Increasing Memory & HardDrive (Pic warning)

[vtonymarino]

Hi, I have a T42, and would like to know if buying memory & harddrive from Lenovo is better than buying from NewEgg?

I currently have 750Mb Ram, running XP and 40 gig drive. I would like to expand to 2gig RAM and 320 gb drive.

I also wanted to ask anyone here who has upgraded their T42, if they encountered any issues?


Thanks

Tony

[sjthinkpader]

Welcome to the forum.

The largest and may be the fastest HDD today is the Western Digital WD3200BEVE.

Lenovo RAM is best if you can find it with reasonable price. If you buy some aftermarket "value" RAM, make sure you run MEMTEST86 before doing anything significant on the machine. A single pass may not be enough.

[RealBlackStuff]

Buying parts from Lenovo is a very expensive hobby!
Buying original IBM/Lenovo parts (such as memory) is a lot cheaper here on the Forum, or on eBay.
Buying a hard disk from Newegg/Zipzoomfly/Tigerdirect etc. is a lot cheaper than from Lenovo, and highly recommended.

[tonepaq]

If you buy some aftermarket "value" RAM, make sure you run MEMTEST86 before doing anything significant on the machine. A single pass may not be enough.

Why not just use the machine as usual with the new ram unless problems are evident?

Is this standard practice when adding ram? Or do these machines have known problems with "value" ram? I have only used memtest after having problems....

[tomjrc]

I recently upgraded my T42. I bought memory on this site and a Samsung 160mb 5400 rpm spinpoint HD from ebay. I used (HDClone 3.8 FREE Download) to clone my 60mb Fugitsu HD . no problems .
I,ll tell you It is so fast and quiet it,s scary.

[krauser]

Yes, the WD320BEVE or WD160BEVE is a good suggestion. About the RAM, get Kingston.

[ajkula66]

Kingston, yes, but not the "value RAM" version...

[sjthinkpader]

...

Why not just use the machine as usual with the new ram unless problems are evident?

Is this standard practice when adding ram? Or do these machines have known problems with "value" ram? I have only used memtest after having problems....

In producing RAM, the cost points are: wafer, assembly, and test. Wafer fab is sunk cost. Assembly doesn't affect quality much and cannot be cost reduced that much. Test is the one item that can be reduced a lot.

At today's RAM prices, $30 for 1GB DDR and $20 for 2GB DDR2; RAM producers are losing their shirt. It amounts to about $2 per DDR chip and $1 per DDR2 chip at retail. So they do what is called a DC test, which made sure the chip functions and draws about the right amount of current. The chips are essentially untested for individual cell function. Array testing were required by OEM and when the chips cost $4-5. Today on value RAM they do what is called a "beep" test. The module is tested in a MB and deemed good when the MB "beep" at boot.

I inserted a new Corsair "value" RAM and proceeded to do a SP3 update. Wrong move, it was bad and corrupted the image.

[vtonymarino]

Ok, so I get WD drive and Kingston memory.
What is considered reasonable priced RAM? I am thinking of getting 2 sticks of 1GB each.

[sjthinkpader]

1GB "Value" RAM are about $30-35 each.

[vtonymarino]

ok... so whats the difference in quality between value ram and I guess non-value ram?
I found Kingston 1024MB PC2700 DDR 333MHz SODIMM Memory @ TigerDirect for $57.
Or a WINTEC AMPO 1GB 200-Pin DDR SO-DIMM DDR 333 (PC 2700) @ Newegg for $31.

I guess TigerDirect is considered too high?

This is my first ever laptop upgrade.


Thanks for everyones help.


TM

[sjthinkpader]

Look for real Lenovo 1GB sticks in the Marketplace.

[rkawakami]

I have only used memtest after having problems....

The best time to use memtest (or memtest86+) is when you first get the module. Allow the diagnostic to run at least three complete passes through its suite of tests. That gives the module enough time to reach "operational" temperature. The majority of memory defects will occur at high temp; although in some cases you can also have problems when "cold".

[krauser]

Wintec, never heard about it, anyone? If you're planning to use your computer for a long time and don't want any problems in the future, go for Kingston or Lenovo.

[vtonymarino]

Thanks everyone for your replies.
Has anyone bought memory from EdgeTechCorp.com?
They claim their memory is 100% compatible. Wanted to know if anyone has experience with that company?

Thanks again.

TM

[snabjab]

Question about the hard drive upgrade: I know there are issues associated with the install of non-Thinkpad branded drives on other T series models and I'm curious to know if any such issues affect the T42. Am I correct in assuming that the drives that have been vouched for in this thread (particularly the WDC 250gb and 320gb options) will work with no major issues?

Many thanks.

[Harryc]

There are no problems with installing any capacity 2.5" laptop IDE hard drive in a T42.

[Whiterabbit]

So, I think there is a complete statement in this thread about why memory modules might be bad, methods of correction, and recommendations to take care against.

What I didn't read is this: what are the symptoms of installing value ram versus Lenovo ram?

Thanks,


PS
(http://cgi.ebay.com/4gb-DDR2-laptop-sam ... 3ca79e62f3)
Kingston stuff is $100 for the equivalent on newegg.com

[Harryc]

What I didn't read is this: what are the symptoms of installing value ram versus Lenovo ram?

[katar83]

I think I've upgraded approx 500 ibm laptops, usually I use Hynix or Micron modules but there is absolutely no difference, never ever had a bad hynix module so buying expensive modules is a waste of money. If for any reason it would be faulty I would replace it easily. Anyway, most of the memory modules are hynix now, even if they are branded Kingston etc.

[rkawakami]

Hynix is among the top providers of raw DRAM chips nowdays. Along with Micron, Samsung, Elpida and Nanya. Module builders will use whatever gives them the best profit margin. "Value" RAM typically is not tested as stringently as the other "high performance" or "quality" memory simply because a longer test time results in increased product costs to the manufacturer. What you have to watch out for are modules built with DRAM chips that do not have any identifying marks on them. You have no idea what they are or where they came from.

ref: Google "2009 tier-1 dram suppliers site:isuppli.com" (as direct reference to any isuppli site seems to be in violation of their IP policy)