A choice to be made...

Either stick with a 1 GB DDR2 Memory RAM with ATI X1150, or.... get an Intel GMA 950 with 2 GB of DDR2 RAM

Vista Premium OS

 

Well, are you going to be gaming? If so, well, the ATI X1150 isn't going to be much help anyways .

I think getting 2 GB of RAM and having an Intel GMA 950 is better. The GMA 950 can handle Aero graphics and 2 GB will be very important in running Vista Home Premium.

 

On Vista, you need 2 gigs to multitask as well as you could multitask on XP with 1 gig. If you get 1 gig of ram, know it'll be like using XP with 512mb.

Get 2 gigs and the 950.

 

But then, the ATI graphics will make Aero more responsive with it's dedicated VRAM. I would get the graphics, and plan on upgrading the RAM later. Unfortunately RAM is very cheap now, but not for much longer, and you can't put off the graphics upgrade.

Have you checked, maybe you can afford both now if you do the memory upgrade aftermarket...

But then, if you just can't make both work, now or later, I would get the 2GB of memory. I ran Vista on my T60 for a bit, starting with 1GB until my second stick got shipped. Vista was certainly usable with 1GB, and when I got 2GB I could actually use applications beyond web browsing and email.

 

What do you mean? Do you want RAM to be expensive?

 

Spend as much as you can on the parts that you can't upgrade later; in other words, get the ATI card, wait for RAM prices to decrease, and buy the RAM if you need it. You can get RAM anytime, but the graphics cards on 99% of notebooks are not upgradeable as they are soldered onto the motherboard.

 

No, he's saying prices are at a low point in the cycle, and will probably go up rather than down in the near future.

I'd also agree with him. Get the 1GB of RAM with the better video card (make sure you get a 1x1GB stick, and not 2x512MB), and buy a second gig of RAM when your finances allow it in the near future.

 

I was referring to when the RAM prices are low again.

 

OK then...I think I found a cheap one. But one question. Is this stick.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8015113&productCategoryId=cat01170&type=product&tab=1&id=1156203598309
Compatible with this notebook?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8310008&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat103700050043&id=1173577987807

Oh, and also... memory specs.

Standard Memory: 1.0 GB = 512 MB (removable) + 512 MB (removable)
Maximum Memory: 2.0 GB
Memory Expansion: 2 sockets

Does this mean... I'm going to have to remove both the 512 MB memories... and place in two 1 GB into the 2 sockets? Or does the 2 sockets mean there are two more sockets?

 

That's exactly it, I could have worded things a lot better.

That K-Byte will probably work, but I'd avoid no name modules like that. You get a bad stick of RAM and your headaches will never end. A lifetime warranty doesn't mean jack if they don't use a decent board, the replacement won't be any better. I'd don't know if PC Mall is a decent store, but this stick will be a lot better for only a couple bucks more.

edit: I forgot
Yeah, that stick is definitely compatible. But the notebook comes with 2x 512MB sticks. So if you get one 1GB stick you'll end up with 1.5GB, since you have to take one stick of 512MB out.

 

Darnit D: Well then... I'm gonna have to wait for some more time... Which one of these to you suggest? I'll try to save up for them...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8383867&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01170&id=1179876488923
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8221541&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01170&id=1166236338493

Eh, I'm only doing Best Buy's cause... I just don't buy online.

 

PNY used to be retailer trash, but they've gotten a LOT better lately, surrounding the Nvidia Quadro win a few years back. I'd go with that, but it's still very expensive.

Look, the same memory for $79 shipped, and you can get Corsair for $90 shipped. You could always use Paypal to minimize the risk of a credit card breach, or try to find a mom & pop with decent prices (good luck).

 

By the way, Newegg accepts check and money order.

 

Hmm...I'll use the one at another local store where they got the PNY one for $99. Meh, reason is... last time I did Neweggs, they didn't ship it >.>

Are Kingston memory cards trusted? Cause then I could get 2 x 1 GB ones for $79.

 

Huh, I've never had a problem with Newegg. I'm sure it happens, but it seems rather rare. The closest I've come is when I thought they didn't ship my Arctic Silver (big box, lots of peanuts, tiny tube) and they sent a replacement next day air... by which time I'd found it. Another time my bank denied charges on my debit card when I tried to cancel one order and place it again with changes. Newegg reps were very helpful getting things straightened out in their system right away.

I don't know, they seem very willing to make good on mistakes, as do Directron, Zip Zoom Fly, and Amazon in my experiences. But $99 is still pretty good.