How much memory should I put in my T43?

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hootpie · #1 Post by **hootpie** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 3:58 pm

It should be here on Tuesday (stuck with an FDA hold

), so I'm going to order some memory online.

The machine I ordered is a 2.0, 512, 64mb x300 and 80gb 5400rpm HD. This is going to be my only computer. I'm going to use it for some very light gaming (CS), multimedia (listening to music/watching DVD's), internet (browsing/chatting) and school related stuff (Office).

Should I pop in another 512mb DDR2 (1GB total, ~$55) to take advantage of dual channel or should I add a 1GB stick (1.5GB total, ~$110) and forgo running it dual channel?

I'm thinking adding 512mb and running it dual channel would make more sense, not because of dual channel, but because my uses probably wont require 1.5gb of ram.

Also, if I am going to add another 512mb, does it need to be the exact same model as the other one, or does it just have to be the same size/speed?

Thanks in advance.

#2 Post by **K. Eng** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 4:01 pm

For those tasks, I'm not even sure you would need 1GB of RAM.

Are you going to be playing the original CounterStrike, or CounterStrike:Source? If you are playing the Source version, the extra RAM will probably help.

#3 Post by **daeojkim** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 4:06 pm

When you first get it, just use it as it is for about a week or so, doing what you would normally do. While using it check you task manager to see how much memory is being used. If the memory is getting close to 512MB then it would be a good idea to get another stick.

Whether you should go with another 512MB or 1GB would mostly depend on how long would you plan to use this computer. If you plan to keep it for 3 years get a 1GB memory as more and more applications will becomre memory hungry.

christopher_wolf · #4 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 4:12 pm

Well, I upgraded mine to 1GB from 512MB when I got it. I only noticed the difference at very high levels of Work; only then did I notice the difference (Had 512 MB on it for a few weeks) between the two. It is only a big concern if you are going to have farily resource hungry processes running in the Background while you are focused on another resource hungry app that you are working on.

hootpie · #5 Post by **hootpie** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 4:27 pm

Thanks for the quick/helpful replies.

I forgot to mention that I will be dual booting WinXP/Ubuntu and I'd like to avoid using a swap if possible. I'm sure 1.5gb will be enough to avoid using the swap, but what about 1gb?

I'll be playing CS 1.6 more than source, but I might play source a little bit.

Also, I tend to multitask a lot i.e. working with multiple Word/Excel documents, listening to music, chatting, multiple Firefox windows open, some light Photoshop work etc.

kyrotech · #6 Post by **kyrotech** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 4:49 pm

buy that nice 1 GB DDR2 memory upgrade and enjoy

emorphien · #7 Post by **emorphien** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 5:17 pm

I'd say do it as well.

DIGITALgimpus · #8 Post by **DIGITALgimpus** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 5:42 pm

I was in the same situation. I bought a 1GB stick bringing me up to 1.5GB.

Personally, I think that's better. Lots of ram, means no swap file, and less HD paging (more battery life, less stress on HD, faster performance).

And the next time you upgrade, you'll be at 2GB.

If you put 2x512 in there, and you want to upgrade, you need to buy 1GB to just get 512 gain (because of the max 2 sticks). If you plan to upgrade again... it's more cost effective to get the 1GB now.

nrj45 · #9 Post by **nrj45** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 1:55 am

xp will never use all the installed ram... it will prefer to put a lot in swap. (this can be modified by tweaking the registry, google for it). As i'm writing this, i have 633mb of ram used. Run a game and you will need a 400mb more...

Don't put 1.5gb. Put 1gb or 2gb (i think it's better to use same sticks because of dual channeling)

kgorilla · #10 Post by **kgorilla** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 5:31 am

Correct me if I'm wrong, but running your memory in dual channel mode will require two identical sticks. Unless you can aquire one that's the same as the IBM stick, you'll be SOL on dual channel mode anyway.

As for the $110, I just got Transend (samsung chipset) 1GB DDR2 PC4200 SODIMM from newegg for $78 AR.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820208312

DIGITALgimpus · #11 Post by **DIGITALgimpus** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 8:59 am

Dual Channel works for any sticks that have the exact same specs (timing, voltage, speed, size).

Brand is irrelevent.

mikek5117 · #12 Post by **mikek5117** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:17 am

When I ordered my new T42 I ordered 2gb Crucial ram from Egghead, and they went into the computer before I turned it on for the first time. Since I have nothing in the same league to compare to all I can say is that it is very quick, programs load lightening fast, many (6-7) programs open at one time have no noticable effect on speed. Compared with the overall price of the system, it was a very worthwhile upgrade in my opinion.

dr_st · #13 Post by **dr_st** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:46 am

1GB is the sweetspot right now, more is overkill for all except the very heavy tasks. Unless you plan to do something really intensive, getting a second 512MB stick and forgetting about upgrading RAM on that machine ever again is a nice option.

fbrdphreak · #14 Post by **fbrdphreak** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:49 am

Buy a 1GB stick. Why buy another 512MB just to use both slots? Then to upgrade again later you have to ditch the stick you bought. Pointless IMO.

And dual channel does not make much real world diff in performance on the Sonoma platform: http://www.laptoplogic.com/resources/articles/43/1/1/

And if you do get 1x1GB & 1x512MB, you will still run in dual channel.

dr_st · #15 Post by **dr_st** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 10:17 am

fbrdphreak wrote:Buy a 1GB stick. Why buy another 512MB just to use both slots? Then to upgrade again later you have to ditch the stick you bought. Pointless IMO.

You're missing the point of those that suggest a 512MB upgrade. The point is that 1.5GB isn't and probably won't be necessary, so buying it is a waste.

Nonetheless, suppose that you do buy 1GB and get 1.5GB. If later you want to upgrade to 2GB you will still have to ditch the 512MB stick...

fbrdphreak wrote:And if you do get 1x1GB & 1x512MB, you will still run in dual channel.

Two sticks of different sizes will never run in dual channel.

fbrdphreak · #16 Post by **fbrdphreak** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 10:40 am

Realistically it comes down to how much the guy wants to spend. If ~$100 is too much, get the 512MB. I agree, there is no noticeable diff between 1GB & 1.5GB. The difference is that with 1.5GB, if he ever needs more RAM he can just get rid of the 512MB and be @ a cool 2GB. But if he goes with 2x512MB and wants to go with 1.5GB or 2GB, he's got to get rid of one or both sticks. Personally I try to make the most cost efficient purchase in terms of future upgrading; in this case that IS getting a 1GB stick. If you want to look at it from a different perspective, that is fine. But the fact of the matter is that in terms of future upgrading and the number of DIMM slots, getting a 1GB stick makes sense; barring financial reasons.

And yes, dual channel works just fine with two different sized sticks. Seeing as I'm the one who wrote the dual channel article I previously linked and I'm the one who put 1x512MB & 1x1GB a T43 and quickly ran Sandra to see if the bandwidth was any less (which it isn't), perhaps you could just take my word for it

EDIT To clarify about the 1x512 & 1x1GB, CPU-Z reported dual channel operation & Sandra showed the same bandwidth as 2x512 & 1x1GB. Thanks

How much memory should I put in my T43?

How much memory should I put in my T43?

Happy with 2gb

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