Upgrading RAM confusion! Need Help!

[coz007]

Here's where im confused. I have a T60 Model 2613HKU.

The website says that my computer can take up to 4gb of Ram. My online invoice reciept from when I bought it says that my T60 can take up to 3gb of Ram.

I have 1.5gb of ram right now and want to add another 1Gb. When I read about installing ram it only shows 2 slots underneath the palm rest. If one of them is 1Gb and the other is 512Mb where do I add more ram? Im so confused.

[rkawakami]

You add more RAM by taking one of them out! Counter-intuitive, but that's how it works with only two memory sockets. Simply replace the 512MB with a 1GB and you should have a total of 2GB. If your aim is to get to 2.5GB total, then you would replace the 1GB module with a 2GB module. But that would be kind of foolish when you could replace the 512MB and get 3GB total!

The question then arises... what do you do with the "extra" memory module? Sell it here or on eBay and re-coup some of your cost for the upgrade.

[dsalyers]

Here's where im confused. I have a T60 Model 2613HKU.

The website says that my computer can take up to 4gb of Ram. My online invoice reciept from when I bought it says that my T60 can take up to 3gb of Ram.

I have 1.5gb of ram right now and want to add another 1Gb. When I read about installing ram it only shows 2 slots underneath the palm rest. If one of them is 1Gb and the other is 512Mb where do I add more ram? Im so confused.

Yes, there are only two slots for ram. Yes, you can plug in 4GB (using two 2GB modules -- very expensive). However, the current intel chipset uses the upper ragion of that 4GB to use for addressing devices (such as the video card). Thus, the actual usable limit is a little over 3GB. This is fixed in the upcomming vesion of centrino (Santa Rosa), but as far as I know there are no plans to add extra memory slots.


If you search forums you should find numerous posts talking about this.

[bopchie]

is that a chpset flaw or os flaw......read this, its a lil trick for vista (might work in xp but i dunno)

http://www.tweaksrus.com/forums/index.p ... c=8769&hl=

[claudeo]

It's a planning compromise on the part of the Intel chipset designers. Not uncommon, and in fact a reasonable compromise at the time. Remember, every feature has a cost... and if a feature is premature the cost can never be recouped.
But we remember also that someone famous once said "no one will ever need more than 640KB of RAM"...Or maybe you're too young to remember that prediction made by Bill Gates, which resulted in a whole industry of memory workarounds for a while.

[dsalyers]

is that a chpset flaw or os flaw......read this, its a lil trick for vista (might work in xp but i dunno)

http://www.tweaksrus.com/forums/index.p ... c=8769&hl=

No, this is a hardware limitation on all current intel based laptops (945 chipset). This is not expected to change until the Santa Rosa chipset comes out (which should be soon).

[bopchie]

is that a chpset flaw or os flaw......read this, its a lil trick for vista (might work in xp but i dunno)

http://www.tweaksrus.com/forums/index.p ... c=8769&hl=

No, this is a hardware limitation on all current intel based laptops (945 chipset). This is not expected to change until the Santa Rosa chipset comes out (which should be soon).

OIC... does this apply to all pre-945 chipsets also?? my t43 is 915 based

[ryengineer]

This topic has been covered several many times, so here we go:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... hlight=3gb

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... hlight=3gb

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... hlight=3gb

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... hlight=3gb

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... hlight=3gb

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?p=222106

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... ht=#251236

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... hlight=4gb

OIC... does this apply to all pre-945 chipsets also?? my t43 is 915 based

T43 can only support 2 GB (max) memory [ DDR II SDRAM, 533 MHz, PC2-4200 ]

P.S. Please search the forum, most topics are already covered here.

[gt5l]

You add more RAM by taking one of them out! Counter-intuitive, but that's how it works with only two memory sockets. Simply replace the 512MB with a 1GB and you should have a total of 2GB. If your aim is to get to 2.5GB total, then you would replace the 1GB module with a 2GB module. But that would be kind of foolish when you could replace the 512MB and get 3GB total!

The question then arises... what do you do with the "extra" memory module? Sell it here or on eBay and re-coup some of your cost for the upgrade.

I believe that IBM/Lenovo is misrepresenting their computers. Like the OP i thought the computer could take up to 4gb of ram, eventhough you can physically put 2 2gb memory modules the CPU can't manage that. So i think Lenovo owes us a new CPU (Santa Rosa) when it comes out to fulfill their orignal claim that they made. I will certainly call them when Santa Rosa comes out

[ryengineer]

I believe that IBM/Lenovo is misrepresenting their computers. Like the OP i thought the computer could take up to 4gb of ram, eventhough you can physically put 2 2gb memory modules the CPU can't manage that. So i think Lenovo owes us a new CPU (Santa Rosa) when it comes out to fulfill their orignal claim that they made. I will certainly call them when Santa Rosa comes out

In their defense they do inform their buyers about:

Maximum memory varies depending on model and may require replacement of standard memory with optional maximum memory module. For models with 4GB maximum memory, total accessible memory will be less and will vary depending on the system configuration.
For ThinkPad models without a separate memory card, memory supports both system and video. Accessible system memory may be up to 64MB less than the amount stated, depending on video mode.

For ThinkCentre models without a separate video card, memory supports both system and video. Accessible system memory may be up to 128MB less than the amount stated, depending on video mode.

For IntelliStation A Pro workstations, maximum physical memory is 8GB per processor (16GB total) running under select 64-bit Linux distributions; addressable capacity is less. Maximum system memory is contingent on general availability of 2GB memory modules. Maximum physical memory is 4GB running under Microsoft Windows XP Professional 32-bit operating system; addressable capacity is less.

[pianowizard]

When I select the "4 GB PC2-4200" option while customizing a T60, the following warning (italicized and highlighted in red) is instantaneously displayed:

You have chosen installed physical memory size of 4GB; however, actual usable memory size is limited to 3GB

So I don't think Lenovo is misleading at all. What I don't like is their selling PC2-4200 modules for a PC2-5300 machine.

[gt5l]

In their defense they do inform their buyers about:

Maximum memory varies depending on model and may require replacement of standard memory with optional maximum memory module. For models with 4GB maximum memory, total accessible memory will be less and will vary depending on the system configuration...

i dont see how "total accessible memory would be less" could mean 1gb less. And they are willing to sell you the laptop with 2 2gb modules fully knowing that the system only supports 3gb, why even offer that or claim that the laptop could support 4gb just my 2 cents

[dsalyers]

And they are willing to sell you the laptop with 2 2gb modules fully knowing that the system only supports 3gb, why even offer that or claim that the laptop could support 4gb just my 2 cents

Not saying it is right, but even Intel lists the 945 chipsets as accepting up to 4GB ram. Of course there is an asterisk beside it, saying that the upper region is reserved for device addressing. It does suck.

However, as was previously stated, when I purchased mine there was RED text when I selected 4GB memory saying that only 3GB could be used.

Why they let people configure it this way is anyones guess....