Thinkpad R40 (2681) RAM upgrade 2GB

Message

gewe · #1 Post by **gewe** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 2:15 am

Hello
I want to upgrade the RAM of my old R40 (P-IV-M 2681) with Transcend 2GB memory (so-dimm 200pin pc-2700, TS128MSD64V3A).

The IBM-Site says my Thinkpad supports only up to maximum 1GB:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... GR-55644#1

I quote a post from pianowizard on this forum explaining:
"All PC2100/PC2700 machines that I know of can take 1GB modules, i.e. a computer with two slots supports up to 2GB of RAM."

Is this correct ??

Regards
GEWE

pt1209 · #2 Post by **pt1209** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 11:48 am

I have the same R40 and would love to upgrade memory to at least a gig(2 512MB Dimms). Crucials also seems to think 1gig is the max for this laptop stating "Each memory slot can hold DDR PC2700 with a maximum of 512MB per slot.*". Did you find a great price on the Transcend memory, crucial is showing $57 for 2 512 dimms..

gewe · #3 Post by **gewe** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:08 pm

Hello,

I found a price of 45€ for 1x1GB incl shipping in Germany.

The question is if it will it be recognised by the main board.

IBM says no.....

Regards
gewe

sarbin · #4 Post by **sarbin** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:22 pm

i wonder if this is like the a31p...
when it was introduced, there was no support for 1gb sticks in the ram slots, so the spec listed 1gb maximum (2x512mb). as a number of folks here have done, updating the a31p to the latest bios allows up to 2gb (2x1gb) to be installed and recognized, even though not sanctioned by ibm.

unperson · #5 Post by **unperson** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:50 pm

Sometimes the IBM site only lists what they originally sold the units with. Thus it may not express the maximum RAM, just what they offered originally..

Notice the hard drive sizes are small too. But obviously there is no limit..

crucial.com has the best definitions for max RAM.

In the R40 I do believe its 2Gigs.. 2x1g / slot.

I have 2 gigs in mine. Its nice.

ajkula66 · #6 Post by **ajkula66** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 9:49 pm

I distinctly remember having over 1Gb in one of my R40s, whether 1.25 or 1.5, so yes, it will take 2Gb, no questions asked with a P4M or PM CPU.

gewe · #7 Post by **gewe** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:22 am

This would be good news:

But what do you mean with "no questions asked with a P4M or PM" ? Do you believe both of them take 2 GB?

In the specs of R40 (27xx = PM) a maximum of 2GB (2x1GB) is allowed, so no problem here

In the specs of R40 (26xx = P4M) a maximum of 1GB (2x512) is allowed...

This is a real science...

gewe

gewe · #8 Post by **gewe** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:29 am

unperson wrote:Sometimes the IBM site only lists what they originally sold the units with. Thus it may not express the maximum RAM, just what they offered originally..

Notice the hard drive sizes are small too. But obviously there is no limit..

crucial.com has the best definitions for max RAM.

In the R40 I do believe its 2Gigs.. 2x1g / slot.

I have 2 gigs in mine. Its nice.

In fact I read a thread about the A31 taking 2GB even though it's not "allowed".

Crucial says 2x512 (quoting the manufacturer's specs) which is normal

You have 2 GB in yours !............is this a P4M CPU (26xx, 2GB not allowed by specs) or a PM CPU (27xx, 2GB allowed by specs)???

gewe

ajkula66 · #9 Post by **ajkula66** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:29 am

The machine I had over 1Gb was either a 2.2 or a 2.4 P4M unit with 15" SXGA+, that much I can tell you...so once again, it will take 2Gb.

gewe · #10 Post by **gewe** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 10:37 am

Good news

Thank you

pt1209 · #11 Post by **pt1209** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:48 am

Am I correct in my thinking that the dimms do not need to be matched (size wise), I could put in a 1 gig and a 256mb in my R40 thinkpad without any problems??

Processor is- x86 Family 15Model 2 Stepping 7 Intel ~1196Mhz,

sarbin · #12 Post by **sarbin** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:54 am

pt1209 · #13 Post by **pt1209** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:37 pm

Thanks sarbin..

gewe, did you install the 2gb yet?? I'm very interested for a friend of mine has 2 gb of ddr in a extra laptop which we're going to try in my R40 2681 tomorrow, if it work he willl probably just "give" them to me in exchange for my 384mb since the he's eBaying the laptop it's presently in..

gewe · #14 Post by **gewe** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:27 am

@pt1209

No,
I ordered them, they should be shipped today and arrive on Wednesday. By the end of the week I should have tested them (memtest) and i will report here

Please tell me how it worked with your Ram.

gewe

pt1209 · #15 Post by **pt1209** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:50 pm

It's a go.. I have 2gb in and running with no problems, installed it and the R40 saw it right off the bat, my friend who was nice enough to give it to me also had me change the Vitrual Memory setting to 2048mb. PLUS you shouldn't worry about the new memory being PC-2700 because the 2Gb I put in is PC-3200. So you should be good to go when your memory comes in gewe..

gewe · #16 Post by **gewe** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:03 am

Hello,

I just installed my 1 GB RAM-Memory (I have now a total of 1.25 GB) without
any problem.
I also ran memtest 3.4 for 90min without any errors.

Thanks for all your help

Gewe

golroch · #17 Post by **golroch** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:25 pm

I have a 2681 and I presume you have a celeron chip. How well was the upgrade to 2GB? Did you see a vast improvement?

pt1209 · #18 Post by **pt1209** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:19 pm

golroch wrote:I have a 2681 and I presume you have a celeron chip. How well was the upgrade to 2GB? Did you see a vast improvement?

My 2681 has a Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor(1.80 GHz), yes I did see a big improvment, much quicker and doesn't bog down when I have a bunch of windows open at the same time... well worth the upgrade in my case.

gewe · #19 Post by **gewe** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 4:12 pm

I have an PIV mobile 2.0GHz, I also notice an improvement.

Regards,
gewe

Thinkpad R40 (2681) RAM upgrade 2GB

Thinkpad R40 (2681) RAM upgrade 2GB

Transcend

2 gigs

Re: 2 gigs

Just wondering if you have a celeron

Re: Just wondering if you have a celeron

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