A31P memory upgrade ?

[stevenvh]

Hi, I'm wondering if there's any known issues with
upgrading to the maximum memory in a A31P.

TIA

[JHEM]

The only issue I'm aware of is cost! The A31p with the latest BIOS upgrade will take 2GB of RAM with two 1GB PC2100 sticks installed, not the 1GB max listed in TABOOK.

Regards,

James

[stevenvh]

Thanks James and you're right; 2GB would be a little spendy.
I'm planning on 2x512 (probably Crucial) for @$200.

Steven

[JHEM]

Steven,

Definitely go with the Crucial sticks if you have a choice.

Regards,

James

[cklein]

The only issue I'm aware of is cost! The A31p with the latest BIOS upgrade will take 2GB of RAM with two 1GB PC2100 sticks installed, not the 1GB max listed in TABOOK.

Regards,

James

Where do you get the information regarding the memory extension?
Do we also have something for A21P?

Thanks.

[FrankK-F]

Let me share my upgrade venture. I purchased

"Samsung 1GB PC2700 333MHz SASO1g2700 DDR SO-DIMM 2 stick x 279.00"

over 2 months ago. Works just fine in my A31p (2653-R9U).

NOTE, Jim, this is "2700" NOT "2100" memory.

NOW an aside -- I had a freak event recently. I was leaving a client site a couple weeks ago -- and put down my briefcase with the A31p inside in the lobby next to another briefcase on the floor -- to step into the WC.

Moments later I was on my way back to my office .. and upon arrival removed my TP from the briefcase, opened it, connected it and started. Much to my surprise -- shock -- the screen was busted from the backside, and upon further examination, the case was crushed on the upper left side, the computer felt like a soggy sandwhich.

So how did this happen? The only plausible explanation I can find is that during those few moments in the lobby someone might have kicked or stomped on it in their inattention and/or hurry -- and failed realize what might have happend.

IBM Service came through in restoring my machine .. new UXGA, new case, new battery at a cost that was most reasonable .. and surprisingly the MoBo, the 2GB memory, the 7K60 primary HDD, the DVD -- all survived.

The episode, however, drove home the realization of how dependent my work had become on my TP. With five calendar days turn-around I was paralysed in my work.

So I made some quick inquiries and decided to acquire redundancy to avoid future outages -- I am a solo office, have NO corp IT dept .. just self-help and some DOS era patience. However before committing to a particular purchase, I needed to assure myelf that I could recover from future events by merely moving my primary HDD (or its GHOST backup) to the secondary machine and keep going after mere minutes. Several contacts with IBM-Support assured me that a "same type platform" would enable my recovery strategy.

Thus on the day my 2653-R9U arrived from IBM Service, so did my new-to-me 2653-R3U from ICC with factory specs. I installed my "old" memory upgrade -- two 512MB memory sticks and have now a pair of similar A31p boxes. And the movement of the primary HDD between them IS a seamless operation .. NO hickups.

So far so good --

NOW, can anybody tell me if I can integrate my secondary A31p so that I can use it as an external display to my primary TP? How would I go about doing this?

Frank K-F

[tbessie]

Hi all...

Well, I got the 1GB module, and put it into my A31, but it didn't work... in fact, the screen remained blank upon bootup.

Then I put it into the other memory slot, and it worked. Any idea why that might be the case? The other slot (where the 1GB module didn't work) worked when I put the old (256MB) module in it. Are memory modules supposed to to only go on one side or the other?

- Tim

[stevenvh]

tbessie, that's strange, but exactly why I asked the question.
I've seen similar behavior on other machines,
Which BIOS are you using?
And what ram did you get?

gl,
stevenvh

[tbessie]

tbessie, that's strange, but exactly why I asked the question.
I've seen similar behavior on other machines,
Which BIOS are you using?
And what ram did you get?

I'm using version 1.08 (latest, I believe).
I got whatever 1GB RAM is recommended for the T40 on Crucial, as per JHEM's comment here.

I did a little googling around, and found one reference somewhere (might've been on Crucial or on IBM's site, I can't remember) where it said to put the larger sized module in slot 0, the smaller in slot 1; but then there was another comment that said sometimes it's the other way around, it just depends on the machine.

