1GB dual channel or 1.5GB ?

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maxrum · #1 Post by **maxrum** » Sun May 21, 2006 10:13 pm

I'm getting my new T60 2623D6U tomorrow.

It has 512Mb on board and I'm considering to upgrade memory.

There two options: to buy 512Mb more or to buy a 1Gb chip. One gig memory from crucial is almost $190 and I'm concerned if it worth it to make total memory of 1.5Gb? Especially considering the fact that in this case laptop will not run in dual channel mode. Or is it better to get another 512Mb from crucial for $90, enjoy dual channel for now, and then upgrade it later to 2Gb, when prices on 1GB chips will drop within a year?

baraider · #2 Post by **baraider** » Mon May 22, 2006 12:04 am

Welcome to the world of Thinkpad Max

The requirement for all new member is to write a thorough review of their new Thinkpad. So make sure you come back and provide us with pictures, detailed comments, etc tomorrow after you got your new toy.

just kidding

Enjoy your new TP.

bessel · #3 Post by **bessel** » Mon May 22, 2006 12:37 am

From what I have learned the ideal scenario is get a 1GB stick first to make the total 1.5G and upgrade it to 2GB later when the prices drop, if it is ever necessary. 1GB nowadays is just too little. Don't worry about the dual channel though, 1.5GB is by any means much faster than 1GB.

kulivontot · #4 Post by **kulivontot** » Mon May 22, 2006 2:04 am

check out outpost.com or newegg.com for cheaper ram prices. I believe I saw 1 gb for like $75 on outpost after rebate. In any case $190 seems ridiculous.

maxrum · #5 Post by **maxrum** » Mon May 22, 2006 8:35 am

It's a Crucial memory which cost $190. Newegg sells the same chip a little bit cheaper - about $180. There are many other brands which are very cheap - around $75 for 1GB chip. But I always buy Crucial memory and I have never had problems with it. I'm willing to pay some extra money for reliable memory because of the nature of troubles which cheap memory can cause.

rschauby · #6 Post by **rschauby** » Mon May 22, 2006 8:45 am

I installed 1 gig of Crucial memory in my T60 just a few days after receiving it. I too was a little worried about not having the memory run in dual channel mode. After a little bit of web surfing I read a few things that pointed out only small marginal benefits of memory running in dual channel mode. For those of us who love to squeeze every ounce of performance out of our machines not having memory running in dual channel is almost painful! However, at this point in time I think adding 1 gig for a total of 1.5 gigs of memory is of more benefit than 1 gig (512mb x 2) in dual channel mode. This also sets you up perfectly for adding another gig stick and running 2 gigs in dual channel!

#7 Post by **archer6** » Mon May 22, 2006 9:27 am

maxrum wrote: I always buy Crucial memory and I have never had problems with it. I'm willing to pay some extra money for reliable memory because of the nature of troubles which cheap memory can cause.

Here is an experience I had a few years ago, I purchased brand X memory and it was fine for about 2 weeks. Then the computer began acting strangely. Since the memory had been in for awhile I did'nt think about it possibly being the problem. So I spent a lot of time diagnosing the problem only to find at the end of a couple of days of trouble shooting that it was indeed the memory.

I switched to Crucial at that time and have never looked back. It's worth the extra cost to me to avoid having to lose time with a bad module and then having to do the job all over again. Especially now since we have to remove the palm rest etc to install memory. Which of course is more time consuming that just removing a door from the bottom of the computer as in the past.

heiss · #8 Post by **heiss** » Mon May 22, 2006 1:16 pm

Does Lenovo use crucial then? If I order a memory online from lenovo will I get a crucial mem? I think it would be a dumb question to ask, but I'm just curious. Thanks.

#9 Post by **archer6** » Mon May 22, 2006 1:21 pm

heiss wrote:Does Lenovo use crucial then? If I order a memory online from lenovo will I get a crucial mem? I think it would be a dumb question to ask, but I'm just curious. Thanks.

I do not know who supplies memory for Lenovo, it would not surprise me if they had 2 suppliers. Just like keyboards and other components it's not unusual for a large volume mfg like Lenovo to use a few vendors to meet their needs.

However I do know that Crucial is 100% compatible in all specifications, performance, etc.

bibo · #10 Post by **bibo** » Mon May 22, 2006 6:57 pm

If I have $180, I would buy a 1g memory from lenovo. Why do you guys choose Crucial? Do you think Crucial memory is more compatible than lenovo in a lenovo computer?

kulivontot · #11 Post by **kulivontot** » Mon May 22, 2006 7:12 pm

Lenovo put Samsung memory in my laptop. Yes, there can be hardware problems with memory, but at half the price, I'm willing to risk it. You should always perform a full memory diagnostic test when adding new memory anyways to detect defects before the warranty runs out.

bibo · #12 Post by **bibo** » Mon May 22, 2006 7:14 pm

Most T60s that I have seen are using Elpida memory. IBM doesn't use crucial memory.

MIB · #13 Post by **MIB** » Tue May 23, 2006 12:33 pm

Well, about the dual channel mode thingy, I have the same question before for upgrading my X60s, see the thread

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=24725

Now I have 1.5 G memory and quite happy with it.

#14 Post by **archer6** » Tue May 23, 2006 7:24 pm

MIB wrote:Now I have 1.5 G memory and quite happy with it.

I'm also running 1.5GB in my X60s and the problem I have now, is the computer is too fast.....too quite, it's easy to use and works everytime... how am I supposed to deal with this problem?

To make matters worse the other 2 new 60 series, T & Z are also displaying the same symptoms. Run well, cool, quiet, fast, stable, .... what's a guy to do?

astro · #15 Post by **astro** » Tue May 23, 2006 8:08 pm

archer6 wrote:
MIB wrote:Now I have 1.5 G memory and quite happy with it.
I'm also running 1.5GB in my X60s and the problem I have now, is the computer is too fast.....too quite, it's easy to use and works everytime... how am I supposed to deal with this problem?

To make matters worse the other 2 new 60 series, T & Z are also displaying the same symptoms. Run well, cool, quiet, fast, stable, .... what's a guy to do?

User: archer6
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Total posts: 464
[0.29% of total / 6.19 posts per day]

You have been hanging around this forum far too much of late, my friend.

MIB · #16 Post by **MIB** » Tue May 23, 2006 10:12 pm

astro wrote:
archer6 wrote: I'm also running 1.5GB in my X60s and the problem I have now, is the computer is too fast.....too quite, it's easy to use and works everytime... how am I supposed to deal with this problem?

To make matters worse the other 2 new 60 series, T & Z are also displaying the same symptoms. Run well, cool, quiet, fast, stable, .... what's a guy to do?
User: archer6
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Total posts: 464
[0.29% of total / 6.19 posts per day]

You have been hanging around this forum far too much of late, my friend.

heh heh well I dont blame him, I found myself hanging around this forum quite too often also, the trend getting much worse after I got my X60s

#17 Post by **archer6** » Tue May 23, 2006 10:45 pm

MIB wrote:
astro wrote: User: archer6
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Total posts: 464
[0.29% of total / 6.19 posts per day]

You have been hanging around this forum far too much of late, my friend.
heh heh well I dont blame him, I found myself hanging around this forum quite too often also, the trend getting much worse after I got my X60s

MIB & Astro -

Yeah.... perhaps I need to get a life eh?

Thanks a lot for the laughs, I must admit that I do enjoy the dialog here.

Astro, you really made me laugh when you posted my stats, which is something that I had not seen.

Thanks again you guys and enjoy.

1GB dual channel or 1.5GB ?

1GB dual channel or 1.5GB ?

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