T61 Adding Additional Memory

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josh999 · #1 Post by **josh999** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:59 pm

I have a new T61, running XP with 1GB memory. It runs well most of the time, except when I get "sloppy" and open too many IE Tabs. I have an additional 1GB chip I purchased before I got it. Now, I see I have to remove the keyboard, etc. to install it. I have read some "worrying" posts of people who have done this, and their keyboard was not quite right after doing it.

Should I forgo the extra MB RAM or take a chance with the installation?

tylerwylie · #2 Post by **tylerwylie** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:18 pm

I think there have been more successful upgrades than this "keyboard not right" after putting it back thing. I did it and it was fairly simple.

icantux · #3 Post by **icantux** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:58 pm

Shouldn't be that difficult!

I'd be more worried about losing one of those tiny little screws than anything else... One of those takes a tumble on the floor and boy do they jump around!

#4 Post by **bill bolton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:43 pm

josh999 wrote:Now, I see I have to remove the keyboard, etc. to install it.

There are Lenovo movies which shows you how to do it on the Lenovo support web site. Its very straightforward.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-63912

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-63913

As for those worrying posts, its the quality of the advice from those writing them that you should be worried about

Cheers,

Bill

erwinpiero · #5 Post by **erwinpiero** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:04 pm

Hello,

Sorry if it's out off topic, regardless to these topic, i would like to upgrades my T60, and don't know, what's brand, specification of RAM which should i use. I had mine 512 Mb as default, but still i not more, since i will use looks heavy applications.

I've browse and found this one : 1GB Lenovo-IBM ThinkPad PC2-4200 DDR2-533 SODIMM Memory (p/n 73P3844)

If i'm right i should buy those specification that i mention, or does anyone had any better opinion, other brand maybe?

Thank You

#6 Post by **ryengineer** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 2:07 am

erwinpiero wrote:snip.....If i'm right i should buy those specification that i mention, or does anyone had any better opinion, other brand maybe?....snip

PC2-5300 667MHz DDR2 is the recommended memory type from lenovo which you can buy from any good manufacturer, I would suggest brands like Crucial, Corsair or OCZ whom I've had quite impressive experience with.

Rory · #7 Post by **Rory** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:29 am

I have a T61 with 14" 1024x768 screen and I just upgraded the memory.

Very easy and I didn't even need to remove the touchpad connector - the palm rest wasn't in the way once undone.

I did have to hold the palm rest down to get one of the screws to pick up its thread when reinstalling - it threw me a little bit that the screws screw into different kinds of fasteners, so they screw in different amounts.

Also, I found the memory module needed a fairly good shove to get it into the connector. With a torch, it's quite easy to see the connector and make sure the module is lined up with the connector and then push it into place - you can feel it slide into the connector.

josh999 · #8 Post by **josh999** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:12 pm

Thanks to all who encouraged. Did it today, and it WAS easy!!!

1 question for the memory experts out there: I installed a 1GB memory in a T61 that already had 1GB. Bought it from IBM. Double checked that they sent the correct one (for T61) before installing. It is in, and is working great. BUT, I noticed the 1GB memory that was in there had 4 "chips" on each side, while the 1GB memory I added in (the only one that IBM sells for the T61), has 8 "chips" on each side.

What is the difference between the two, and does it matter?

Also, I understand that there is some advantage to having the same amount (in this case 1GB + 1GB) in each slot. I do, but is this advantage mitigated by the fact that the chips are different?

josh999 · #9 Post by **josh999** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:45 am

Any memory "experts" out there who can comment? I'm still wondering if IBM sent me something wrong!

ZaQ32 · #10 Post by **ZaQ32** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:49 pm

As far as i know the only difference between these two is the capacity of single chip on each memory module. In case of module which has 8 chips ( 4 on each side) the capacity of one chip is 128MB, in case of the second module where is 16 chips (8 on each side) one chip's capacity is only 64MB which makes it easier and cheapper to build.