Anyway, lucky for me, it works!

- Tim

[Lee Stewart]

The only issue I'm aware of is cost! The A31p with the latest BIOS upgrade will take 2GB of RAM with two 1GB PC2100 sticks installed, not the 1GB max listed in TABOOK.

Hi... I have an A31 (2652-M6U) that I'd love to be able to put 2G in. The IBM site says only 1G, the TABOOK doesn't even list this model, and even the notes for the latest BIOS (1.08) don't mention it. Where'd you find that?

Lee

[proaudioguy]

The only issue I'm aware of is cost! The A31p with the latest BIOS upgrade will take 2GB of RAM with two 1GB PC2100 sticks installed, not the 1GB max listed in TABOOK.

Hi... I have an A31 (2652-M6U) that I'd love to be able to put 2G in. The IBM site says only 1G, the TABOOK doesn't even list this model, and even the notes for the latest BIOS (1.08) don't mention it. Where'd you find that?

Lee

I found this on IBM.

Product: ThinkPad A31 2652-M6U [change]
Operating system: All [change]

Original description: P4-M 1.8GHz (512KB), 256MB RAM, 40.0GB HDD, 15.0 SXGA+(1400x1050) TFT LCD, 8x4x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD, Wi-Fi wireless(MPCI), Modem(MPCI), Ethernet(CDC), IBM Secure Chip, TV out, Li-Ion battery, Win2000

[JHEM]

Hi... I have an A31 (2652-M6U) that I'd love to be able to put 2G in. The IBM site says only 1G, the TABOOK doesn't even list this model, and even the notes for the latest BIOS (1.08) don't mention it. Where'd you find that?

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-41751

Regards,

James

[JHEM]

BTW, while the above referenced URL states: "PC2100 memory options are supported by the following ThinkPad systems: A31, A31p, G40, R32, R40, R40e, T30, T40, T40p, X31" it further states that the 1GB sticks are "Only supported with the following ThinkPad systems: R40, R40e, T40". The use of the term "Support" herein by IBM/Lenovo means if you have a problem with the 1GB stick don't call us about it!

Doesn't mean the memory won't work, just means that they haven't "certified" it and don't want to hear about any problems..

Regards,

James

[cbcb3]

Has anyone noticed any major temperature difference after having 2GB memory installed? I have 2GB ram installed in my a31p and its running much warmer, especial on the left side where the memory module bay is.

I am using 1 kingston kvr333 which I think is PC3200 and the other one is Elpida PC2700. They cost about $85 each from ebay.

[lithium726]

Thanks James and you're right; 2GB would be a little spendy.
I'm planning on 2x512 (probably Crucial) for @$200.

Steven

$200 is far too much for 1GB of ram.

It can be found much cheaper on newegg or ebay.

[cbcb3]

correction: both of the ram are pc2700. 3200 is ddr400.

[daeojkim]

Thanks James and you're right; 2GB would be a little spendy.
I'm planning on 2x512 (probably Crucial) for @$200.

Steven

$200 is far too much for 1GB of ram.

It can be found much cheaper on newegg or ebay.

Have you noticed the date/year on that post?

[proaudioguy]

Could someone tell me what 1GB ram on crucial will work for the A31? They only show up to 512 due to the earlier limitation and I have no idea what to buy.

Also could someone post the model numbers of the 2.4 2.5 and 2.6 processors that will work with the A31?

Has anyone figured out a way (with pictures) to help cool the A31 perhaps with an ultrabay fan?

[pianowizard]

Could someone tell me what 1GB ram on crucial will work for the A31?

On crucial.com's front page, click on "DDR" in the "Memory Upgrades (RAM)" section on the left. Then check the "DDR PC2700/DDR-333" and the "200-pin SODIMM" boxes.

[Menneisyys]

Has anyone noticed any major temperature difference after having 2GB memory installed? I have 2GB ram installed in my a31p and its running much warmer, especial on the left side where the memory module bay is.

I am using 1 kingston kvr333 which I think is PC3200 and the other one is Elpida PC2700. They cost about $85 each from ebay.

