Thinkpads Forum

I currently have a W500 with 4Gb ram (2*2Gb). I know this is running at 1066 Mhz CL7 (tRAS 20) in dual channel mode.

However my application workload is starting to result in overcommitting of memory & slowdowns so I'm looking at getting more. Initially this will be 1 stick only due to budget limits, although another may follow in a number of months. But this isn't a total definate

Do I go for a
55Y3708 PC3-8500 DDR3-1066 CL7
55Y3711 PC3-1333 DDR3-1333 CL9

Both are within 0.5% price...

Obviously I will end up running at slow timings initially - so 1066 Mhz regardless, and presumably the latter option would mean this is 1066 Mhz, CL9, single channel. I would normally go for the "faster" memory in prep for a speed boost when the pair is installed,

Im probably worrying unnecessarily -- but is there anything about the W500 that would push me one way or another?

Thanks!
Nigel.

Hi Nigel;
Not sure which of the W510 models you have .....

I have one of the newer W510 Models with i7 920xm series (4318CTO + FHD M/Tscreen) for my work laptop.

I installed mine with (bought self at my huge expanse-not company's) the Kingston HyperX 16GB (4 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600 CL5. However it seems Kingston NOW DONT MAKE the lower voltage CL5 with 1600's mhtz.....they make the 2GB chips ONLY! <shock horror>
I highly recommend the Kingston HyperX Brands ....<nope not work for kingston NOR for Lenovo>
Kingston Link
http://www.kingston.com/hyperx/products/khx_sodimm.asp
Things to note:
- Lower voltage memory = better longer Battery life
- Lower voltage = cooler W Series run = longer life on battery (since fan wont be working so hard to cool itself)
_ Lower the CL rating the faster the laptop works - there are other factors involve here.

Mostly I found TP's = will adjust to get the highest -'fastest speeds' to work with limitations being the 'slowest memory chip specs" ; so best to make sure Memory = Matched PAIRr or Set. I have also 'mixed' same specs from different mfgrs and had no isseus with things...and I am on my 14th TP laptop for work !!


Hope this helps

Cheers
Mike

edited > link added, typos fixed

Just a W500 here, so 2 * 4Gb max.

Checking further I have a T9400 processor, so from http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Intel_Core_2_Duo_(Penryn) this looks like the max FSB is 1033Mhz

With this in mind the faster clock speed memory actually won't help (although it will work) so I'd be better going for the lower latency CL7 1033 Mhz memory given these two options, system I have, and low budget

OOPs My bad ,,,, yip w500 IS WITH LOWER Bus speed - atleast the eaelier ones - I think the models were 4058 etc ,,,, and yes max mem = lower than newer W510s

However I still would recommend the HyperX - they are much lwoer voltage, run cooler , works fast; well and so far(since their arrivals some 2 yrs=) havent got any fail - 300+ of various T&W series all 'maxed and loaded' with HyperX and none ever fail.

There are lots of posts here re Memory / speed / benchmarking .... and about HyperX

Cheers

ausmike wrote: However I still would recommend the HyperX - they are much lower voltage, run cooler , works fast; well and so far(since their arrivals some 2 yrs=) havent got any fail - 300+ of various T&W series all 'maxed and loaded' with HyperX and none ever fail.

There are lots of posts here re Memory / speed / benchmarking .... and about HyperX

Cheers

All SO-DIMM 204 pin DDR3 modules run at 1.5v.
The reason so to go for HyperX modules would be to get a matched pair of quality memory with low latancy ratings.