Thinkpads Forum

Hi,

I asked this before in another discussion and got different answers. So I would like to ask again and hopefully be able to make a decision.

I want to upgrade the memory of my T61 (currently 1GB DDR2-667) and wonder if I should either buy another DDR2-667 stick or buy two 1GB DDR2-800 sticks. Apparently I could even sell my old DDR2-667 stick to a friend of mine so that I wouldn't loose much money.

I'm only concerned about the compability of DDR2-800 sticks and the T61 model (mine is 7659-XAU). I really don't want to have any trouble with the new sticks and thus want to be sure that the DDR2-800 sticks would work perfectly before I buy them.

I would appreciate if someone could tell me whether it is "save" to buy the new sticks or if I should rather go with another DDR2-667 stick.

Many thanks!


p.s. Hopefully soon I will have some time to take some pictures of my T61 and post them along with my experience so far.

p.p.s. I would appreciate some help of Linux gurus in this topic: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=42689 (hope this little advertising is ok)

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=43218

One good thing about this forum is you are going to get different answers, all of which area usually slightly different, as users experiences are different.

Thanks for the link, that looks promising! I was not complaining about different answers, though You are absolutely right that there are always different answers based on different experiences. Sorry if I gave a wrong impression about this.

Nonetheless I'd appreciate any further opinion to this topic that maybe isn't posted in the other topic yet.

Shuk wrote:Nonetheless I'd appreciate any further opinion to this topic that maybe isn't posted in the other topic yet.

Wait for a month or two. 800MHz memories are very new and there are currently very few choices. Let other people test them first. Why be a guinea pig?

As an alternative, just make up your mind to get a 2GB module, which is only available at 667MHz, so that 800MHz isn't even an option. You can get one for $135 shipped on Newegg.com.

That brings up a question:

Would 3GB DDR2-667 increase performance more than 2GB DDR2-800?

Shuk wrote:That brings up a question:

Would 3GB DDR2-667 increase performance more than 2GB DDR2-800?

This will be HIGHLY dependent on the application(s) in use.

If your total memory usage exceeds 2GB, then you have hit a bottleneck and of course more memory will be the best option (even if it is somewhat slower).

If speed is your ONLY concern, then of course DDR2-PC6400 (800MHz) is going to be faster. How much faster, well again that will depend on what you are doing (memory intensive apps will see the largest gains).

I'd say wait a month or two as well. If stability/compatibility is an issue, you're better of waiting for a bit and prices are *almost* certain to only go lower while you wait. (I don't see any surge in DDR2 purchases, or an upcomming dwindle in supply.. do you?)

Meanwhile, unless you *really* need 2GB, or you're running Vista, 1GB should be plenty.

Or.. you could buy a 1GB DDR2 667 SoDimm now for ~30 bucks? and, in my opinion / subjective experience, be just as well off. Unless you're doing something memory intensive, I don't think you'll see a difference between 667 and 800 (FSB parity and all).