ok, bought new memory, but now another problem

[Matt2]

I know on desktops the memory will just be down clocked to run in the system, but is the same true for laptops? I only ask because this is my first laptop and I understand they are picky about memory.

I'm thinking of getting this Kingston PC2-5300 667mhz 200-pin SO-Dimm memory. It's a 1GB stick and I plan on getting two of them for my new Toshiba Satellite A135 that currently runs like ass with 512mb of RAM and Windows Vista Basic.

As long as these sticks will work, they'll come out to be ~$55 after MIR. Plus I can get them today at the Fry's B&M store instead of waiting a week to get my memory.

Thanks for the input.

*UPDATE*

Bought a 2x1GB Patriot memory kit. Works great. Laptop is 10x faster than it was with 1x512mb stick.

To my delight, the RAM is even running at DDR-667 instead of DDR-533 according to CPU-Z.

The only problem is that CPU-Z is still reporting single channel. Is there anyway to get dual channel going?

Laptop is a Toshiba Satellite A135-S2386.

 

[Brainonska511]

I see no reason why it shouldn't. PC2-5300/PC2-4200 tends to be interchangeable in today's notebooks.

You could always plug your laptop's model number into crucial.com's memory selector to see what memory specs they have for the RAM they sell for that model laptop.

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
I see no reason why it shouldn't. PC2-5300/PC2-4200 tends to be interchangeable in today's notebooks.

You could always plug your laptop's model number into crucial.com's memory selector to see what memory specs they have for the RAM they sell for that model laptop.

I did that and it just gave me some PC2-4200 memory. It was a 2x1GB kit that I was all set to order for $97 shipped, but on frys.com they have the Kingston memory that I linked above for $47.99 a stick, but $23 MIR on each stick. Since I just want functionality, I see no reason to spend $45 more on the Crucial memory (AR) when I dont have to.

Fry's also has a pretty forgiving return policy which is a plus.

 

[Matt2]

Well I went to Fry's and they wanted $80 a stick for that Kingston memory that was only $47.99 on the Fry's website. Needless to say I got really pissed. I tried to get them to give me the price listed on the website, but they wouldnt budge and basically told e to eff off.

I ended up just getting a $80 2x1GB Patriot kit. I'm not really sure why this Patriot memory was half the price of the Kingston stuff, but whatever.

I was really skeptical about Patriot memory since the only other Patriot memory I've had before was a PC3200 LL kit for my desktop and it was terrible. My system refused to run with the Patriot memory in the slots.

I popped these sticks into my lappy and they work great. Going from 512mb to 2GB in this laptop made an amazing difference. Well worth the $84.

:thumbsup:

 

[Brainonska511]

I wouldn't worry if your laptop is in Dual-channel or single channel. The bandwidth provided in single channel is more than the system can use at once anyway. Running it in dual-channel is just giving you extra bandwidth that you won't be able to use because of the memory interface on the 945 mobile chipset.

As for why it is not in dual-channel - the sticks could be slightly different and prevent the computer from running the sticks in dual channel, but for the stated reason above, it isn't a big deal.

At a curiosity, do you have the latest BIOS from Toshiba installed?

 

[Matt2]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
I wouldn't worry if your laptop is in Dual-channel or single channel. The bandwidth provided in single channel is more than the system can use at once anyway. Running it in dual-channel is just giving you extra bandwidth that you won't be able to use because of the memory interface on the 945 mobile chipset.

As for why it is not in dual-channel - the sticks could be slightly different and prevent the computer from running the sticks in dual channel, but for the stated reason above, it isn't a big deal.

At a curiosity, do you have the latest BIOS from Toshiba installed?

No, I havent flashed the BIOS since I got the laptop. I'm a little leery of doing so just to add dual channel.

I'm perfectly happy with the performance of the laptop now that I have added the 1.5GB of RAM. The difference it made is amazing.

As for the sticks being different, I dunno. They came as a kit so I dont see how they would be different.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Paperlantern]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
I wouldn't worry if your laptop is in Dual-channel or single channel. The bandwidth provided in single channel is more than the system can use at once anyway. Running it in dual-channel is just giving you extra bandwidth that you won't be able to use because of the memory interface on the 945 mobile chipset.

As for why it is not in dual-channel - the sticks could be slightly different and prevent the computer from running the sticks in dual channel, but for the stated reason above, it isn't a big deal.

At a curiosity, do you have the latest BIOS from Toshiba installed?

Why would they add a feature that the system wouldnt be able to use. Thats just silly. The chipset in that system is a Mobile 945PM express chipset, and fully capable of "handling" the 10 some odd GB/sec data transfer from the dual channel memory.

The fact that the sticks could be a hair different is slim, but not impossible, i'll agree there, if one is flawed, or failing. OR there is an issue with the machine. All else fails, call toshiba tech support, let them know what your trying to do, maybe theyve encountered it before.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: Paperlantern

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
I wouldn't worry if your laptop is in Dual-channel or single channel. The bandwidth provided in single channel is more than the system can use at once anyway. Running it in dual-channel is just giving you extra bandwidth that you won't be able to use because of the memory interface on the 945 mobile chipset.

As for why it is not in dual-channel - the sticks could be slightly different and prevent the computer from running the sticks in dual channel, but for the stated reason above, it isn't a big deal.

At a curiosity, do you have the latest BIOS from Toshiba installed?

Why would they add a feature that the system wouldnt be able to use. Thats just silly. The chipset in that system is a Mobile 945PM express chipset, and fully capable of "handling" the 10 some odd GB/sec data transfer from the dual channel memory.

The fact that the sticks could be a hair different is slim, but not impossible, i'll agree there, if one is flawed, or failing. OR there is an issue with the machine. All else fails, call toshiba tech support, let them know what your trying to do, maybe theyve encountered it before.

They have it there because the chipset is adapted from the desktop version. The reason is, the FSB isn't high enough to take advantage of all the memory bandwidth offered in dual-channel mode and the memory interface is smaller than it's desktop counterpart, hence the reason why dual-channel isn't a big issue in notebooks.

Just some links on the subject:
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SINGLE VS. DUAL CHANNEL

Dual channel memory has been enjoyed on the desktop for years now, but only recently has surfaced in notebooks within the last year with the advent of Intel's Sonoma platform in Centrino notebooks.

Running your memory in dual channel basically adds a substantial amount of bandwidth to the memory, but must be done using two identical sticks of memory. I've read reports of people using sticks of different sizes (but identical speeds) in those Centrino notebooks and still running their memory in dual channel mode, but you may want to play it safe and go for two matching sticks.

As of this article, only Centrino notebooks running DDR2 memory can operate in dual channel. All other notebooks run their memory in single channel.

What is worth mentioning about dual channel operation is that while it can net substantial performance benefits in desktop computers, even Intel's newest Centrino platform still can't fully utilize the increased memory bandwidth. Because of this, performance benefits of operating in dual instead of single channel are generally negligible and not worth the expense of trying to get two matching sticks. The only real benefits I've seen to running a Centrino notebook in dual channel are for the GMA 900 in gaming and bandwidth intensive multimedia tasks, such as video encoding, but even then these performance benefits are still fairly marginal.

To the OP, you might want to take a look at this thread: http://forums.notebookreview.com/showth...t=108895&highlight=dual+single+channel