New laptops that come with 3Gb

[TheKub]

Do they come with 2x2 but have 32bit installed and cant advertise 4GB? Or do they have some weird 1.5Gb modules?

 

[FleshLight]

2+1

2x2 = 3.5 with 32bit

 

[corkyg]

To the best of my knowledge, the 3GB configuration availabkle as an option on most laptops is a 2 GB + a 1GB SODIMM. That makes an upgrade to 4 GB easy - just replace the 1 GB module.

 

[jjmIII]

Its funny they use 2-1 sticks. My laptop came that way, but it disables dual-channel memory on the mobo. I changed the sticks to 2-2 and BAM, shows as dual-channel in cpu-z now!

Vista and XP would show 4gb (2-2) as 3.25gb.......BUT Vista SP1 will now show all 4gb. Before SP1 laptop makers used 3gb (2-1) to avoid calls to tech support. "Why does my 4gb say 3.25??" 😕

After Vista SP1 most laptops come with 4gb (2-2) and the OS shows it correctly now.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: jjmIII
Its funny they use 2-1 sticks. My laptop came that way, but it disables dual-channel memory on the mobo. I changed the sticks to 2-2 and BAM, shows as dual-channel in cpu-z now!

Vista and XP would show 4gb (2-2) as 3.25gb.......BUT Vista SP1 will now show all 4gb. Before SP1 laptop makers used 3gb (2-1) to avoid calls to tech support. "Why does my 4gb say 3.25??" 😕

After Vista SP1 most laptops come with 4gb (2-2) and the OS shows it correctly now.

Well, Dual Channel really only nets you about 5% performance gains, but it is relatively 'free' in the sense that all you need is matched pairs of RAM and you are set.

As for the correct reporting of 4GB in Vista SP1, that is such a marketing job. It (32bit) can still not fully utilize all 4GB of RAM, but it will report it... how nice.

 

[jjmIII]

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: jjmIII
Its funny they use 2-1 sticks. My laptop came that way, but it disables dual-channel memory on the mobo. I changed the sticks to 2-2 and BAM, shows as dual-channel in cpu-z now!

Vista and XP would show 4gb (2-2) as 3.25gb.......BUT Vista SP1 will now show all 4gb. Before SP1 laptop makers used 3gb (2-1) to avoid calls to tech support. "Why does my 4gb say 3.25??" 😕

After Vista SP1 most laptops come with 4gb (2-2) and the OS shows it correctly now.

Well, Dual Channel really only nets you about 5% performance gains, but it is relatively 'free' in the sense that all you need is matched pairs of RAM and you are set.

As for the correct reporting of 4GB in Vista SP1, that is such a marketing job. It (32bit) can still not fully utilize all 4GB of RAM, but it will report it... how nice.

Don't disagree in either case.

People NEED to see their 4gb 😀.
The 4gb kits are so cheap.....why not?

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: jjmIII

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: jjmIII
Its funny they use 2-1 sticks. My laptop came that way, but it disables dual-channel memory on the mobo. I changed the sticks to 2-2 and BAM, shows as dual-channel in cpu-z now!

Vista and XP would show 4gb (2-2) as 3.25gb.......BUT Vista SP1 will now show all 4gb. Before SP1 laptop makers used 3gb (2-1) to avoid calls to tech support. "Why does my 4gb say 3.25??" 😕

After Vista SP1 most laptops come with 4gb (2-2) and the OS shows it correctly now.

Well, Dual Channel really only nets you about 5% performance gains, but it is relatively 'free' in the sense that all you need is matched pairs of RAM and you are set.

As for the correct reporting of 4GB in Vista SP1, that is such a marketing job. It (32bit) can still not fully utilize all 4GB of RAM, but it will report it... how nice.

Don't disagree in either case.

People NEED to see their 4gb 😀.
The 4gb kits are so cheap.....why not?

Oh no, I don't think that 4GB is a bad idea, I just think that the obfuscation that Vista SP1 does that make people think that they have 4GB of usable RAM is deplorable. Heck, I have a 4GB kit arriving tomorrow for use on my new desktop, but I will be running Vista 64 (it was free, why not run it?) so I can actually use all 4GB.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Originally posted by: jjmIII
Its funny they use 2-1 sticks. My laptop came that way, but it disables dual-channel memory on the mobo. I changed the sticks to 2-2 and BAM, shows as dual-channel in cpu-z now!

Vista and XP would show 4gb (2-2) as 3.25gb.......BUT Vista SP1 will now show all 4gb. Before SP1 laptop makers used 3gb (2-1) to avoid calls to tech support. "Why does my 4gb say 3.25??" 😕

After Vista SP1 most laptops come with 4gb (2-2) and the OS shows it correctly now.

Depends on the chipset, but if you have a modern Intel chipset you should still be getting dual-channel with 2GB+1GB in asynchronous flex mode.

 

[corkyg]

Yep! Visra w/SP1 does "show" all 4 GB, but uses less. So what! Go for the 4 GB - next SP might even use it. The cost difference is really insignificant.

It is really amusing how these threads stray from the OP's question.