Dual Channel Memory

[tallman45]

My Laptop has a T7500 with 2gb ram in 2 x 1gb sticks running Vista Home Premium

I would like to upgrade to 3gb but that would mean a mismatch in the sticks (1x1gb, 1x2gb) , would I loose the Dual channel benefit, I am thinking yes, but the extra 1gb may actually be a worthwhile tradeoff with Vista

Or

Should I go with 2 x 2gb realizing that almost an entire gb will not be used by Vista but I would retain the dual channel functionality ?

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Sadly dual channel offers little to no benefits for laptops so there's really no point in trying to preserve it. So just get the 2gb stick and you'll be set.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: onlyCOpunk
Sadly dual channel offers little to no benefits for laptops so there's really no point in trying to preserve it. So just get the 2gb stick and you'll be set.

Gotta agree!

I installed 2GB in my mother-in-law's Toshiba A135 last week - it came with a 512MB x 1 stick originally (yikes it was S-L-O-W).

I installed my own personal 1GB x 2 sticks into her lappy to see if it would make a difference - and ran tests.

The difference between 512MB and 2GB on Vista HB were startling - almost unbelievable!!!

Then, I uninstalled my 1GB x 2 sticks and reinstalled a 2GB x 1 stick from Fry's Electronics...

There was no noticeable difference in the speed and operation of Vista HB between 1GB x2 and 2GB x 1, however...

Running the tests a second time indicated the GPU (ATI M200 video) was slightly slower with 2GB x 1 installed.

Sooooo, I wouldn't worry about it...

As far as mixing and matching goes, as long as the specs are identical (other than size), I don't *think* it will cause any problems, but...

I certainly wouldn't mix PC4200 with PC5400, or something like that. That's just asking for trouble, IMHO!

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: tallman45
Should I go with 2 x 2gb realizing that almost an entire gb will not be used by Vista... ?

That's what I did. I'm running Vista HP and 4GB works great on my Toshiba A215!

Actually, you will NOT be losing anything by going with 4GB - Vista just handles memory in 4GB machines differently.

Vista will see the 4GB and load a LOT of stuff in memory - stuff that SHOULD be in memory, but won't happen if you have less than a full 4GB installed.

I usually have 60-75% of my RAM available, no matter how many programs I have open - and Vista really comes alive with 4GB RAM (and a 4GB ReadyBoost drive - something you didn't ask about)...

Go for the gold, Dude!!! More is REALLY more, in this case, not less (as some ppl think)!

 

[tallman45]

I will just get the 4gb, and it would use at least part of the extra memory between 3gb and 4gb

This uses the Santa Rosa Chipset so perhaps the onboard VGA X3100 adapter will be able to use up some of the extra memory as well