You should not be concerned about it unless you want to run them in dual channel mode then both of them should have the same size and timings.

josh999 · #11 Post by **josh999** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:21 pm

So, that mean that IBM's "default" is to ship upgrades that will not work in dual channel mode! My T61 came with 1GB (single chip), and I ordered the 1GB upgrade for the T61! hmmmmmm....

#12 Post by **erik** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:41 pm

josh999 wrote:So, that mean that IBM's "default" is to ship upgrades that will not work in dual channel mode! My T61 came with 1GB (single chip), and I ordered the 1GB upgrade for the T61! hmmmmmm....

installing two SODIMMs will put your computer in either synchronous (two matching sizes) or asynchronous (two mismatched sizes) dual-channel mode. this topic was covered in this post: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=47347#387505 which is linked off of the memory limitation sticky at the top of the forum.

josh999 · #13 Post by **josh999** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:24 am

BUT! the question here is different!! Does the machine run Asymmetrically when the "density" of the chips on the RAM stick are different (8 chips on one chip vs 16 on the other), but the SIZE of each stick is the same each is 1GB)? Is there a place on my machine to check, or a test to run to see if it is running Symmetrically?

ZaQ32 · #14 Post by **ZaQ32** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 2:32 pm

I can't be sure but yes you can run modules with different density of chips in dual channel mode. Main thing is to have modules with the same size and timings. I'd say that chip capaicty on each module is its internal matter.

You can easily check if your memory is worknig symetrically using tools like CPU-Z, Everst.

josh999 · #15 Post by **josh999** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 3:44 pm

Thanks! OK, ran CPU-Z...memory IS running Symmetric! So .... chip density does NOT matter! (as usual, size DOES matter

). Case closed!

erwinpiero · #16 Post by **erwinpiero** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:37 pm

ryengineer wrote:
erwinpiero wrote:snip.....If i'm right i should buy those specification that i mention, or does anyone had any better opinion, other brand maybe?....snip
PC2-5300 667MHz DDR2 is the recommended memory type from lenovo which you can buy from any good manufacturer, I would suggest brands like Crucial, Corsair or OCZ whom I've had quite impressive experience with.

Thanks a lot ryengineer, how about the caps, it's still 1 Gb, or I can use more?

Thanks

#17 Post by **ryengineer** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:01 am

erwinpiero wrote:Thanks a lot ryengineer, how about the caps, it's still 1 Gb, or I can use more?....snip

You can install 4GB in thinkpad T60 but 3GB is the maximum capacity that will be recognized and used by your OS, so it's better to buy combination of 1+2GB sticks if you're thinking about maxing out your memory.

Rovers3 · #18 Post by **Rovers3** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:21 am

ryengineer wrote:You can install 4GB in thinkpad T60 but 3GB is the maximum capacity that will be recognized and used by your OS, so it's better to buy combination of 1+2GB sticks if you're thinking about maxing out your memory.

Unless your running a 64 bit OS

or Linux.

ZaQ32 · #19 Post by **ZaQ32** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:53 pm

Rovers3 wrote:
ryengineer wrote:You can install 4GB in thinkpad T60 but 3GB is the maximum capacity that will be recognized and used by your OS, so it's better to buy combination of 1+2GB sticks if you're thinking about maxing out your memory.
Unless your running a 64 bit OS or Linux.

Yes but not on the T60/T60p. Check this out:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=49703

rubbish84 · #20 Post by **rubbish84** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 3:40 pm

I added an extra 2 gigs of RAM to my T61 the day after I bought it and I'm very glad I did.

It was very easy and straightforward as long as you followed the instructions.

Lenovo has made it very simple by even marking the bottom of the case next to each screw hole with the appropriate marking for what it does. Each set of screws is matched by the same picture so when you are asked to remove a series of screws you know exactly which ones you need to remove. I would definately agree to be very carful not to loose or strip the heads off any.
Since they are so small, they are very difficult to find replacements for. You can't just walk into home depot to buy a dozen!!

Hope that helps to encourage you to attempt this yourself.

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