HD and RAM upgrade ! What are my options?

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leowiz · #1 Post by **leowiz** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 12:52 am

I have a 512 mb single slot RAM and 40gb. $0 gb is a killer since I always get low disk space error so I need to upgrade. I also do a lot of image processing for my research and have to deal with 20mb images and photoshop and two other scientific softwares open, so I need a higher RAM too.

Where and what shoud I buy and what price range am I looking at. I am thinking about a 1gb RAM and ~80gb HD. Any suggestions ???

Thanks all

Dead1nside · #2 Post by **Dead1nside** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:38 am

I am assuming that you have two RAM slots, only one of which is occupied by your 512MB DIMM.

If this is so, I would put in another 1GB in the adjacent slot, and then you will have a good amount of RAM.

Either way you should get a 7,200RPM hard drive, to speed up image processing. This is a desktop speed hard drive and really makes a difference in day-to-day as well as specialised computing. Usually in a laptop environment you will run a 5,400RPM drive.

As for size of the hard drive that is up to you. I would personally get a Hitachi or Seagate 100GB 7200RPM drive.

Hope this helps.

#3 Post by **GomJabbar** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:05 am

If I am not mistaken, the T43 is like my T42 in this regard. There is one easily accessible slot under a cover on the bottom of the ThinkPad. There is a second, not so easily accessible slot, under the keyboard. IIRC, the keyboard on the 15" model is not considered consumer replaceable, so if you have a 15" model you may run into extra difficulty. However, you can always put a 1GB stick in the bottom slot, and accept what is already in the other slot.

Dead1nside · #4 Post by **Dead1nside** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 7:15 am

I think the above poster is right about the easily accesible slot on the bottom only holding one of the total two DIMMs

leowiz · #5 Post by **leowiz** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:05 pm

Thanks Dead1inside and GomJabbar for the replies. Well I have a 15" screen. So I am guessing I have to take it to a computer shop to get my ram installed ???? I remember having two slots in my laptop when i bought it. What 1gb RAM is good? I see that I need a DDR2 SODIMM RAM. Is there a preferred manufacturer ???

About Harddrive, what kind of drive do I need??? 2.5" ??? IDE or EIDE or SATA or ultra ATA ???? I am not able to figure out what kind I have on my laptop right now. Also, can I install that myself or I need to take it to a shop ????

Thanks a ton !

Dead1nside · #6 Post by **Dead1nside** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:42 pm

You are looking for an IDE drive if my memory serves me correctly.

Just checked on here: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:T43 .

You need PC2-4200 RAM SO-DIMM which is pretty reasonable priced, for some reason DDR PC2700 is more expensive than the DDR2 you need, wherever I look.

With regards to hard drive, you should look for a PATA (Ultra ATA is the same thing) in case you want to use it in an Ultrabay Slim HDD enclosure look for one that is no more than 9.5mm height.

leowiz · #7 Post by **leowiz** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 2:27 pm

Dead1nside wrote: With regards to hard drive, you should look for a PATA (Ultra ATA is the same thing) in case you want to use it in an Ultrabay Slim HDD enclosure look for one that is no more than 9.5mm height.

Now you just confused me there. I was thinking the only option is to replace the old harddrive and put a new one and reinstall everything. But are you saying I can put an additional harddrive inside the laptop ???

leowiz · #8 Post by **leowiz** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 3:02 pm

Hitachi Travelstar 7K100 80GB Hard Drive
(Ultra DMA/100, 7200 RPM, 8MB - MPN: 0A25023)

Is this an option that would work with my laptop. I figured that my laptop has a hitachi hard drive right now so this could be a good choice.

Whats is a good price for such a hard drive ?

Also, what is a good price for 1gb RAM?

Thanks all

Dead1nside · #9 Post by **Dead1nside** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 3:16 pm

Hi there, if the laptop in question is the one in your signature then yes the T43 has an Ultrabay Slim bay. Currently this usually houses the DVD/CD-RW but this can be ejected and if an adaptor is bought ~ £25 you can put your old HDD in there, as long as it is no taller than 9.5mm.

I had a look for the spec, but I couldn't find it for your particular HDD that you listed, but I'm pretty sure it'll be fine. For both a replacement or a HDD to put in the Ultrabay.

As for the RAM a new stick is about as much as a normal DDR so-dimm so about £100. However if you can find some cheaper then you should jump at the chance.

Hope this helps.

mysbca · #10 Post by **mysbca** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 4:11 pm

leowiz wrote:Hitachi Travelstar 7K100 80GB Hard Drive
(Ultra DMA/100, 7200 RPM, 8MB - MPN: 0A25023)
Is this an option that would work with my laptop. I figured that my laptop has a hitachi hard drive right now so this could be a good choice.
Whats is a good price for such a hard drive ?
Also, what is a good price for 1gb RAM?

Both Newegg.com and ZipZoomFly.com has the Hitachi 7K100 80GB for about $120 shipped:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822146047
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDe ... e=100524-2

Or for $20 more, get the 7K100 100GB version:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822146052

Be aware of using a non-Thinkpad option harddrive on a T43, it may cause a 2010 warning when booting. Read through this thread about the problem and about firmware updates:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=11059

You may also want to read about hard drive cloing so you don't have to re-install all your apps:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=27721

Brentpresley occassionally have 1GB Sodimm for sale in the Marketplace forum with excellent prices, but he has not have any PC4200 SODIMM for sale for awhile. If you can't wait, Newegg also has Crucial 1GB PC4200 Sodimm for $126 + $5 shipping:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820145097

ZipZoomFly is about $20 cheaper, but they are out of stock.

HD and RAM upgrade ! What are my options?

HD and RAM upgrade ! What are my options?

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