T500 4G SODIMM, RAM compatibility questions. "mac/apple"mem?

[DiagonalArg]

Hi all! Just looking at picking up a pair of 4G SODIMMs for a new (old) T500, 8743-CTO (error: I meant 2242-CTO). I gather the specs are PC3-8500 204-pin SODIMMs, but I see that eBay has memory sold for apple/macs (Mac Book Pro) that is generally cheaper than memory not specified as being for "macs", along with some memory that is specified as not for macs. So, I'm wondering what I'm missing.

I'm also a little bit leery, given that I see one old post on this forum that someone was having trouble with Corsair 4G sticks: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... le#p714866

So, 3 questions:

(1) Is there anything special about "mac" or "apple" memory that I should be aware of and possibly avoid?
(2) Is there any PC3-10600 that is compatible with the T500, even if it clocks down? (I see that some is compatible with the W500.)
(3) Anything else I should know about T500 memory compatibility for 4G sticks? Is the number of chips on the SODIMM relevant? (Some "mac" memory seems to have 8 chips and some, 16.) Number of channels or ranks? Cache latency?

Thanks!

[ajkula66]

Huh...8743-CTO would be a 15.4" widescreen version of T60/p...not T500. Please clarify...

[DiagonalArg]

@ajkula - sorry, man. I got so many of these machines here. It's all blurring together! It's a 2242-CTO. (I fixed it, above.)

[ajkula66]

@ajkula - sorry, man. I got so many of these machines here. It's all blurring together!

I know the feeling, trust me... ... anyway

Mac memory should work just fine from what I know. I would definitely go for DIMMs that have 4 chips on each side - presuming a 4GB capacity - for a total of 8 altogether.

I'd just stay away from "no name/generic" and "value RAM" offerings altogether, but it your money to spend, not mine...

Good luck.

[brchan]

I can also verify that 'mac' memory should work without any issues. I have 2x16GB 'mac' memory modules + 2x8GB standard ram modules in my W530. No freezes, reboots, corruption or problems.

[85101]

I can also verify that 'mac' memory should work without any issues. I have 2x16GB 'mac' memory modules + 2x8GB standard ram modules in my W530. No freezes, reboots, corruption or problems.

How did you get 16GB modules to work in a W530?

[brchan]

Oops, my bad. I meant 2x8GB modules and 2x4GB modules. W530 cannot support 48GB ram .

[Tim-ANC]

Thanks for this. Going to upgrade my T500 (1x2)3GB to (2X4)6GB RAM by replacing the 1GB stick with a 4GB.

[Qing Dao]

I recommend buying the newest memory you can. I have had memory compatibility issues with older sticks, but everything has worked flawlessly with newer sticks. DDR3L-1333 is the current cheapo memory, and I think it is pretty safe. I get the distinct feeling that the T400 and T500 simply ignore the memory's SPD table and simply use their own timings on the memory. I believe this based on the issues with older memory not working on them and the fact that no software I can find has been able to report any SPD timing information on either the T400 or T500. The older 4GB sticks work in every other computer I have tried them in.

[Tim-ANC]

谢谢 Qing.

I'm looking to buy this one what do you think?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/220786275299?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

Shanghai. Nice city. I've been there a few times.

[Qing Dao]

谢谢 Qing.

I'm looking to buy this one what do you think?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/220786275299?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

Shanghai. Nice city. I've been there a few times.

不用谢。 If they say it's for the T500 then it really should work. This is what I personally buy: http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x39 ... g~original The Crucial/Micron DDR3L-1333 sticks are what I buy in the US, and the semi-generic Micron DDR3L-1600 sticks are what I buy in China. Although being rated for a higher speed and lower voltage doesn't mean anything in the T500, they are brand new, have always worked for me in Thinkpads, and cost the same as older used sticks.

On Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Crucial-8GB-2-X ... 3cf47cddd5

[RealBlackStuff]

Apparently there is a small difference between those RAM-types, so everyone will know:

DDR3 / PC3 = 1.5 Volts

DDR3L / PC3L = 1.35 Volts

[precip9]

Apparently there is a small difference between those RAM-types, so everyone will know:

DDR3 / PC3 = 1.5 Volts

DDR3L / PC3L = 1.35 Volts

I've used both types without trouble in several W500. It appears the factory choice was "L". The higher voltage is associated with higher speed and higher power consumption.

One should never mix.

[Qing Dao]

What the 1.35 V specification in DDR3L means is that it may run at 1.35 V, not that it does or needs to. DDR3 came out quite a while ago as far as computer memory is concerned. Just like with processors, graphics cores, and chipsets, the manufacturing process has steadily improved, getting smaller and capable of running at a lower voltage. The DDR3L specification simply takes advantage of this. If the motherboard supports it, DDR3L can be run at 1.35 V. If the motherboard doesn't support it, it runs at the regular 1.5 V for DDR3. DDR3L is fully backwards compatible with DDR3, but regular DDR3 will not work in a system that only supports DDR3L.

When the T500 and W500 were being sold, there was no such thing as DDR3L. Any 1.35 V memory will simply run at 1.5 V in these systems. DDR3 and DDR3L can also be mixed and matched as you please. I have older 4GB DDR3 sticks that simply refuse to run or don't run stably in a T400 or T500, yet run perfectly fine in any other machine I tested them in. I really think that Lenovo programmed the memory timings into the BIOS and it doesn't pay attention to the memory's own SPD timings. Some older 4GB memory sticks simply required looser timings and Lenovo never sold these computers with 4GB memory sticks. No matter what I have tried, on the T400 and T500 I have been completely unable to determine the memory timings being used or read the memory's SPD timings. I personally only buy DDR3L now because it is a guarantee that it uses newer memory chips made with a better manufacturing process. If a stick of RAM is rated to run at 1333Mhz or 1600Mhz at 1.35 V, it is a sure thing that it will run at 1066Mhz at 1.5 V with whatever timings the BIOS wants.

[Tim-ANC]

I installed my 4GB stick. With the 2GB stick my system information states Physical installed 6GB but only 2.96 is usable. Why isn't the usable number bigger?

[ajkula66]

I installed my 4GB stick. With the 2GB stick my system information states Physical installed 6GB but only 2.96 is usable. Why isn't the usable number bigger?

Are you running a 32-bit OS?

[Tim-ANC]

It is 32 bit.

[ajkula66]

It is 32 bit.

That's your problem right there. You need a 64-bit OS in order to utilize more than 3GB of RAM.

[Tim-ANC]

Curses. Have a vague memory of that being the max I could get when I ordered the machine 5 years ago with Win7.

Do I have to completely overwrite the OS or can I upgrade it somehow?

Thanks for the help.

[RealBlackStuff]

An installation from scratch is required, so start making backups of all your personal files.
Unfortunately update from 32 to 64 bit is not possible.

[Tim-ANC]

Ok, thanks. It's a machine I gave to my kid. Think I'll let it ride for now. Though flattening it and a clean install might be good idea.

[terry_mccann]

I boutght this one second hand, works perfectly:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/281591878573?_tr ... EBIDX%3AIT