memory upgrade in t40p

Message

fjs08 · #1 Post by **fjs08** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 7:23 am

Hi,

I have a Thinkpad, t40p. I want to upgrade the memory upgrade in t40p.

I think I have 512 RAM now. I'd like to know how much I really have. How can I find out??

How much can I put in?

How do I change the RAM?? Is it on the underside of the Thinkpad??

What kind do I need and how do I find out??

Is there such a thing as "overkill" of RAM in a value/price ratio. I do basic stuff, but often have about 3 or 4 things such as Excel, Office Checkbook program/Browser/Outlook open at one time. I.E, should 1 gig be enough vs 2 gig if I can even put that much in??

Thanks.

Frank

AIX · #2 Post by **AIX** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 8:11 am

Right-click on "My computer" icon > Properties -- you can see the memory size on the general tab.

The T40p came with 512MB (standard, memory in one socket, under the keyboard, one more memory slot available); the max. memory size T40 can handle is 2GB. (PC2100 266MHz DDR-SDRAM CL 2.5).

Memory installation movie for optional memory on the bottom of the system - ThinkPad T40/p, T41/p, T42/p, T43/p

#3 Post by **KristianJ** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:52 am

Check this link out as well - outlines exactly what type of RAM you'll need:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-41751

I just upgraded my T40 from 512 to 1GB with PC2700 memory, which is perfectly fine but it'll only run at 266MHz. I have the same sort of apps open as you do, and I'd imagine any more than a gig would probably not do too much more.

fjs08 · #4 Post by **fjs08** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:00 am

>>I just upgraded my T40 from 512 to 1GB with PC2700 memory,<<

If I understand this all correctly, I have 512 in one stick and I can add another 512 and put it into an empty slot??? There's nothing to take out??

Does it go somewhere under the computer, or under the keyboard???

Frank

brentpresley · #5 Post by **brentpresley** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:10 am

fjs08 wrote:>>I just upgraded my T40 from 512 to 1GB with PC2700 memory,<<

If I understand this all correctly, I have 512 in one stick and I can add another 512 and put it into an empty slot??? There's nothing to take out??

Does it go somewhere under the computer, or under the keyboard???

Frank

That is correct. The second slot is under the keyboard and SHOULD be where the first DIMM is installed by IBM, leaving the back one open.

JHEM · #6 Post by **JHEM** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:57 am

fjs08 wrote:Does it go somewhere under the computer, or under the keyboard???

Bottom of the computer. Turn it over and there's an access door for the memory slot.

Watch the movie: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-51505

Hell, watch ALL the movies! http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-50233

Regards,

James

cmarti · #7 Post by **cmarti** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 6:57 pm

And go to the 2GB because you will do it anyway in the future.

kam_ · #8 Post by **kam_** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 7:38 pm

Well you only have 2 slots, so it may be worth spending the extra and getting a 1GB module instead. Think about it, and if you think you may upgrade further its probably worth doing it now - otherwise you'll have to sell/bin one of your 512 modules later.

cmarti · #9 Post by **cmarti** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 8:38 pm

Ditto.

greg025 · #10 Post by **greg025** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:06 pm

2 Gig is your max. This is what I have currently in my machine.

However, note that XP has a bug wherein if you have >1 Gig of ram in your machine, it can get fragmented and you will lose the ability to hibernate (until the next reboot).

Cheers,

Greg

kstuart · #11 Post by **kstuart** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 1:46 pm

greg025 wrote:2 Gig is your max. This is what I have currently in my machine.

However, note that XP has a bug wherein if you have >1 Gig of ram in your machine, it can get fragmented and you will lose the ability to hibernate (until the next reboot).

Cheers,

Greg

Just noticed this last comment... has there been any further information/details/fix/workaround since then ?

#12 Post by **bill bolton** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 6:07 pm

kstuart wrote:Just noticed this last comment... has there been any further information/details/fix/workaround since then ?

We have many T4xs with 2GB of memory and they all hibernate just fine.

Cheers,

Bill

davidspalding · #13 Post by **davidspalding** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 8:11 am

greg025 wrote:However, note that XP has a bug wherein if you have >1 Gig of ram in your machine, it can get fragmented and you will lose the ability to hibernate (until the next reboot).

Interesting. Haven't had that problem in 3 T's (40, 41, 43), each with 1 gb, 1.5 gb, 2 gb.

My routine is usually "log out, then hibernate" as memory is naturally cleaned up a bit by logging out. Maybe I'm a wuss, but it's an old NT/2000 habit.

Easy workaround. Disable hibernation support in Power options, run "defrag c: -f" at a command line, reboot, re-enable hibernation support. The file ought to be contigious. I've hibernated with HIBERFIL.SYS in 2-3 chunks, no problem.

greg025 · #14 Post by **greg025** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 6:38 pm

I have the problem on a T40P/2 gig and a T42P / 2 gig.

