Thinkpads Forum

It appears that my x60s will recognize 4gb of memory but will only make available 3gb for use. I'm running 2gb now. Can I simply buy a 2gb chip and run it with my 1gb chip or do they have to run tandem? Anyone have a Crucial part number on hand? TIA.

You can just buy a 2GB stick, no difference will be noticeable for most people, myself included, between symmetric dual-channel (4GB) and asymmetric dual-channel (3GB)...

Hope this helps.

There is no much difference between asymmetric and symmetric mode of dual channel.

Suppose you have 2GB + 1GB,
the first half of the 2GB and the 1GB will run the dual channel mode whereas the rest half of the 2GB will not.

Only when you use up the 2GB margin will incur some difference. But again, even so, the difference is not much. (in terms of 'feels like').

Is the 3GB limit a hardware or software limitation? Ie, if I was to install a 64bit OS onto an X60 with 4GB of RAM would I be able to make full use of of those 4GB?

Software limitation. A 64bit would do the trick, or as alternative the 32bit version of 2008 Server (maybe 2003 Server, too)

Got it, thanks.

mazzinia wrote:Software limitation. A 64bit would do the trick, or as alternative the 32bit version of 2008 Server (maybe 2003 Server, too)

No, that's not correct. The X60 (and X60s and X60t) use Intel's 945 mobile chipset which cannot address more than about 3.3GB of RAM. On the X61 and newer models, this is not the case, though a 64-bit OS or 2003 Server is needed to take advantage of the full 4GB.

Heres another option (ramdrive) what to do with the 1 gig not used by windows.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=63817

i have 4 gig ram in my x61s and using 3 gigs for windows and 1gig as a ramdrive.