Adding memory to my Lenovo T60

[Muse]

Here's what's in there right now:

1.5 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)

I'm running XP. I never did the "free" upgrade to Vista, and not sure it would have been a good idea with only 1.5 GB memory. I'm thinking I would get better performance with more RAM. Would it be easy and inexpensive to upgrade?

Here are the basic specs:

1953CTO ThinkPad T Series T60 Express (1953CTO)

Intel Core 2 Duo processor T5500[1]
Genuine Windows® XP Professional[12]
14.1 SXGA+ TFT[]
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 w/o WWAN[]
1.5 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)[8]
60 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm[4]
CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim[5]
ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe US/EMEA/LA/ANZ[10]
6 cell Li-Ion Battery[60]

 

[Oil]

Yes, I upgraded to 4 GB DDR2 667mhz on my T61 without any problems

 

[Muse]

Yes, I upgraded to 4 GB DDR2 667mhz on my T61 without any problems

If you don't mind my asking, how much did it cost you and how much is it apt to cost me? Thanks!

 

[Oil]

I don't remember how much it cost me as it was two years ago but the Crucial set I bought is currently $83 at Newegg

 

[taltamir]

just search a store for "DDR2 sodimm"... from newegg:

68$ for 2x2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...rchResult=True

also available are 4GB singles
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...rchResult=True

and 2x4GB kits
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...rchResult=True

 

[skriefal]

The T60 will accept up to 2x2GB DIMMs. Doing so will give you exactly 3GB of addressable/useable RAM. The 3GB thing here is not the "XP 3GB limit" that is often referenced, but rather is caused by Intel deliberately crippling the 945-series chipset to allow up to only 3GB of addressable RAM. This will be true of any operating system you use, 32- or 64-bit.

 

[Muse]

The T60 will accept up to 2x2GB DIMMs. Doing so will give you exactly 3GB of addressable/useable RAM. The 3GB thing here is not the "XP 3GB limit" that is often referenced, but rather is caused by Intel deliberately crippling the 945-series chipset to allow up to only 3GB of addressable RAM. This will be true of any operating system you use, 32- or 64-bit.

Ah, so I suppose this means I should keep the 1GB DIMM I already have in here and replace the 500MB DIMM with a 2GB DIMM, right? Will any 2GB properly speced DIMM work, or should I try to match the one I have? I don't actually know what it is other than the spec in the OP, but I think I can probably get the spec from Lenovo online, assuming they are still supporting me in that fashion post-warranty. I know they don't in terms of my "free" upgrade to Vista. Once my 1 year warranty was up, they said that was dead.

 

[Muse]

just search a store for "DDR2 sodimm"... from newegg:

68$ for 2x2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...rchResult=True

It seems that Newegg is selling these in pairs, and there's a series of pairs offered there. Why is it pairs? Don't some people want singles? Last time I checked, 1 + 1 = 2.

 

[taltamir]

It seems that Newegg is selling these in pairs, and there's a series of pairs offered there. Why is it pairs? Don't some people want singles? Last time I checked, 1 + 1 = 2.

a pair is what is called a "matched pair". Your DDR2-800 means it should be at 800mhz (million cycles per second). however it is a physical device produced in a factory, not by magical star trek replicators. Each is slightly different. Specialized machinery can measure (or perhaps tweak?) their exact timings and match up units that are within very similar values.

When you use a technique called dual channel (which increases your effective speed by alternating communication between the two different memory sticks), you want them to be as close as possible to each other; otherwise they get desynched over time.

This means that a "matched pair" is more stable and less likely to have errors when used in dual channel mode than two individual banks. How useful it is for non overclockers is debated.. but the price is certainly good enough on the most "mainstream" units to justify purchasing them in pairs.

If I am not mistaken this actually has to do with the timing of the ram and not the mhz, but the same principles apply.

Ah, so I suppose this means I should keep the 1GB DIMM I already have in here and replace the 500MB DIMM with a 2GB DIMM, right? Will any 2GB properly speced DIMM work, or should I try to match the one I have? I don't actually know what it is other than the spec in the OP, but I think I can probably get the spec from Lenovo online, assuming they are still supporting me in that fashion post-warranty. I know they don't in terms of my "free" upgrade to Vista. Once my 1 year warranty was up, they said that was dead.

I thought you had two 768 MB sticks... yes you can keep a 1GB stick and replace the 0.5GB for a 2GB stick and it should work fine as 2+1 = 3GB. This is what I'd do in that laptop... in which case just change your selection in newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...201309121116&name=2GB&ActiveSearchResult=True

 

[Muse]

I thought you had two 768 MB sticks... yes you can keep a 1GB stick and replace the 0.5GB for a 2GB stick and it should work fine as 2+1 = 3GB. This is what I'd do in that laptop... in which case just change your selection in newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...rchResult=True

I'm 99% sure it's 1gb + .5gb in there now (it is, see the Edit below). Didn't know there are 768 MB sticks, however I will surely check before ordering. Show I try to order the same manufacturer RAM? Looks like I can get a 2 GB stick off ebay for around $40, and that would save me around 20% over Newegg.

BTW, it has:

1.5 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM), so 667 MHz, not 800 MHz. I suppose the tell-tale spec is the "PC2-5300."

I can either try to get the details from Lenovo online or I can open up my T60, which I've never done. I'm an old hand at probing desktops, having built a few, but have never opened up a laptop...

