What kind of RAM is recommended for Thinkpads (I have R50p)

[bveghte]

I want to buy a 1 GB RAM module. What manufacturers would you recommend?

Again, I have a R50p, which is mostly identical to a T42p.

Thanks in advance!

[rkawakami]

You shouldn't have any problems with sticking to the major manufacturers of memory and memory modules. Having an IBM label with the associated FRU usually helps, but as I pointed out earlier today, there's nothing preventing somebody from putting a fake label on a part. Here's a mostly complete list of the main players and is in no particular order:

Memory makers:
Micron (Crucial is their module division)
Infineon/Qimonda
Mitsubishi
Samsung
ProMos/Mosel Vitelic (full disclosure: I work for them)
Hynix
Elpida
Nanya

Module assemblers:
Kingston
Corsair
Kingmax
SMART Modular

If you stick with a seller who offers a money-back guarantee with a sufficient amount of time for you to test the memory (say, at least 7 days), then you should be fine. Download a memory diagnostic program such as memtest86+ so that you can verify that it is working properly.

[pianowizard]

Again, I have a R50p, which is mostly identical to a T42p.

Actually, the T41p. The T42p is slightly more recent.

[rkawakami]

Memory makers:
Micron (Crucial is their module division)
Infineon/Qimonda
Mitsubishi
Samsung
ProMos/Mosel Vitelic (full disclosure: I work for them)
Hynix
Elpida
Nanya

Lot of 100 19K4655 modules

ProMOS is not among them .

[bin.dong]

ProMOS is not among them .

Is there something wrong with this brand?

[bveghte]

Thanks for the helpful answers!

Is 1 GB the best size to get right now? My R50p came with one 512 MB module. I think the max on R50p is 2 GB. For the best value for the money right now, should I get 1 GB, or something slightly larger or smaller?

[rkawakami]

My advice is to always get the biggest capacity module you can, so 1GB would be it. Since you have one slot open, you could install the 1GB module and have a total of 1.5GB. If you decide later on to max out the system with 2GB, then you would only have to worry about removing (and most likely, selling) the one 512MB module.

I don't believe that there is a 2GB PC2700, or faster, DDR1 module in existence (anybody please correct me on this as I haven't followed DRAM memories much past the SDR days). So, a smaller module like another 512MB would initially cost you less, but then to break the 1GB limit (2 x 512MB), you would have to buy a 1GB module anyway.

After having 1.5GB in your system, you might find that it's enough. I don't believe you would get much of a system performance increase from 1.5GB to 2GB. It really depends on the operating system you are using (looks like XPP since it's an R50p), whether or not your video system is using some portion of main memory (the R50P has its own video memory) and how many programs you are running at the same time.

@bin.dong: Speaking as an employee of Mosel Vitelic, a wholly owned subsidiary of ProMos, no, there's nothing wrong with the brand. I was merely disappointed that a ProMos or MV module wasn't being represented in that eBay seller's lot of 100 modules. This was after I posted my list of major memory manufacturers, naming most of the Top Ten memory makers in the world, prior to the eBay listing. Some of our (ProMOS and MV) modules have failed qualification in systems, just like many other manufacturers. Each board design is different (motherboard and memory module) so you can have problems with certain combinations. That's why computer companies usually put new module designs through a rigorous test procedure (a "qual") to make sure everything works like it is supposed to. This is what leads a company, like IBM for example, to issue FRU stickers for a module that has passed the qual program. As long as the board and component design is not changed, the module is qualified to work in those systems which specify that FRU.

[bin.dong]

@bin.dong: Speaking as an employee of Mosel Vitelic, a wholly owned subsidiary of ProMos, no, there's nothing wrong with the brand.

Thanks for the great info. I just got a ProMOS 1GB Ram for my ThinkPad T42. That's why I asked that question.

Moderator edit: Trimmed quote.

[rkawakami]

As with all memory purchases, run several passes of memtest86+ on the new module to make sure that it is working properly.