RAM question -- buy from ibm or upgrade?

[Cliff]

I'm considering ordering a T43, and to cut cost i am considering having the system shipped with only 256 mb ram and ordering one or two 1GB sticks from crucial. Anyone see any downsides to this?..anyone done the same?

Thanks for any feedback.

[mysbca]

Many people have done this. Saves a lot of money, especially the 1GB sticks.
Unless you are ordering a CTO or an entry level model, most of the T43s come with a minimum of 512MB RAM.

[emorphien]

Best way to go. You can also get 1GB kingston sticks for about $120-125 from newegg.com and mwave. Kingston is a very reputable brand as well and this is what I plan to do to get my T43p to 2gb when I finally get it.

[Cliff]

thanks for the replies...i will probably go with crucial, it's what i upgraded my T41 with. I didn't do a complete replacement, just added another stick. It's just too bad i can't get it shipped without winXP and save another $100. Here's what i'm looking at:

IBM ThinkPad T43 2686 - Pentium M 750 1.86 GHz - 14.1" TFT SXGA+ (1400x1050)
256 MB RAM (will upgrade to 2GB later)
60GB 7200rpm
9 cell battery
3 yr depot repair
Intel Pro Wireless 2200 B/G
XP home (will be running linux)
DVD/CD-RW Multiburner

All of that w/student discount, shipped from IBM = $1.8k and some change

Let me know if the specs sound good of if there's anything you would change...especially the wireless card...if there's a better one, definitely let me know because i haven't researched those yet.

[JHaislet]

Have you looked at the student discounts for ordering the ram seperately? I did this with mine and it was cheaper at the time than crucial.

However, prices go back & forth and mine was only a 512MB stick. The 1GB sticks may not be worth it from IBM pricewise.

[Cliff]

had not considered that...good idea. I will check on that.

[DoS]

If you go with Crucial, use promo code EMPDISC on the 2nd checkout page for 5% off. Just noticed a free copy of Far Cry with a $100 purchase as well: http://www.crucial.com/promo/index.asp?prog=farcryus

[Cliff]

awesome...thanks for the tip

[verktyg]

Best way to go. You can also get 1GB kingston sticks for about $120-125 from newegg.com and mwave. Kingston is a very reputable brand as well and this is what I plan to do to get my T43p to 2gb when I finally get it.

Kingston's top of the line memory was, is? good but avoid their ValueRam line. It's intended for sale through mass marketing retail outlets and is lower quality memory that undergoes far less testing and QC than their premium line. Information directly from Kingston.

Corsair and several other memory fabricators do the same thing, they have 2nd quality product lines for competitive markets and ride off of their good name.

I've had problems with both Kingston ValueRam and Corsair 2nd line memory. Memory actually tested bad in more than 1 system with Memtest386 and DocMem. Kingston was very easy to get replacements from but what about my time wasted.

I've dealt with Crucial since their inception and only had 1 problem, that was years ago with some memory that they bought out from Samsung because they had discontinued making that type of RAM. They refunded my money and paid for the return.

[emorphien]

I know very few people who have had trouble with the standard/lower level line of Kingston and Corsair memory.