RAM Upgrade: does it matter which slot you use?

[tripper]

Had: Internal: 512MB Optional Slot: 256MB. Just bought 1024MB x 1.

Obviously it's easier to remove the memory from the optional slot and put the new memory in there, i.e. Internal: 512MB Optional: 1024MB.

This works.

However .. is there a difference if I removed the keyboard etc and put it as such: Internal: 1024MB Optional: 512MB.

As I said it's working as is but wondered if there's any hidden benefit in terms of performance/stability. Can't find any info on it.

[icantux]

Best practice would dictate installing the 1GB stick in the primary slot (inside the machine under the keyboard) and the current 512MB stick in the optional slot.

... that's how I'd do it, anyway. This way gives you the opportunity to install more ram in the future without having to disassemble your TP. Interestingly so did the IBM techs. When I bought my machine, I ordered an additional 1GB ram and when I received my machine the optional slot contains the (original?) 512MB stick, thus they placed the additional 1GB in the primary slot.

[bill bolton]

Best practice would dictate installing the 1GB stick in the primary slot (inside the machine under the keyboard) and the current 512MB stick in the optional slot.

... that's how I'd do it, anyway. This way gives you the opportunity to install more ram in the future without having to disassemble your TP.

If you never expand beyond 1.5Gb, then putting the 1GB in the externally accesible slot means there is no need to "disassemble your TP" at all, which is surely better practice than doing disassembly to change memory card positions just on spec that there may be a further upgrade in future!

Best practice seems to me to only disassemble when there is a true need to so and a real benefit arising, rather than just on spec!

Cheers,

Bill

[naro]

i doubt that it matters...

i always put the one with the bigger capacity under the keyboad..

[hiyel]

I don't see any difference either. But in case you leave your laptop unattendent, and in case someone attempts to steal the RAM in the extra slot then you would want to keep the 512 on this slot. Just my overkill paranoya. Also don't forget to use the spare screw came with the laptop to secure the UltraBay drive, again for the same purpose

[davidspalding]

I put the biggest inside, so that when I replace the smaller one, I don't have to remove the keyboard.

But. I'm probably likely to remove it for an annual cleaning with compressed air sooner than I get more RAM.

I'd also be nervous about shipping it back for repair with the RAM I bought, rather than what it shipped with, just in case a rushed tech replaces the planar, doesn't pay attention to the RAM, and gives it back to me with a fresh 512 MB stick in there instead of my Kingston 1 GB stick.

So it's really a matter of preference. Bill makes a good point, though. If you're not experienced in dismantling computers, your safest bet is to leave it locked up and put the additional RAM in the rabbit hole where the new RAM is meant to go.

[tripper]

I must confess the logic of removing the keyboard now so I don't have to remove it later defies me! It's exactly the same time spent whether I do it now, or later. What about if I don't upgrade later? Then I've had to remove the keyboard for nothing! Surely, statistically I am better off not removing the keyboard now!!

You guys crack me up!

Anyhow it seems it doesn't matter to performance from the replies, which was actually my original question, because I just can't be bothered removing the keyboard now

[sugo]

Removing keyboard from a T4x only takes 5 minutes ....

If one stick gets hotter than the other, then I would put the hotter one inside so it's closer to fan ventilation and farther from your lap.

Otherwise, it doesn't matter.

[bill bolton]

Removing keyboard from a T4x only takes 5 minutes ....

If you do it often enough to remember the specific sequence of things you need to do, it may only take 5 minutes. However, if you do it rarely it takes considerably longer to remove and usually even longer to replace (after realising that there are some subtle differences amongst seemingly identical screws etc)!

Cheers,

Bill

[lithium726]

the screws are different? o_O ive never noticed that, at all...

even for someone who hasnt done it before, you just remove the screws with the keyboard icon next to it, i had mine off in less than 5 mins the first time. in fact, i had the entire keyboard replaced in less than 5 mins.

[Delmarco]

I have 512MB and 256MB=768MB. I'm thinking off upgrading to either
1GBx2 = 2GB or
just getting 1GB and leaving the 512MB= 1.5 GB
or getting another 512MB and leaving the 512MB = 1GB

My 3 questions are,

1. When exactly would one notice the performance difference between 2GB ram and 1 GB ram?

2. What do you have to be doing on your laptop to really say
"Boy, I'm glad I got 2Gig of ram under the hood."?

3. and is it really worth the upgrade when you canuse the money and get a bigger & faster harddrive?

[bill bolton]

1. When exactly would one notice the performance difference between 2GB ram and 1 GB ram?

Probably about 5:34pm in the afternoon is as good a time as any!

More seriously, when you have a number of largish programs open at the same time.

2. What do you have to be doing on your laptop to really say "Boy, I'm glad I got 2Gig of ram under the hood."?

See above!

3. and is it really worth the upgrade when you can use the money and get a bigger & faster harddrive?

IMO, definitely. In my expereince I always do make use of use the extra memory, but only might make use of extra capacity on a hard drive.

As far as drive speed goes, it depends where you are starting from, but most applications will appeciate more memory (less swapping) more than a faster disk.

Cheers,

Bill

[leegaard]

1. When exactly would one notice the performance difference between 2GB ram and 1 GB ram?

When your planned installation of Vista you would certainly make use of the max 2 GB RAM.

[Delmarco]

Thanks guys.
I guess it will be 2 GB of Memory
over the 100 GB 7200RPM HD.

Windows Vista! yeah!!!