live in Hawaii.

I suppose a benefit from purchasing my own 1 GB RAM Vaio TZ is that I get the experience of actually changing a RAM stick, myself.

Again, thanks for the information, everyone. I really appreciate this.

 

Yup. I would mail it to you but after shipping, it wouldn' be a great deal, just a good deal.
No dead pixels, already has the ram upgrade, still with 1 year Sony warrenty. Under two weeks old. And before you ask, I bought it to sell. I have a main laptop.

 

It really depends on your needs. I didn't find much difference between 1GB and 2GB on my laptop since I tend to have only one or two programs open, but I have a ton of programs open on my desktop so 2.5GB really helped out there.

 

If you load up anything that wants memory, get the 2GB. With 1GB I was around 70-83% maxed on ram. Now, its about 40-50% max.

 

Definately buy a 2 GB module. I have the TZ150 model and with 1 gb i could not make it, i wanted to get a TZ298 instead ( extra $$) , 1 week ago i just tried and bought a 2Gb module ( 40 € Corsair ) , it works like a charm, is not a SSD but is very very good :

- Faster OS load ( 50-65% faster for me )
- All applications open faster now

G with a 2Gb mem module , you won't regret it !

 

the 1.8" ssd's just aren't fast enough yet... especially when you factor in the lack of zif connector models on the market... mtron's 1.8" 128 gig that promises 100mb/s speeds will only have a normal ide connect

 

the guys are correct buy a 1 gig then buy a aftermarket 2gig. But compare the prices as the TZ has only one mem slot so the old 1 gig will just lie in the gadget graveyard. the speedbump is from 1 to 2 gig is noticeable in Vista and i'd like to think also substantial in WinXP

 

Thanks for the information, everyone. It looks like everyone unanimously agrees that having 2 GB of RAM improves the laptop extremely. I will look into purchasing a TZ150 and upgrading it to 2 GB RAM on my own. Thanks again, everyone.

 

mind you, adding 2gb will not make it blazingly fast, just make it well enough that it wont seem as slow. livable is the word. I'm a gamer. I just gotta realize not to play any 3d games. its great for everything else.

 

just comes down to it being a VERY cheap upgrade... even for basic incremental performance gains, it's a no brainer at 40 bux.