Thinkpads Forum

I had 2x1gb sodimms in my t60p, but wanted to upgrade. So I popped in 2x2gb sodimms, and looked in the BIOS and it showed that there was 4gb. However, on bootup the memory check stops somewhere in 3gb. When I boot up, the operating system only sees 3gb. I'm pretty sure I have the latest BIOS revision, but am I missing something else?

Thanks!

VERY old hat.
The T60/T60p chipset has a limitation and cannot see more than ~3.2GB.
Neither can a 32-bit OS.
Search the forum, plenty posts about that.

RealBlackStuff wrote:VERY old hat.
The T60/T60p chipset has a limitation and cannot see more than ~3.2GB.
Neither can a 32-bit OS.

Ok, I'll be switching to a Core 2 Duo and a 64-bit install soon, but it sounds like that isn't going to give me anymore?

I'm searching the forums to try and find the information you mentioned, but so far am having difficulty due to the frequency of the word "memory".

Ok, I'll be switching to a Core 2 Duo and a 64-bit install soon, but it sounds like that isn't going to give me anymore?

Not if you mean installing a C2D in the T60p; even with a 64-bit CPU and OS the BIOS/chipset will limit you to 3 GB. T61 or later would be able to use all physical memory with a 64-bit OS.

Would that be the same limitation for the X60 and X61, assuming a 64bit OS -- machines will still only see up to 3gb?

X61s can see more than 4Gb (via my X61s, 6Gb)

micah wrote:...but am I missing something else?

Lucky for you, you missed out on dozens (maybe hundreds) of threads that mention this issue and you missed out on five years of frustration!

The other silver lining is that your machine does get an approximate 5% performance boost by having 2 x 2GB sticks of RAM (vs. 3GB), due to dual channel mode use when two identical capacity memory sticks are used, more info --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-channel_architecture

Plus, even with Win 7 64-bit (on a C2D, of course), the T60 performs quite well.

emtee3511 wrote:Would that be the same limitation for the X60 and X61, assuming a 64bit OS -- machines will still only see up to 3gb?

X60/X60s have the same limitation. 61-series and later can all use 4GB+ with a 64-bit OS.

To elaborate a bit more (and maybe add to the confusion):
T60/R60/X60 series, as well as Z61 series (which is a variant of the T60!!!), all have the same chipset limitation of ~3.2GB RAM, regardless of CPU or OS.
T61/R61/X61 series with C2D and 64-bit OS can see/use up to 8GB RAM.

I guess my only option is to go frankenpad and put a t61 mobo in the machine in order to get at the additional RAM. I've already done a fan/heatsink replacement, a CPU replacement, and a keyboard replacement, how much harder can replacing the motherboard be?

has anyone tried a 4gb + 2gb module in their T60?

@OCedT60 - Why would anyone want to do that?