Removing RAM from a T-21

Message

oldbob · #1 Post by **oldbob** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:42 am

After a couple of years with 256 RAM & Win98 se, I finally broke down and bought 512 RAM.

My Q. now is "exactly" how do I remove the old RAM ? The space is A LOT tighter for my "75 year old" hands to work in then when I upgraded RAM in my home built desktop !!!

Do I have to release BOTH clips at the same time ???

Will the stick "tip up" while it is still plugged in ???

Any advice/tips will be a big help - Thanks !!!

joester · #2 Post by **joester** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:38 am

Yes the RAM will pop up when you release it.

My favorite way to release the clips is to use two popcicle sticks, slightly sharpened to a point.

Easy thing to do.

Joe

oldbob · #3 Post by **oldbob** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:29 am

Joe,

Thanks for response, I'm still waiting for Crucial to deliver.

Saw no point in "disabling" Thinkpad until I had new RAM on hand to install.

Will post results when completed.

#4 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:22 am

Just in case, the T20/T21/T22 models do NOT take 512MB RAM modules!
The maximum those 3 models can take is 2x 256MB RAM PC100 Low Density.

The T23 however can take up to 2x 512MB RAM PC133 (or PC100 if need be) in both Low or High Density.

oldbob · #5 Post by **oldbob** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 1:00 pm

"Really Black"

Thanks for response, I should have been more specific.

When I said "I ordered 512 RAM", I actually ordered 2 x 256 sticks. Crucial pointed out that 512 total is maximum for a T-21.

#6 Post by **rkawakami** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:22 pm

oldbob wrote:Crucial pointed out that 512 total is maximum for a T-21.

Just don't believe everything they say

. The site still says (confusingly) that the maxiium memory is 1024MB (correct) but also says:

Crucial.com wrote:Each memory slot can hold SDRAM, PC133 with a maximum of 256MB per slot.*

*Not to exceed manufacturer supported memory.

At one time it might have been published that the T23 could only take a maximum of 512MB (2 x 256MB) since there were no 512MB SODIMMs available. Now that there are, you can install two 512MB modules.

#7 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:33 pm

Ray, oldbob has a T21, not a T23.

#8 Post by **rkawakami** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:34 pm

I understand. Sorry if I was a little unclear in my last post. I see that I dropped out a remark that I was initially referring to a T23. Second sentence should have read: "maximum memory of a T23 is 1024MB".

I was making a point that you shouldn't believe everything that Crucial (and any other after-market memory dealer) says about the memory compatibility of various systems. They should know what they are talking about; however, sometimes they are still working with outdated information. I believe that even some of the older IBM "tabook" sheets have incorrect information as to the memory capacity of some systems. Either through firmware updates or the market developing larger memory modules, what once was a 512MB limit could now actually be 1024MB (in the case of the T23; the T21 still remains at 512MB).

nikki605 · #9 Post by **nikki605** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 5:13 pm

rkawakami wrote:...the T21 still remains at 512MB).

Sure wish it was 1024MB, I'd be there.

oldbob · #10 Post by **oldbob** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:52 pm

To wrap up this thread:

The RAM "finally" arrived, turns out Crucial's free delivery is UPS to Salt Lake City then U.S. Mail across country, took 12 days.

The installation was as easy as joester said, took about one minute after I removed the battery and RAM cover.

If anyone else wants to add RAM, I doubt it will be any cheaper then this.

http://www.getpartsonline.com/m470t3354cz3-cd5-ibm.html

#11 Post by **rkawakami** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:47 pm

oldbob wrote:If anyone else wants to add RAM, I doubt it will be any cheaper then this.

http://www.getpartsonline.com/m470t3354cz3-cd5-ibm.html

Uhh... that's DDR2 memory and cannot be installed in a T21. At least not without causing some damage to the module and/or the memory slot connector. Are you sure that's the correct link/module?

oldbob · #12 Post by **oldbob** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:37 pm

Ray,

If you read the web page I posted closely, you'll see which Thinkpads that RAM is for.

#13 Post by **rkawakami** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:45 pm

Oh, I get it now

!

Yes, small capacity DDR2 modules like that 256MB one you linked to is not worth much anymore. Maybe we should all buy up a couple of dozen each and sit on them for several years. That way when they become obsolete and as rare as PC100 256MB low density modules are now, they will have tripled in value

.

qviri · #14 Post by **qviri** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:58 pm

rkawakami wrote:Yes, small capacity DDR2 modules like that 256MB one you linked to is not worth much anymore. Maybe we should all buy up a couple of dozen each and sit on them for several years. That way when they become obsolete and as rare as PC100 256MB low density modules are now, they will have tripled in value .

Those are only pricy because they are the top of the line for some machines. Try selling a 128 MB or 64 MB PC100 stick for any amount of money. Machines accepting DDR2 will all gobble up a 2 GB stick, so your 256 MB DDR2 may be obsolete and rare, but it still won't be worth much

Removing RAM from a T-21

Removing RAM from a T-21

Who is online