(Hope you're still around here ).

Here (Europe) only the Kingston KVR333X64SC25/1G (or, alternatively, the Kingston KVR266X64SC25/1G) is available - that is, the same as yours. Just planning to upgrade my a31p (768M is just useless with Vista).

1. Do you happen to know which of the two RAM modules heated up - the Kingston or the Elpida?

2. Did you have any other problem with the module?

Or, should I order the Cruical module ( http://www.crucial.com/eu/store/partspe ... T12864X335 ) instead? It'd be some 24 euros more expensive, so I'm a bit reluctant...

BTW, if anyone else has any comments on the Kingston vs. a31p subject, please chime in

[ajkula66]

Menneisyys,

I constantly have A31p machines running with 2Gb of PC2700 RAM, and haven't noticed that they get any hotter. And we're talking a couple of dozen over the last year, not counting whatever I've had before.

Right now, I have 2 IBM-branded Elpida sticks in my "main" A31p and the machine loves it...

I'm sure that yours would love it too, and it would cost you way less than Crucial if you throw me a PM...I just happen to have a spare matched set...

[FrankK-F]

While poking around the Kingston site I noticed their having PC2700 ... 2GB sticks.

When the A31p came to market ... 512MB sticks were the max ... later 1GB ... and many of us jumped on that upgrade path. Now that 2GB is on the market are they compatible? WXP can see between 3 and 4GB .. can the BIOS see it?

Has anyone tried this? Comments please.

[ajkula66]

The largest single DDR (not DDR2) DIMM is still 1GB...

Not to mention that chipset used in these machines wouldn't be able to address more than 2GB.

[FrankK-F]

Thank, you ... that settles that question.

[tbartold]

So far so good --

NOW, can anybody tell me if I can integrate my secondary A31p so that I can use it as an external display to my primary TP? How would I go about doing this?

Frank K-F

So going back to one of the original questions...

You want to use the second A31p as a display for the first A31p? I can't imagine why/how. If you did that, then the second machine would be doing nothing for you except acting as a display. But then again, I have to think, could it? I'll have to look into this further.

However... If you want to do what I do, then I have an answer.

If you want to use one keyboard/mouse to control two computers/displays, then you're in luck. With Synergy http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/ I can use two (or more) computers on the desk at the same time from one keyboard (as long as they're all net connected). I have three computers set up that way.. If I mouse over to the right, I use my klunker (only 512mb ram - I use it to show full screen tv shows), while mousing left off my center screen I can access my linux machine. I have three screens/machines all controlled with one keyboard/mouse. At my previous place of work I had three computers with two screens each that I used that way. I actually really needed my swivel chair to look at the far left and right screens when I moused over them. One of my co-workers was planning to set up 12 screens (on 6 computers) on two levels that he could 'play' with (although management did not approve of all the double screens).

[FrankK-F]

At the time I asked the question re: 2nd A31p as external display ... I had 2 A31p units but no external display ... and was interested in expanding my desktop to that second machine.

But that was some time ago. The question is moot today as I have in the meantime now my 2nd generation external 1960x1200 to 2560x1600.

It is however interesting to note your stringing together the machines to operate from a single keyboard. Thank you for the effort and advice.

[jakem91]

Well I just bought a A31p which is pretty much the same thing as a A31, and went to crucial.com and it said that the maximum upgrade was 1gb of ram, but it had to be 512mb for each and it also had to be DDR. I went to ebay and bought 2 sticks for $33.

[ajkula66]

Guess what...Crucial goes by old IBM records from the time that 512MB was the largest single DIMM...there are dozens of us on this forum with A31s and especially A31p units with 2GB of RAM for years now...

[FrankK-F]

Let me cite my post from 2004 ...

Let me share my upgrade venture. I purchased

"Samsung 1GB PC2700 333MHz SASO1g2700 DDR SO-DIMM

over 2 months ago. Works just fine in my A31p (2653-R9U).

NOTE, Jim, this is "2700" NOT "2100" memory.

I happened to buy Samsung .. but today other brands are also in the game. 1GB sticks work .. for a total of 2GB. Enjoy!!