Edit: I looked it up online:

Part# .....FRU Part# .....Description
36P3365 40Y8402 512MBPC25300NP FRU

36P3366 40Y8403 1GB PC2 5300NP FRU

I'd like to know the manufacturer at the very least. I have Lenovo on the phone, or rather they've got me on hold. I've yet to speak to a human there... Well, I can open it up, but to do that and remove and reinsert the sticks seems to me an "inconvenience," especially for a guy who's never seen the insides of a laptop.

 

[Muse]

Finally was connected to a Lenovo support tech rep who linked me to the page where I got the part number for the 2 GB RAM stick: 40Y7735. Seems I can buy it at Ebay for $48 shipped. Should I get that or just buy a $40 2GB PC2 5300 stick? Are they apt to give the same results or is it worth it to get the "Lenovo speced" RAM for my machine?

 

[skriefal]

Either should be fine. And getting the 2x2GB kit has the benefit of allowing all 3GB to operate in dual-channel mode, whereas with the 1GB+2GB pairing you'll get dual-channel on only 2GB of the 3GB. You'll have to judge whether it's worthwhile for you to spend the extra cash for full dual-channel support. But I guess that it probably won't be.

 

[Muse]

Either should be fine. And getting the 2x2GB kit has the benefit of allowing all 3GB to operate in dual-channel mode, whereas with the 1GB+2GB pairing you'll get dual-channel on only 2GB of the 3GB. You'll have to judge whether it's worthwhile for you to spend the extra cash for full dual-channel support. But I guess that it probably won't be.

I am not aware of what this implies. You're suggesting it's not a big deal? Can you explain or link me or suggest a place where I can find out about it? Thanks!

 

[skriefal]

I'm suggesting that it's not a big deal, unless you're a benchmarker or are dead-set on absolute maximum performance. A difference of a few percentage points at most, and it'll be only when you exceed 2GB of allocated RAM (i.e. only for the "top" 1GB of addressable RAM space). The 1GB DIMM plus the first 1GB of the 2GB DIMM should still operate as dual-channel using Intel's "Flex" mode.

But if you absolutely must have (want) that extra few percentage points of memory performance under maximum allocation, then you'll need dual 2GB DIMMs to get it.

 

[Muse]

OK, get it. I think that with my present 1gb + .5gb DIMMs I'm probably getting the same limited dual channel performance. I'll skip getting 2 2gb DIMMs. Ultimate performance has little importance to me. I just want to stop the awful slowdowns I was getting a week or two ago when Firefox was taking up ~1GB of RAM! Thanks! I have my eyes on some 2 GB DIMMs at Ebay and am sure to snap up one for under $40 shipped, maybe closer to $30.

Other questions:

I think the one recommended by Lenovo is CL5. Does it matter? What if I get one CL4? Is that an issue or should I get one specified as CL5? I also see occasional ones specified as "Low Latency." Is that something of interest? Is new significantly better than used?

Edit: At Wikipedia I think I'm gathering that a CL4 DIMM would work, but if the other DIMM is CL5, then both will work at CL5, so there's no benefit. However, either a CL4 or a CL5 will work. I presume that the one I have in there (the 1GB) is CL5.

 

[skriefal]

Yes, your current 1GB DIMM is probably rated for CAS level 5 (CL5). Even if it were CL4, there's still little reason to worry about getting CL4 for the new 2GB stick. The performance difference is very small.

 

[NaOH]

I have the same laptop except a little beefier (video card and such)... I found out the ram max crap on my own when I swapped in 2x2gb. It sucks because I'm anal enough where I wouldn't want to just put a 2gb stick in there with my 1gb stick. That essentially makes me waste 1gb of ram if I upgraded it.

 

[Muse]

I have the same laptop except a little beefier (video card and such)... I found out the ram max crap on my own when I swapped in 2x2gb. It sucks because I'm anal enough where I wouldn't want to just put a 2gb stick in there with my 1gb stick. That essentially makes me waste 1gb of ram if I upgraded it.

I'm just gonna basically buy the cheapest 2 GB stick that will work in there, probably used off ebay. WTH. I'm glad I checked here because otherwise I might have bought 4 GB and wasted my mullah. Well, look at it this way, you have dual channel all the way.

 

[Muse]

Another idea occurred to me today. My other laptop (bought in August) is an Acer Aspire AMD QL62 3GB Ram 250GB HDD etc. I am pretty sure it uses the same type of RAM. The only difference is that it has a 2GB stick and a 1GB stick and the Lenovo has a 1GB and a 512MB stick. The Acer is running Vista Home Premium 32 bit and I have a Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade disk for it which I'll load sometime soon. The Lenovo is running XP Pro, and I'll probably never upgrade the OS. I could have gotten Vista for it free (if I paid shipping) but didn't before the warranty expired.

I figure why not buy a matched pair of 2GB pc2-5300 667GHz DDR2 and put them in the Acer, take the 2GB SODIMM that's now in the Acer and put it in the Lenovo. I'd have two sticks left over (1GB from the Acer and 512MB from the Lenovo) and I could sell them on ebay. It's certainly a thought.

 

[Muse]

Well, I just bought some more RAM on ebay, an auction for 2x 2GB SODIMMs. Got a killer deal ($60 shipped). It'll bump my XP lappy from 1.5 to 3GB and the Windows 7 one (I'll be installing Win7 on it soon enough) from 3GB to 4GB. Won't be any guessing then. Both machines will be maxed out, WTH. I can sell my 512MB and 1GB sticks for maybe $15. Could be a waste, but now I won't have to wonder if more RAM would help on these machines. :\ It's pedal to the metal.