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It was my understanding that the maximum RAM for x61 is 4GB. So I have bought two 2GB chips from Crucial (2x2GB 200PIN DDR2 SODIMM 256Mx64 PC2-5300) and installed them. However, when I go to System Properties in Windows XP now, it says "2.99 GB of RAM" under the General tab. Does it mean that I installed a defective memory chip? Otherwise, why doesn't it say 4 GB?

Windows XP 32-bit can only access around 3gb of ram. You need 64-bit for more than that.

One exception is 32-bit versions of Windows Server 2003 and 2008. They support PAE, allowing 4gb+ (depending on edition) of RAM on 32-bit.

So does it mean I wasted the money for that fourth GB? Msinfo32 does show that 4GB of memory are installed under "Total Physical Memory".

well, technically 2x2GB will be faster than 1GB+2GB due to the X61's dual-channel memory architecture. in practice, there's probably no noticeable difference.

as mentioned above, 32-bit xp can only access ~3GB without PAE. however, i was under the impression that non-server xp sp2 does support PAE, and it's automatically turned on if DEP is enabled. i don't know any details though, as my only 4GB machine here is running 64-bit Vista. here are some relevant MS support pages though:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888137
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875352

alosito wrote:It was my understanding that the maximum RAM for x61 is 4GB.

the X61 will support 8GB (two 4GB DDR2-667 modules) maximum.

tricky wrote:well, technically 2x2GB will be faster than 1GB+2GB due to the X61's dual-channel memory architecture. in practice, there's probably no noticeable difference.

1+2GB will run in asymmetric dual-channel mode.   the difference between asymmetric and symmetric dual-channel speeds is within a few percent of each other and absolutely impossible to humanly perceive.

XP supports PAE, but not fully. It is hard-limited to 4gb address space by Microsoft.

erik wrote: the X61 will support 8GB (two 4GB DDR2-667 modules) maximum.

Wow, I didn't know this... I thought my x61 was maxed out at 4gb too. Thanks for the tip!

Does it make sense to install a 64-bit XP in this respect?

You could use XP-64, but the driver support is not available form Lenovo.

comptiger5000 wrote:You could use XP-64, but the driver support is not available form Lenovo.

So is XP Pro 32-bit the best option?

64 bit XP is not that bad....

You could run Vista 64, as it's supported. Or, if you have access to Windows Server 2003 or 2008, the 32 bit versions of those support full PAE (up to 4gb actual ram in standard edition, more in enterprise and datacenter).

don't forget that 32-bit windows is still limited to 2GB addressing per application.   while server 2003/2008 enterprise can address more than 4GB, each app run will be limited to using only 2GB.   a 32-bit app under a 64-bit OS can address 3GB only if that app supports PAE (which not many do).   a 64-bit app under a 64-bit OS can address up to 2TB.

Very true Erik, but for many people the issue is RAM use when multitasking, more than per app.

tylerwylie wrote:64 bit XP is not that bad....

How can I tun it on X61 if Lenovo's drivers don't support it?

alosito wrote:

tylerwylie wrote:64 bit XP is not that bad....

How can I tun it on X61 if Lenovo's drivers don't support it?

I wouldn't think too much, especially not about XP 64...
I have Vista 64 running on my X61s (4GB) for about a year now. So far, every single application I want to use just runs fine. I once spent about an hour hunting for drivers to connect a GPS Mouse, but otherwise all software just worked unchanged. Lenovo provides 64 bit drivers for everything, so no issue there either.
One has to get used to Vista, but this is managable.

Regards, Martin

All the crappy Vista features (Aero, etc) can be turned off anyway. I run windows classic theme regardless of OS version.

erik wrote:

alosito wrote:It was my understanding that the maximum RAM for x61 is 4GB.

the X61 will support 8GB (two 4GB DDR2-667 modules) maximum.

tricky wrote:well, technically 2x2GB will be faster than 1GB+2GB due to the X61's dual-channel memory architecture. in practice, there's probably no noticeable difference.

1+2GB will run in asymmetric dual-channel mode.   the difference between asymmetric and symmetric dual-channel speeds is within a few percent of each other and absolutely impossible to humanly perceive.

You meant all X61 models support upto 8GB of RAM? or just few specific models? Cause I noticed that from tabook, I did not see any X61 spec saying that it accept 8GB memory ....
Please advice, thanks
Oh, BTW, how much for 4GB modules now?
LD

4GB modules vary widely in price - from around $150 to around $400. Some of the more expensive ones are PC6400 - but mostly it seems to be brand value.

ludu35 wrote:You meant all X61 models support upto 8GB of RAM? or just few specific models? Cause I noticed that from tabook, I did not see any X61 spec saying that it accept 8GB memory ....

intel's own specs say that the PM965 and GM965 support 8GB.   all X61, X61s, and X61T models support 8GB.

i have 8GB (on loan from a friend) in my X61s and it works just fine.

erik wrote:

ludu35 wrote:You meant all X61 models support upto 8GB of RAM? or just few specific models? Cause I noticed that from tabook, I did not see any X61 spec saying that it accept 8GB memory ....

intel's own specs say that the PM965 and GM965 support 8GB.   all X61, X61s, and X61T models support 8GB.

i have 8GB (on loan from a friend) in my X61s and it works just fine.

Erik
Thanks for your confirm ... but did you see any big performance gain after upgrading to 8GB ram from 4GB?
Please advice, thanks
Mine X61 has T7200, 4GB ram, 200GB 7200rpm and Win Vista 64
LD

ludu35 wrote:Thanks for your confirm ... but did you see any big performance gain after upgrading to 8GB ram from 4GB?

yes... server 2008 now boots 7x faster, apps load 20x faster, and my system actually does the work for me instead of needing my input.

kidding.

seriously though, the only "performance" gain i noticed was that i can load larger files in my 64-bit apps without them choking.   i'd only recommend 8GB for those who actually see insufficient memory warnings with 4GB.   it'll make vista/2008 slightly quicker but not by much.

erik wrote:

ludu35 wrote:Thanks for your confirm ... but did you see any big performance gain after upgrading to 8GB ram from 4GB?

yes... server 2008 now boots 7x faster, apps load 20x faster, and my system actually does the work for me instead of needing my input.

kidding.

seriously though, the only "performance" gain i noticed was that i can load larger files in my 64-bit apps without them choking.   i'd only recommend 8GB for those who actually see insufficient memory warnings with 4GB.   it'll make vista/2008 slightly quicker but not by much.

Or if you wanna load a tmpfs RAM in Linux for pure awesome.

Or, for someone who does a lot of VMware work.

alosito wrote:

tylerwylie wrote:64 bit XP is not that bad....

How can I tun it on X61 if Lenovo's drivers don't support it?

Just updated my x61s with 8G of RAM, a new 320G HDD, and WinXP-64. I took notes as to how to get it all running. I'll post an article. Installing VMWare now!

Windows XP (x64) how to posted! ( http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=70057 )

I'd like to properly use the 4G RAM on my T61 & X61T and have a "Rock Solid" lean system, the kind that reminds me of Win NT4 SP6.2 and good old Windows 2000.

Should I go Win 2008 or Win XP-64 or Vista - X Something?

Thoughts?

Win 2008 x64 seems stable. Win 2003 x86 (supports 4gb+ ram with PAE) is also a solid laptop OS.

How would you compare Win XP - 64 vs Win 2008 - 64 vs Win 2008 - non-64?