IBM Thinkpad X20 maximum memory?

[evanwhitneyx20]

before i decide to blow the money on my thinkpad i was wondering if it was possible to get by the maximum amount of ram (320MB) to add possibly a 512MB stick. i have done it on desktops before and it worked fine, im just curious if anyone tried this or thinks its a good ideal i kno the 600MHz PIII cpu only has 100MHz fsb it shouldn't affect this in any way (ram amount)

[evanwhitneyx20]

22 views and no thoughts???

[rkawakami]

Well, the X20 is chipset limited to only handling "low density" PC100 SDRAM. Since the maximum-sized SODIMM that was ever made in a standard height (1.25") configuration was 256MB, that's all you can do. I also changed your subject line to better reflect your query.

[evanwhitneyx20]

Well, the X20 is chipset limited to only handling "low density" PC100 SDRAM. Since the maximum-sized SODIMM that was ever made in a standard height (1.25") configuration was 256MB, that's all you can do. I also changed your subject line to better reflect your query.

Thank you, the chipset should let any "low density" pc100 sdram work, any "low density" sdram is backwards compatiable (pc100/133) right?

[rkawakami]

Not sure what your context of "backwards compatible" is. So here's the black and white: A PC133 "low density" module can be used in a PC100 system (like the X20). It will run a little bit slower that what it's really capable of doing. Any "high density" module, be it PC100 or PC133, will not work in the X20. A 256MB "low density" PC100 or PC133 SODIMM has 16 individual memory components on it. 99.99% of the 256MB modules which have only 8 memory components are "high density". There's one exception that I know of but if you stick with the rule of "256MB and 16 parts = low density", then you won't go wrong.

[evanwhitneyx20]

Not sure what your context of "backwards compatible" is. So here's the black and white: A PC133 "low density" module can be used in a PC100 system (like the X20). It will run a little bit slower that what it's really capable of doing. Any "high density" module, be it PC100 or PC133, will not work in the X20. A 256MB "low density" PC100 or PC133 SODIMM has 16 individual memory components on it. 99.99% of the 256MB modules which have only 8 memory components are "high density". There's one exception that I know of but if you stick with the rule of "256MB and 16 parts = low density", then you won't go wrong.

i under stand and pc100 is meant for 100mhz fsb and pc133 is meant for 133mhz fsb therefore 133mhz ram will run in a pc with 100mhz fsb but won't run at 133mhz it will run at 100mhz fsb (front side bus of the cpu that is) still i think if i put 512mb stick of ram it should reconize it, if it don't it won't boot i was wondering if anyone tired to do this before

[rkawakami]

<snip>... if i put 512mb stick of ram it should reconize it, if it don't it won't boot... <snip>

If you are talking about a PC133 512MB module, then that's definitely high density and will not work in an X20. Either half of it (256MB) will be "seen" by the system or it will simply beep at you because it failed the memory check. If you are talking about a PC100 512MB low density module, then that beast does not exist.

[evanwhitneyx20]

ah i understand i just wanted to see if i could bypass it, thanks for the help its greatly appreciated!

[thebigarniedog]

The maximum Ram for an X20 is 320mb (64 is permanent + the added space only allows for 256). I know this as I own one.

[evanwhitneyx20]

The maximum Ram for an X20 is 320mb (64 is permanent + the added space only allows for 256). I know this as I own one.

i kno its maximum memory is 320mb, some chipsets allow you to use more than the maximum memory, but unforently this one does not allow you to use more than 320mb, thank you for your input tho