Is 4 GB RAM really that much better?

[jamesd058]

Is running 4 GB of RAM, that is, two identical 2GB SoDIMMs, really a good idea? I have 2GB (1GB + 1GB) in each of my Home (T61) and work Thnkpads (T60). Each runs Windows XP, not Vista. At work, XP is the standard image, however, at Home I chose to down-grade to XP from Vista using T61 image from Lenovo. At Home I run primarily web-based applications, PhotoShop, getting a new Digital Camcorder, i-Tunes, etc..., and at work it is Louts Notes!!! I'm thinking of upgrading both to 4GB RAM, but want to know if I'll really see a benefit.

I know Windows XP will never use the entire 4GB, but if it benefits Apps I'd like to go for it. If "Vista" or whatever their calling it today, if better and improved, and will do much better on 4GB RAM, I may even consider going back on the Home Thinkpad. Appreciate your input and pointers to other threads where this may have been discussed in details already.

Thank you very much.

[jdhurst]

So far as I know Windows, and therefore its applications, will not use 4Gb of memory. Therefore the extra GB will sit unused. Some machines will not even use more than 2Gb so check that, although my own T61p uses all 4Gb, so your's should use 3Gb approximately. ... JDH

[sktn77a]

Well, the T60 has a hardware limitation of 3Gb, and the T61, while not limited from a hardware standpoint, has the same 3Gb limitation with 32-bit XP and Vista. You'll get about 1 extra gigabyte on either machine but not the additional 2Gb.

So will 1 extra gigabyte help with your software? Only if it is RAM-hog software or you routinely operate with 10+ open windows.

Take a look at the 4th sticky:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=49703

[jamesd058]

Thanks Keith. Will view link. Appreciate it.

[SpanKyM3]

would 4gb work on T60 if you have Windows 7 32bit installed?Or would it only be 3 gig.

[jamesd058]

Good question? I don't know. Did Vista 1 32 bit support >3GB RAM? Isn't Windows 7 really Vista 2?

Thank you.

[ARD]

I have Windows 7 Enterprise 32 bit installed on one of my drives for my T60.
It reports 4 gigs, but only 3 usable.

[LegendaryKA8]

would 4gb work on T60 if you have Windows 7 32bit installed?Or would it only be 3 gig.

To avoid repeating a lot of the information contained in these stickies, here's the short answer:

32-bit consumer operating systems(XP, Vista x86, etc) have a practical memory cap of about 3-3.5GB. They can address 4GB of 'memory,' but keep in mind that this includes all system devices: video memory and other devices that use 'memory' are lumped into that total.

64-bit operating systems have a memory cap, but it's set much higher... I think the maximum you can get with Vista Enterprise and Ultimate is 128GB, but I could be wrong.

However, there is a second limit to how much RAM you can use; a physical limit that the chipset on the motherboard can address.

T60 and T60p machines have a physical limit of 3GB. You can put two matching 2GB sticks into a T60/T60p, but you will only be able to use 3GB. There is no workaround for this. There is a minor performance boost to using matching sticks in dual channel mode. The actual performance increase is debatable, but I went ahead and did it anyway.

T61 and T61p machines use a newer chipset(Santa Rosa) than the T60. This chipset will address up to 8GB of RAM, although 4GB sticks of RAM aren't exactly cheap. In order to use more than 3GB of RAM, however, you will need to use a 64-bit operating system.