Installed memory on laptop

[Comdrpopnfresh]

Hi all. I have a Dell e1505 laptop with XP MCE and 512mb installed (I got that amt b/c I didn't want to pay dell a premium for an overcharged part, and then get charged for an install I could do blindfolded).

I initially bought it to supplement the desktop I built- so I never installed more ram. Now that my desktop is broken (another story), I've been using the laptop more, and have noticed harddrive activity somewhat frequently during normal usage. Harddrive activity occurs a lot more when multitasking or 'having a lot open.' Obviously, I take it my harddrive is getting worked over by page file usage (luckily I have a 7200rpm drive, can't imagine how slow it'd be with a 5400!).

My currently installed memory is 512mb of 533, and supposedly my laptop can take 2GB of 667mhz ddr2 (my cpu runs on a 667 fsb btw). Is the 2gb max a limitation of the intel chipset, or a random number intel/dell came up with based on the (then) current densities of sodimms?
I also have an x1400 gfx card- so hypermemory can take another 128mb of system ram. CPU-Z reads my having an intel i945PM chipset, and if this is in error, to give some idea of what it actually is: I have a gfx card (so non integrated chipset), and a Yonah T2400 65nm cpu (core, not core2).

So to the point:

:Can I put more than 2gb in this laptop?

:Would getting cas(4) vs cas(5) yield any real world performance gain?


Thanks and cheers,

ComdrPopnfresh

 

[PELarson]

Originally posted by: Comdrpopnfresh
Hi all. I have a Dell e1505 laptop with XP MCE and 512mb installed (I got that amt b/c I didn't want to pay dell a premium for an overcharged part, and then get charged for an install I could do blindfolded).

I initially bought it to supplement the desktop I built- so I never installed more ram. Now that my desktop is broken (another story), I've been using the laptop more, and have noticed harddrive activity somewhat frequently during normal usage. Harddrive activity occurs a lot more when multitasking or 'having a lot open.' Obviously, I take it my harddrive is getting worked over by page file usage (luckily I have a 7200rpm drive, can't imagine how slow it'd be with a 5400!).

My currently installed memory is 512mb of 533, and supposedly my laptop can take 2GB of 667mhz ddr2 (my cpu runs on a 667 fsb btw). Is the 2gb max a limitation of the intel chipset, or a random number intel/dell came up with based on the (then) current densities of sodimms?
I also have an x1400 gfx card- so hypermemory can take another 128mb of system ram. CPU-Z reads my having an intel i945PM chipset, and if this is in error, to give some idea of what it actually is: I have a gfx card (so non integrated chipset), and a Yonah T2400 65nm cpu (core, not core2).

So to the point:

:Can I put more than 2gb in this laptop?

:Would getting cas(4) vs cas(5) yield any real world performance gain?


Thanks and cheers,

ComdrPopnfresh

I have a e1501 and 4gb of memory.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231135

The first couple of times I tried to install the memory the laptop did have trouble with the memory but it was likely a seating problem.

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

Interesting... Do you also have the same i945pm chipset? I know dell often times keeps the same product-line name, although internals change. If you have a different chipset, it could explain it. Any idea what yours is?

 

[PELarson]

Originally posted by: Comdrpopnfresh
Interesting... Do you also have the same i945pm chipset? I know dell often times keeps the same product-line name, although internals change. If you have a different chipset, it could explain it. Any idea what yours is?

I have the AMD processor so that may make a difference. But, then again maybe it won't.

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

A quick inter-web check shows the turion-based 1501 also has a 2gb limit. However, given the differing chipsets, your results aren't reflective of any expectations I can hold. Until someone tells me otherwise, I will most likely pursue a 2gb 667-cas(4 or 5) dual channel configuration. I don't have a 64-bit OS (nor can I use one, as the core solo chips are 32-bit only), so I was aiming for 3-4gb to overcome any allocation to the x1400 and still be able to max out XP's addressing. I think going from 512mb, single channel, of 533 to 2gb, dual channel, 667 (less the 128mb for the x1400 of course) is still going to make a vast difference all around. Most likely, anything beyond 2gb would result in negligible gains- I only inquire about it because I have read of some people successfully using merom chips on the i945pm- in which case I would have full use of the hypothetical 4gb with a 64-bit OS and would likely want to disable the page file to increase performance and battery life. I was hoping to have all my proverbial ducks in a row, but given the questionable success with a merom chip, and >2gb of ram, I'll settle on 2gb; unless, of course, anyone can tell me otherwise.
So I guess the question I have now is if the chipset will properly run a single-populated 2gb dimm. That way I don't lose any future possibilities.

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

I went ahead and bought a single 2gb 667, cas(4) dimm