Is 4GB REALLY the Max on All X6 series laptops?

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epu · #1 Post by **epu** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 5:56 pm

Just asking since the type of RAM it uses DOES in fact come in capacities of more than 1GB a stick, which isn't the case with PC2100 or PC2700 laptop memory (at least from which I've seen).

What if you could use 2GB sticks of RAM? Do you think we could achieve 8GB in the X6?[/i]

aaa · #2 Post by **aaa** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 6:06 pm

There's only two slots. They already support 2gb.

4GB sticks is the question. Nobody's tried it yet (doubt it though).

#3 Post by **erik** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 9:10 pm

the X60 is limited to 3GB no matter how much you install. the X61 will likely support 8GB when 4GB SODIMMs are released but you'll still need to use an OS capable of addressing all of it. somewhere there is an intel whitesheet saying the PM/GM965 supports 8GB max but i can't find it right now. this topic has come up in the T6x forum and there was evidence from intel showing an 8GB maximum.

either way, i'm curious as to what you'd be doing on an X61 that you'd need 8GB.

damascus · #4 Post by **damascus** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 1:29 am

Bear in mind 32 bit Windows OS can only support 4GB RAM:

From Microsoft:

* 32-bit versions of Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate: 4GB
* 32-bit Windows Vista Starter: 1GB
* 64-bit versions of Windows Vista Home Basic: 8GB
* 64-bit versions of Windows Vista Home Premium: 16GB
* 64-bit versions of Windows Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate: 128GB

ducky2802 · #5 Post by **ducky2802** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 1:35 am

"either way, i'm curious as to what you'd be doing on an X61 that you'd need 8GB..."

...running Vista SP1?

I remember a situation cropped up on my vaio where the intel chipset and mobo said it supported 2gb max pc4200, but sony tech support and all literature limited my computer to 1gb pc2700. Well, I spent the $150 or so for the 1gb, then a few years down the line when 1gb pc4200s were cheap, I tried it out, and it worked like a charm.

Im thinking thats probably the same case here. Now, I havent seen 4gb chips, but Im sure theyre coming. And vista 64 should be able to recognize it.

#6 Post by **erik** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 2:04 am

damascus wrote:Bear in mind 32 bit Windows OS can only support 4GB RAM:

unfortunately 32-bit windows can only address 3GB on thinkpads. here is an post i wrote on the subject.

ducky2802 wrote:"either way, i'm curious as to what you'd be doing on an X61 that you'd need 8GB..."

...running Vista SP1?

that would be overkill for sure.

i have vista business 32 + SP1 on my X61 with 2GB and it runs apps just fine.

Trekk69 · #7 Post by **Trekk69** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 2:28 am

My 3Gbs with Vista 32 is working sweet!!
Would not think of getting anymore (esp but it could not handle it)

sddroog · #8 Post by **sddroog** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:56 am

erik wrote:unfortunately 32-bit windows can only address 3GB on thinkpads. here is an post i wrote on the subject.

My thinkpad X61t with 32bit Vista SP1 reports all 4GB.

img]http://i32.tinypic.com/27x3pmf.jpg[/img]

Before SP1 I only got 3GB.

Note from Moderator: No images without a warning in the subject line.

iamdmc · #9 Post by **iamdmc** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 1:42 pm

That was actually microsoft addressing the question: "Dude, where the F is my extra gig of RAM?"

Your 32-bit system is still able to utilize only 3GB of the 4GB installed, although the extra GB is now recognized as "there". Useless, but there.

Speaking of which, as soon as my schedule pans out I'm going to install x64 so I can utilize my full 4GB!

red bioroid · #10 Post by **red bioroid** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:01 pm

I'm happy running 4GB RAM on Windows Vista 64. I would like to plug in more ram whenever these module become available and if the x61s motherboard supports it. I hope it does.

aaa · #11 Post by **aaa** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:05 pm

sddroog wrote:
erik wrote:unfortunately 32-bit windows can only address 3GB on thinkpads. here is an post i wrote on the subject.
My thinkpad X61t with 32bit Vista SP1 reports all 4GB.

img]http://i32.tinypic.com/27x3pmf.jpg[/img]

Before SP1 I only got 3GB.

