X60 Dual Channel Memory Performance

Message

siya-u · #1 Post by **siya-u** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:54 am

Hello,

I have been watching this forum for a couple of months but this is my first post =) I've learned a lot about ThinkPad computers by the help of the users of this forum.

Anyway, I am using an IBM ThinkPad X60 computer at my office. It has a 2 GB DDR2-667 SODIMM installed. There is also an available RAM slot on the motherboard. I want to install another SODIMM and upgrade the system to 3 GB of memory.

As this notebook has a Core Duo processor and lacks the 64 bit support, I know that I won't be able to use 4 GB of memory if I install an additional 2 GB SODIMM. But I'm curious about the Dual Channel performance difference. It is told that on 2 GB + 1 GB SODIMM installations, dual channel mode is not activated; two DIMMs should have to be the same size for dual channel. So to see the benefits of dual channel mode, I need to install another 2 GB SODIMM.

Do you think it is worth to spend more on a 2 GB SODIMM instead of 1 GB SODIMM to have the benefits of dual channel memory?

Thanks in advance.

aaa · #2 Post by **aaa** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:25 am

No. 99% of the time people don't notice a difference.

mista_eng · #3 Post by **mista_eng** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:51 am

From everything I've read, the X60 supports up to 2 GB of RAM, with 1GB sticks in each slot.

#4 Post by **erik** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:23 pm

mista_eng wrote:From everything I've read, the X60 supports up to 2 GB of RAM, with 1GB sticks in each slot.

the X60 supports up to 4GB.

you can install 4GB (2GB + 2GB) but it will address a maximum of 3GB regardless of OS. installing 3GB will run in asynchronous dual-channel mode. it's not worth installing 4GB just to run in synchronous mode as the difference is only 2~3%. you'll never notice the difference.

this article on memory limitations can be applied to the X60-series: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=49703

mista_eng · #5 Post by **mista_eng** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 6:08 pm

From Lenovo's website on maximum memory for the following systems:

X60, X60s
PC2-5300 CL5 DDR2 SDRAM 200-pin non-parity SoDIMM
667MHz 2GB

X61, X61s
PC2-5300 CL5 DDR2 SDRAM 200-pin non-parity SoDIMM
667MHz 4GB (**)

If the X60s does in fact support more than 2GB, upgrading to 3GB would be great. Is Lenovo's information above incorrect?

OP, are you sure you have a 2GB stick and an empty slot in another?

pianowizard · #6 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 6:14 pm

mista_eng wrote:Is Lenovo's information above incorrect?

That information was released when 2GB modules didn't exist. What erik said is correct. Lenovo really should update obsolete information on their website from time to time.

mista_eng · #7 Post by **mista_eng** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 9:22 pm

Awesome, that means I can upgrade my brother's machine to 3GB! I guess www.crucial.com was relying on the same information Lenovo gave them. They also noted that the maximum amount of RAM for the X60s was 2GB.

siya-u · #8 Post by **siya-u** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:17 am

I appreciate all of you for your help.

I borrowed a 2 GB SODIMM from one of my collegue; I will apply some benchmarks to decide if the performance difference is worth for paying more for 2 GB memory. I will also share the results with you here.

Stay tuned =)

X60 Dual Channel Memory Performance

X60 Dual Channel Memory Performance

Who is online