T61 memory

[newyorkpaulie]

What's the highest this unit can use? (15inch).

[axur-delmeria]

The T61 supports 4GB DDR2 RAM. With two slots, it maxes out at 8GB.

However, 4GB DDR2 RAM is rare and prohibitively expensive (around 150-200 USD for a dual-channel kit), so a more realistic configuration is 2GB+2GB = 4GB.

[RealBlackStuff]

Prices are coming down, you can now get brand-name 2x4GB PC2-5300 or PC2-6400 (preferred) for less than $100 if you are patient.

[newyorkpaulie]

Prices are coming down, you can now get brand-name 2x4GB PC2-5300 or PC2-6400 (preferred) for less than $100 if you are patient.

OK! Patience is a talent I have honed - so where do I keep a watch?
Thanks!

[ELCouz]

Prices are coming down, you can now get brand-name 2x4GB PC2-5300 or PC2-6400 (preferred) for less than $100 if you are patient.

Buy it and I will buy it from you

2x 4GB PC2-6400

[newyorkpaulie]

Prices are coming down, you can now get brand-name 2x4GB PC2-5300 or PC2-6400 (preferred) for less than $100 if you are patient.

Buy it and I will buy it from you

2x 4GB PC2-6400

Me too!

[RealBlackStuff]

Right now there are at least 3 opportunities on eBay...

[TuuS]

I remember getting 8gb kits for under $80, then the market went crazy and they went upto 200. Since then I've been recommending going with 4gb and upgrading when the demand is low. Nice to see these great ram chips coming down in price.

[SKA]

Prices are coming down, you can now get brand-name 2x4GB PC2-5300 or PC2-6400 (preferred) for less than $100 if you are patient.

Dear RBS

Why do you say PC2-6400 is preferred over PC2-5300 ?

Thanks
Ska

[RealBlackStuff]

Even though the 6400 will only work at 5300 speed (in a T61), because of that, they will run just that little bit cooler.
And 6400 happens to be cheaper as well, most of the time.

[SKA]

Dear RBS

Thanks for reply, please advise which of these 3 DDR2 RAM modules you suggest/recommend for T61/T61P 15.4 inch models:(will buy 2 nos to get 8GB RAM on T61/T61P) :

4GB 200-pin PC2-5300 CL5 8c 2x256x8 DDR2-667 2Rx8 1.5V SODIMM (p/n CJN)
http://www.memoryx.com/cjn.html
OR
4GB PC2-5300 DDR2-667 CL5 2Rx8 1.8V 200-pin SDRAM SODIMM (p/n CHY)
http://www.memoryx.com/chy.html
OR
4GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800 2Rx8 200-pin SDRAM SODIMM (p/n CQE)
http://www.memoryx.com/cqe.html

If you can suggest any other sources, would appreciate greatly-thanks !

Rgds
Ska

[RealBlackStuff]

I wouldn't buy anything from them, and certainly not at those prices.
They make their own stuff from leftovers, 2nd choice, refurb, whatever, no thanks.
feeBay is your friend (for brand-name modules from a reputable seller [if there is such a thing...]).

[rkawakami]

@ska: You usually can't go wrong buying memory modules that are branded by one of the world's major DRAM manufacturers. Current and recent past companies that supply/supplied T61 DDR2 memory are (in no particular order): SK Hynix, Samsung (full disclosure: I'm employed by a division of Samsung but not in the DRAM business), Micron, Nanya, Elpida (now part of Micron), Infineon/Qimonda (closed), ProMOS (closed), Toshiba (closed)

Companies that take DRAM memory supplied from various sources and assembles them into modules are: Crucial (owned by Micron), Kingston, Corsair, G.Skill, OCZ, Mushkin; these are some of the more popular brands. Note that module builders can vary widely in their quality control / testing of product. As RBS said, some will cut costs and use what's considered to be "seconds"; devices which may be out of the manufacturer's spec but essentially functionally good in most other respects (fails due to excess power consumption or at high temperatures or some physical defect in the packaging that is only cosmetic). Other ways to cut costs would be to do the least amount of testing of the assembled module before shipping. Usually module builders just install them into a motherboard and do a boot test or they may use a fairly simple bench-top memory tester. I don't believe that many will do a complete functional test at hot or cold temperatures as this greatly adds to the cost of the product.

As far as buying from a "reputable" eBay seller, choose ones which offer at least a 14 day money-back guarantee. Hopefully you can find one near you (Singapore?) so that the return shipping cost isn't that bad. Check the seller's feedback by reading any of the negative or neutral reports and see how the seller responds. If they are combative or degrading (calling the buyer idiot, for example), move on to another seller as there are usually plenty of others.

Also, no matter who or where you buy memory modules from, it's up to you to test them as best you can before accepting them. Install it in your laptop and run a memory diagnostic such as memtest86+ for several hours. If possible, expose the laptop to the highest and lowest temperatures that it would normally run at while executing memtest86+. You need to be sure that there won't be a memory failure if the laptop gets too warm or cold.

[AeRoSpaceman]

I just bought 8GB DDR2 6400 for my T61 for $98 total (used) on Ebay. Runs great and I definitely notice a difference. As was stated above you just have to watch the prices for a while and see what they are being sold for. The stickers on my DIMM's say AXIOM but the chips are stamped Micron and I have not had any issues in over a week of use and ran memtest86+ overnight the first day I received them. So deals are out there if you have some patience and find a reputable seller.

EDIT: Here is the Ebay link for the item I bought. The seller seems to have a lot of them from "business laptops" from the item descritpion. Scroll down a bit on the page to see the sold item.

[Hans Gruber]

I have received really good service from Ebay sellers when parts do not work. Perhaps it's because of my 100% rating on Ebay. Anyway, my dud 2GB DDR2 stick, they are sending me another 2GB stick and told me I could discard the 2GB stick that doesn't work. I have a backup 2GB stick that is a Samsung so I have 4GB of ram currently.

I view the 2 X 4GB sticks as cost prohibitive right now in the DDR2 market. I will wait until the price comes down. With a SSD, you will not see much of a difference in performance.