Note from Moderator: No images without a warning in the subject line.

Hmm. Can you actually use it all? Wonder how they did that.

hart22 · #12 Post by **hart22** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:20 pm

aaa wrote:Hmm. Can you actually use it all? Wonder how they did that.

According to Microsoft's own "Windows Vista SP1 Guide for IT Professionals" available here:

"With SP1, Windows Vista will report the amount of system memory installed rather than report the amount of system memory available to the OS. Therefore 32-bit systems equipped with 4GB of RAM will report all 4BG in many places throughout the OS, such as the System Control Panel. However, this behavior is dependent on having a compatible BIOS, so not all users may notice this change."

So it will simply report the extra RAM, not utilize it, as iamdmc suggested.

dfumento · #13 Post by **dfumento** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:55 pm

The Santa Rosa platform (X61, T61 series) will take 2 - 4 GB modules for a total of 8 GB when the modules become available. I cited the source in a different posting. If you want to find it, search for my name. I am running Vista 64 and really like it for my needs and will upgrade to the 8 GB when the price is right.

epu · #14 Post by **epu** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:53 pm

Jajajaja. Maybe our X61s will accept 32GB when 16GB modules become available!!!

Fortunate · #15 Post by **Fortunate** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:06 am

So I ordered a new X61t with 2GB RAM on a single chip.

My thought was that I would add another 2 GB later, when I find an inexpensive one, for a total of 4GB.

If the system can only use 3 GB, then I can probably find an inexpensive 1GB quick.

I also read that dual-channel memory access is faster, so performance might be better if I put in an exact match for the 2GB coming from Lenovo, even though Windows won't use all of it (yet)...

I wonder what the speed difference is between using dual-channel and not.

qviri · #16 Post by **qviri** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:51 pm

Fortunate wrote:I wonder what the speed difference is between using dual-channel and not.

Minimal to negligible in real-world use.

discoy2k · #17 Post by **discoy2k** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:01 pm

i have X60 1706-86U it has core DUO so that mean 64bit capable so it should by all respects accept more than 3GB of memory, but with 2 2GB SODIMMs in it, i tried XP Pro Corp SP2, XP PRO CORP SP3, Windows 2003 server all editions and all service packs (which on PC's accept 4GB of memory) and i tried Windows XP 64bit, ALL show 4GB in bios but ALL show 3GB in windows.

just thought i would add that little tidbit might save someone the headache of trying

disco

tinue · #18 Post by **tinue** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:43 pm

discoy2k wrote:i have X60 1706-86U it has core DUO so that mean 64bit capable so it should by all respects accept more than 3GB of memory...

For 64 bit support (i.e. Vista 64) a 64 bit capable CPU is all you need. For more than 3GB memory support in Vista 64, you also need support from the chipset. The X60 doesn't have this support, so you are stuck with 3GB even using Vista 64.

Regards, Martin

AySz88 · #19 Post by **AySz88** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:07 pm

discoy2k wrote:i have X60 1706-86U it has core DUO so that mean 64bit capable

Are you sure you don't mean "Core 2 Duo"? The regular "Core Duo" doesn't actually have the x64 Core architecture (yeah, it's confusing).

m509272 · #20 Post by **m509272** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:25 am

That's my understanding also, Core 2 Duo supports 64 bit. While the T2400 and T5600 have the same clock speed, the T5600 is the one with the 64-bit support. The 1706-86U X60 has a T2400 in it.

Is 4GB REALLY the Max on All X6 series laptops?

Is 4GB REALLY the Max on All X6 series laptops?

Hey, in that case . .

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