Thinkpads Forum

I'm purchasing a used 1709-97U with 1GB RAM.

Does Lenovo ship these with 2 sticks of 512MB or 1 stick of 1GB, or is either just as likely as the other?

It matters only because I'm preparing to upgrade before the machine arrives.

I made a mistake when I ordered mine. The Lenovo website had an option for two 512 MB or one 1GB module. The 1 GB module was actually not much more money, but I didn't notice it. When I did notice it the next day, I called Lenovo and was told they could change the order. The Lenovo rep failed to get it processed in time.

After I got the machine, I replace one module with 1 GB, so I was at 1.5 GB. Then I read some articles that suggested it was better to have both modules the same size for dual channel memory. So I replaced the second module with 1 GB. Both modules were ordered from Crucial, so they have the same specs. (I don't believe that it's necessary to buy them in "tested" pairs at the same time.)

So, if you're going to upgrade to 2 GB total and want to have matched modules, I'd get as little memory from Lenovo as you can.

jkbrand wrote:I'm purchasing a used 1709-97U with 1GB RAM.

Does Lenovo ship these with 2 sticks of 512MB or 1 stick of 1GB, or is either just as likely as the other?

It matters only because I'm preparing to upgrade before the machine arrives.

As stated above you can "configure" your memory options, since you are buying it used, you can go here:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... country=us

and you can get information on the original configuration as shipped from Lenovo.

draco2527 wrote:As stated above you can "configure" your memory options, since you are buying it used, you can go here:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... country=us

and you can get information on the original configuration as shipped from Lenovo.

I went to the link, but I couldn't find anything that tells me if the build included one stick of 1GB or two sticks of 512MB, merely that it's got 1MB RAM.

jkbrand wrote:I went to the link, but I couldn't find anything that tells me if the build included one stick of 1GB or two sticks of 512MB, merely that it's got 1MB RAM.

If you check the tabook, you will see that the 1709-97U has one socket available; therefore it has a single 1 GB module installed. Some other models, such as 1706-C9U, have two 512 MB modules.

tomh009 wrote: If you check the tabook, you will see that the 1709-97U has one socket available; therefore it has a single 1 GB module installed. Some other models, such as 1706-C9U, have two 512 MB modules.

If your interpretation is correct, then I don't understand the reference in tabook:

"512MB or 1GB std / 4GB max / pc2-5300 667MHz DDR2 / non-parity / CL5 / dual channel capable / two 200-pin SO-DIMM sockets / one socket available"

I interpret that to mean only that Lenovo put in 1GB. I'm not sure how one can infer that it's the only slot in the 1709.

In fact, it might imply the answer to my original query: that if one socket is (still) available, the machine might well have shipped with a 1GB stick.

It seems if the 1709 (or any such model) had but one memory slot, it couldn't also be dual channel. Each channel requires its own slot (or, in the case of desk tops, pair of slots).

Sorry if I wasn't clear. The system has two sockets. One is taken up by the pre-installed 512 MB (for some systems) or 1 GB (other systems, including yours) module; the other one is available (ie empty) for you to use.