Question about adding more memory

[spasell]

Here is what I currently have for memory:

VBB 1GB PC2-5300 667MHZ 1DIMM

I do NOT run Vista, just Windows XP. However, and it'll be obvious I'm not a tech wiz or junkie, I'm thinking that if I were to add more memory, my system would speed up and I'd be able to do more faster. I'm thinking about adding an additional 2 GB to this system already. I have the X61T.

1. Is it worth it?
2. Is the one from Lenovo good enough?
3. Will I be able to do this myself or is it too complicated?

Thanks for the help.

[erik]

1. if you find your system running out of memory during your normal tasks then the answer would be yes.   otherwise, no.   you can check your memory usage under the 'performance' tab in task manager.

2. lenovo is fine as is crucial and a few other brands.

3. yes, it's easy.   here's a guide: Memory removal and installation - ThinkPad X6/1/s/Tablet

[pibach]

Under XP you usually will not benefit from anything above 1GB unless you are doing heavy data intensive thinsg, e.g., large Photoshop projects.

But since you have a integrated graphics (x3100) you'll slightly benefit from dual channel. What is your Vista score right now? I would expect it to be 3,2? Add another RAM module (1 or 2 GB both will work, but it should have the appropriate timing) and you'll get 3.5 with the latest drivers for graphics and ~4,7 for RAM.

Edit: Ups, since you do not run Vista, you'll need some tool to do these benchmarks.

[bill bolton]

1. Is it worth it?

If you can afford it, yes. You will see some performance difference in XP even on mundane tasks, and especially if you keep a lot of tasks running at the same time.

2. Is the one from Lenovo good enough?

Not sure what you mean here, but if you are referring to memory, there are equally good options from the general memory market for a lot less $$$.

3. Will I be able to do this myself or is it too complicated??

It's straightforward, so yes you can do it!

Cheers,

Bill B.

[dfumento]

www.newegg.com has 2GB PC-5300 memory for about $50

[pibach]

a) What model do you have? x60t? Or x61t? The former one, as far as I know, might not be able to combine 1+2 GB modules asymmetrically. I.e., then you won't get dual channel.

b) pc-5300 is good enough, but in some cases you won't get maximum performance combining modules with different timings. difficult to tell in advance.

[rhema83]

I suggest you shop on Newegg.com for 2GB PC2-5300 RAM. It should cost around $70. The performance boost will be noticable. You can also disable the Paging File with that much RAM installed. It will greatly reduce disk activity and possibly extend your battery life a little.

The next step would be a 7200rpm hard disk if you haven't got one already.

[draco2527]

www.newegg.com has 2GB PC-5300 memory for about $50

WOW! They have dropped THAT MUCH!!!

Awesome....

[mrgetalife]

Wow prices did drop like a rock.

I recommend getting, Corsair, Crucial, kingston or mushkin from newegg.

The other brands haver terrible support.

The X series is dead easy to replace the memory for. Loosen two screws open up the hatch and pop it in.

I had to do a T series for my sister. Man that thing was a pain in the butt to put back together. I had to remove 5 screws and one that held the keyboard in place. Pry off the handrest. It took me 20 minutes to put the thing back together because i didn't notice the keyboard shifted.

You can also disable the Paging File with that much RAM installed. It will greatly reduce disk activity and possibly extend your battery life a little.

That's the worst advice IMO. You may have more ram. But windows runs a lot more efficient with the page file. You may have some so called "extreme" sites that tell you its the next thing since sliced bread. But they are geared towards gaming or non critical applications. Last thing you want is. Oh my program crashed and I have to do it all over again.

[dfumento]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... (PC2+5300)

has the prices. The first one has a mail in rebate which drops the price to $41.

[spasell]

a) What model do you have? x60t? Or x61t? The former one, as far as I know, might not be able to combine 1+2 GB modules asymmetrically. I.e., then you won't get dual channel.

b) pc-5300 is good enough, but in some cases you won't get maximum performance combining modules with different timings. difficult to tell in advance.

a. I have the x61T

I just want to make sure that I can add the 2GB to a machine that only has 1 GB. I'm not going to make the change and go through the process if in fact it's not going to matter and I cannot add the 2GB. As long as it's a seemless process and will be able to be combined, I am going to do it.

[rhema83]

That's the worst advice IMO. You may have more ram. But windows runs a lot more efficient with the page file. You may have some so called "extreme" sites that tell you its the next thing since sliced bread. But they are geared towards gaming or non critical applications. Last thing you want is. Oh my program crashed and I have to do it all over again.

Windows is Windows. It doesn't run more or less efficient with a pagefile. The kernel is the same one. But it is a fact that RAM is much faster than hard disks.

With regards to the pagefile, to each his own. I am perfectly comfortable running XP Pro with 2GB RAM and no pagefile. I have Windows save a full memory dump whenever a critical error occurs. If you think you are better off recovering data from the pagefile instead of the memory dump, go ahead. I just don't see the point of the pagefile from a data recovery perspective.

[mrgetalife]

3GB single will trump 2GB dual.
Dual channel is better on paper than reality. Its like your car is faster. But you never increased your gas tank size.

And about the pagefile. Its not to recover from. Its so a program doesn't force a dump because its out of memory and doesn't know what the hell to do. Not all applications are smart.

[rhema83]

Fair enough. I never had that happen to me, though, even though I run very memory-intensive programs (scientific calculations, simulations, etc) on my T42 with merely 2GB RAM.

Given memory is so cheap, if you want lots of RAM and also dual-channel (the improvement is impossible to notice under normal conditions), just go straight to 2 x 2GB. It'll set you back $100+, though.

[spasell]

Quick question on type of memory.

I am on the Lenovo site looking at this:

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/cont ... _area=true

2GB PC2-5300 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM SODIMM Memory

This one goes for about 3x's the price of the ones that others have listed in the previous thread.

For instance: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductRe ... 6820145172

Is there really a difference in performance between these different types? One would assume so, but then again, Lenovo seems to do a good job using their name in selling some of their products vs. actual performance, although I have no real complaints.

I'm just wondering if going outside the Lenovo "family" is going to make a difference in performance? Thanks

[rhema83]

Lenovo doesn't make RAM. It buys RAM from another company (Hynix currrently) and slaps the Lenovo FRU label on, and multiplies the price by 3.

Just get any PC2-5300 667MHz non-ECC unbuffered 200-pin SODIMM.

[spasell]

Wow. What a HUGE difference in adding just the 1 GB of memory to my system, and I'm not running Vista, just XP. Everything I am doing, from pulling open any Office application, to using the Tablet, is almost twice as fast. Amazing. Thank you everyone.

Now I wish I got the 2 GB instead of the one, but oh well.