Admittedly I do development and am usually running a VMware image at the same time, so I am using most of the available ram.

The original problem is noted in:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330909/en-us

and claims there is a fix; it hasn't worked for me...

Cheers,

Greg

davidspalding · #15 Post by **davidspalding** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 7:44 pm

Oh. A-ha. VMware ... OS, or virtual machines? I run Virtual Server R2 on a few systems, it gobbles up RAM (and can gobble processing cycles) like crazy.

Hibernating while a VM is running ... hrm. Bets are off. I wouldn't expect this to work. Save the VM first, *then* hibernate. Just a hunch on my part.

BTW, the MS article tells me this is not a widespread problem. In fact ... kinda rare.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 was enhanced to reduce the occurrence of this behavior.

... APPLIES TO
• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

SYMPTOMS

Your Windows XP-based computer may not hibernate. This problem may occur if the following conditions are true:

• Your computer has one gigabyte (GB) or more of RAM.
• Your computer is running multiple processes that create a high-stress condition.

For example, you may see this symptom if you run the dir command in 500 Cmd.exe processes.

Anyone do that regularly?

greg025 · #16 Post by **greg025** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 7:48 pm

VMWare workstation, normally running a 2K3 server as guest and I always suspend the VM prior to trying to hibernate.

Still have the problem on both machines...

davidspalding · #17 Post by **davidspalding** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 10:21 pm

Just for farts 'n giggles, I tried an experiment. Based on what the MS article indicates, I maxed out my processor with WinBezMT, an old NT4 demonstration tool that runs up to 64 windows of the "Bezier" program usually seen as a screen saver. I then initiated hibernation. Windows hibernated without a burp. Powering up again, everything was restored, and WinBezMT picked up where it left of.

This is purely anecdotal. As often as not, hibernating from a logged in state fails on my system, with the video whacking out. Could be the Omega drivers, or something else.

But this indicates to me that hibernation with 2 GB ram is by no means risky, particularly if you've got SP2. It can be done, even if you've got some hyperactive demo tool running.

[edit] P.S. The fix is for XP pre-SP2. If you've got SP2, you've got the fix. Not sure about Windows 2003, but I would guess it has the fix, too.

christopher_wolf · #18 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 10:26 pm

davidspalding wrote:Just for farts 'n giggles, I tried an experiment. Based on what the MS article indicates, I maxed out my processor with WinBezMT, an old NT4 demonstration tool that runs up to 64 windows of the "Bezier" program usually seen as a screen saver. I then initiated hibernation. Windows hibernated without a burp. Powering up again, everything was restored, and WinBezMT picked up where it left of.

This is purely anecdotal. As often as not, hibernating from a logged in state fails on my system, with the video whacking out. Could be the Omega drivers, or something else.

But this indicates to me that hibernation with 2 GB ram is by no means risky, particularly if you've got SP2. It can be done, even if you've got some hyperactive demo tool running.

Try that when playing a song in Winamp and/or WMP, the same thing happens.

davidspalding · #19 Post by **davidspalding** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 6:12 am

I see, did it for me. "Insufficient resources available to the API" or some such. But jezz Louise, hibernating while playing a movie ... like putting on makeup while driving -- maybe you CAN do it but it's NOT ADVISABLE.

At any rate, we're not talking about memory upgrades in a T40p, we're off on a completely different topic, imho.

dsigma6 · #20 Post by **dsigma6** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 8:17 am

"you can drive a car with your foot, but that don't make it a good $%&#!@ idea"

-chris rock

citimeta · #21 Post by **citimeta** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 12:58 pm

I have a question regarding to the compatibility of memories. The memory for my T41p is PC2700,but can I use PC3200 memories if I willing to waste the 'extra clock'?

Also, my friend just got a T60 with DDR-2 PC5300. What does this compare to PC2700, doubled?

kstuart · #22 Post by **kstuart** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 1:13 pm

citimeta wrote:I have a question regarding to the compatibility of memories. The memory for my T41p is PC2700,but can I use PC3200 memories if I willing to waste the 'extra clock'?

Also, my friend just got a T60 with DDR-2 PC5300. What does this compare to PC2700, doubled?

I have read that quote: " You can use PC3200 in any PC that uses PC2700 or PC2100 " unquote. I personally have never done this, so I can't verify this from experience. Sometimes PC3200 is actually cheaper due to availability. Of course, it has to be the same PIN setup, and sometimes there are motherboards that don't support the newer "high density" memory chips.

Thinkpads also sometimes have special memory requirements, aka "finickiness".

DDR-2 is a completely different system than DDR, and is not compatible.

Forum member Brent Presley has a lot of expertise in Thinkpad memory updates, you can find his thread in the Marketplace forum.