2gb RAM in an R32?

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lparsons · #1 Post by **lparsons** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 12:58 pm

I know the "official" maximum ram for an R32 is listed as 1gb. However, I have seen some discussion before that it may be able to handle 2gb.

Can anyone tell me if they have done it or know of it to work? Or anyone who has tried and found it did not?

I just noticed that I could do 2gb through a local retailer for about $70, I was contemplating giving it a try.

EDIT: I should add that by "local" I mean local to where I am this week, which is not Syracuse NY.

ajkula66 · #2 Post by **ajkula66** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:06 pm

It most certainly should be able to handle 2GB RAM, all other ThinkPads based on that chipset can swallow that amount of RAM with no issues.

broncus · #3 Post by **broncus** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:01 am

please let us know if you end up giving it a go and what type of memory you use i would also like to do this.

lparsons · #4 Post by **lparsons** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:22 am

My current plan involves using either generic (so called "private label") notebook memory, although I see the store I am looking at has PNY for just a few dollars more. It will probably come down to the return policy for each - if one has a money-back return policy so I can return it immediately if it doesn't work, then I'll choose that one.

I may even just bring my laptop with me and install the RAM in the parking lot so I can just bring the memory back in immediately if it doesn't work.

My laptop is currently using memory from crucial (micron) I do see that they have 1gb pc-2700 so-dimms for $40 each:
http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs. ... T12864X335
So that might not be a bad option either (you have to search manually to find it on their site, they only sell up to 512mb sticks for thinkpad R32)

#5 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:26 pm

Generic RAM will work just as fine, and costs about $27.- on eBay.
http://search.ebay.com/pc2700-sodimm-1g ... QQsbrsrtZd

I use generic Samsung PC2700 1GB RAM Sodimms in my T30s which have the same RAM as yours.

broncus · #6 Post by **broncus** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:36 pm

thanks for that. have you tried just one 1gb stick on its own in a r32 and did it work ok.

#7 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 5:41 pm

All Thinkpads will work with one RAM module.
The R32 can run with one (or two) of any size between 64MB and 1GB PC2100 or PC2700. They also don't have to be the same size if using two.

lparsons · #8 Post by **lparsons** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:16 pm

I am now running 2gb in my R32, and it seems happy. I ran memtest86 on it for about 1.5 hours immediately after installing, before I even booted the OS to make sure everything was OK. Memtest86 reported no errors and now I am running without incident.

I used PNY DDR (PC2700) 1gb modules, microcenter SKU 853341. They had cheaper stuff listed on their website, but this one was available when I went in the local store.

broncus · #9 Post by **broncus** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 9:09 am

many thanks for that. time for me to dig deep in my already empty pockets.

lparsons · #10 Post by **lparsons** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:41 pm

many thanks for that. time for me to dig deep in my already empty pockets.

FWIW, I suspect that production has likely ended for the 200pin DDR SODIMMs (for most manufacturers anyways), so the prices are not likely to fall much more before they simply disappear from the market entirely.

By comparison, I noticed that our DDR SODIMMs cost about twice as much per MB as DDR2 SODIMMS (which of course are physically incompatible with our systems).

And of course, the 2.5 notebook IDE drives are going pretty much the same way. If you want to upgrade your HD, you may want to do that soon as well (which I also did and am about to install).

2gb RAM in an R32?

2gb RAM in an R32?

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