Memory for a Lenovo T510

[Amused]

I just bought a Lenovo T510 and am a little confused over the memory choices.

It appears Lenovo offers both PC3-8500 CL=7 and PC3-10600 CL=9 DDR3 for it.

Which is preferable if I get two 4gb sticks?

Lenovo seems to offer the PC-10600 for larger configs, and the PC-8500 for smaller configs.

Am I better off with the faster memory? Will the mobo adjust the speed for it? Or am I better off with the tighter timings?

 

[corkyg]

My T510 came with 3GB of the PC3-8500. It is plenty fast for me, but I'm not a gamer. With 8 GB in a 64bit system you should be OK - smiles!

I have had it on three trips now - one overseas with satellite link, and it was 100% reliable. It is the best laptop I've ever had - it replaced my Lenovo T60.

 

[Amused]

I appreciate the input, but that doesn't answer my question really.

I am excited about the T510, even more so after your glowing review. But I wanna know which memory speed is better and if it can use the DDR3 1333 or I should stick with the slower 1066 ram with the tighter timings.

 

[Blain]

Given that the prices are so close and you can't really do any tweaking with the T510, I would opt for the PC38500 with the tighter timings.
NOT because tighter timings gain you any real world performance, but simply because the quality of the memory tends to be higher.

I can hear the throngs now...
Not all higher clocked (looser timing) memory can be clocked down and ran with tighter timings. It's a roll of the dice.

That's my viewpoint. There's really no reason to stretch this thread out into a two week discussion about memory timings.

It's for a laptop that you can't tweak... Flip a coin if you need to.

 

[corkyg]

I know I didn't answer your question specifically - mainly because I have no basis to do so. My sense is about what Blain said - also, I don't think you would notice much operational difference in real world apps and Internet use. Since my T510 is primarily just for travelling, my main objective is reliability. Speeds that may only be detected in benchmarks do not attract me. I think you will be fine either way - but, my T510 has never crashed or BSOD'd since I got it 8 months ago.

 

[Amused]

Sweet! Thanks guys! Can't wait for it to get here! UPS says the 4th.