More than 4Gb RAM in X200s or X301 possible ?

[ComputerMinder]

More than 4Gb RAM in X200s or X301 possible ?

I know the specs say max is 4Gb RAM for both X200/X30x but I wonder if this limitation is real or is it possible to drive 8Gb in there? If so, one could get a significant speed increase with Vista 64bit and even with Vista 32 (using a ramdisk software that can access above the 3gb limit)

[laughingtonto]

I'm happy to report that > 4GB in an X301 is possible. I installed a 4GB DDR3 module from Crucial alongside the original 2 GB module and 64-bit Windows Vista clearly gives me access to all 6GB (and I immediately turned off my paging file ).

The ONLY oddity I noticed (and cannot guarantee this was due to the memory upgrade) was a little flakiness in the Aero interface when running at high resolutions. I haven't bothered to troubleshoot that yet, electing to just turn off Aero instead. I'm wondering if Intel tested the 4500HD video driver with > 4 GB memory -- I suspect it wasn't a configuration they were expecting...

-Todd

[Marin85]

I don´t have any of these laptops, but I can confirm that it´s possible to run them with more than "just" 4 GB of system memory. I don´t know how you want to access above the 3 GB limit from within Vista 32-bit even using RAMDisk software, because as a program installed in windows it cannot address more memory than the OS does.

The ONLY oddity I noticed (and cannot guarantee this was due to the memory upgrade) was a little flakiness in the Aero interface when running at high resolutions. I haven't bothered to troubleshoot that yet, electing to just turn off Aero instead. I'm wondering if Intel tested the 4500HD video driver with > 4 GB memory -- I suspect it wasn't a configuration they were expecting...

This is indeed an interesting question as the Intel card is integrated and as such it uses only system memory.

Marin

[ComputerMinder]

I don´t have any of these laptops, but I can confirm that it´s possible to run them with more than "just" 4 GB of system memory. I don´t know how you want to access above the 3 GB limit from within Vista 32-bit even using RAMDisk software, because as a program installed in windows it cannot address more memory than the OS does.

Well, SuperSpeed has a patented technology that their Ram Disk can access Gb above the 3Gb mark that Vista 32bit is limited to. You may wish to visit this link:
http://www.superspeed.com/desktop/ramdisk.php
(Check it out, the bluetext)

By the way, I also emailed them, just in case, to make sure their software will support over 3Gb of Ram, and they confirmed clearly that using Vista 32 bit with 8Gb of RAM their Ram disk will be able to use the ram above the 3Gb.

So you can use this ram disk to put the page file on as well as browser cache and other frequently accessed temporary files.

The only problem is that buying 2 so-dimm 204pin DDR3 1066 of 4Gb will cost about $1200

[ComputerMinder]

I'm happy to report that > 4GB in an X301 is possible. I installed a 4GB DDR3 module from Crucial alongside the original 2 GB module and 64-bit Windows Vista clearly gives me access to all 6GB (and I immediately turned off my paging file ).

The ONLY oddity I noticed (and cannot guarantee this was due to the memory upgrade) was a little flakiness in the Aero interface when running at high resolutions. I haven't bothered to troubleshoot that yet, electing to just turn off Aero instead. I'm wondering if Intel tested the 4500HD video driver with > 4 GB memory -- I suspect it wasn't a configuration they were expecting...

-Todd

Hey Todd, please report if you manage to solve that video flakiness. I wouldn't want my computer to better perform at one point but underperform at another.

I already have 4Gb in my X301 but I assume I can take out one dimm of 2Gb and place a 4Gb one instead. To get 6Gb. how much did you pay for that 4Gb SODIMM? I asume it's 1066 DDR3 204 pin one. I could hardly find such, though a few merchants offer it, the price I found was $600 for one dimm or $1200 for two (giving 8gb total) which is very expensive. I assume that price is because it's not the normal bigger dimms that you put in desktop computers but the smaller 204 pin ones with 1066 ddr3 that fits into the X301/X200. Can you tell how much did you pay for it and where?

Thanks

[Marin85]

Well, SuperSpeed has a patented technology that their Ram Disk can access Gb above the 3Gb mark that Vista 32bit is limited to. You may wish to visit this link:
http://www.superspeed.com/desktop/ramdisk.php
(Check it out, the bluetext)

Thanks for the link! That thing looks indeed interesting! I´m gonna install somel trial of it, I´m curious how it would behave under Win 7 and considering the RAM limitation of my laptop due to the chipset (I don´t expect any miracles though).

Cheers,

Marin

EDIT: It "cannot install on OSes later than Vista"...

[laughingtonto]

Update: resolved the minor video flakiness by simply turning off "Enable Desktop Composition". (don't ask about all the trial and error I went through to find this one setting that fixed things). No change in system performance (as measured by Windows Experience Index).

Control Panel --> System --> Advanced System Settings --> Performance Settings; uncheck "Enable Desktop Composition"

-Todd

[boliniak]

Hello, as I understand we can add 4 GB module DDR3 1066 Mhz CL-7 PC3-8500 and should be working ??

BR
Adam

[Marin85]

Hello, as I understand we can add 4 GB module DDR3 1066 Mhz CL-7 PC3-8500 and should be working ??

Hi and welcome to the forum! To your question: put shortly, YES!

[boliniak]

Thx for help

BR
Adam