RAM Upgrade for Pentium B960

[Satish]

Hello All,
I need some help with RAM upgrade for my laptop Fujitsu Lifebook LH532 (Asia Pacific).

I have Ubuntu 12.10 64-bit running on my laptop as my primary OS. I plan to install other distros as well provided I manage to get back access to BIOS/UEFI (Ubuntu install locked me out of it) but that's a story for another day.

Usage is strictly basic - web browsing and consuming media.

The laptop uses Pentium B960 processor with 2GB RAM. The 'dmidecode' output's processor section is below. I have two memory slots with one empty.

Processor

# dmidecode 2.11
# SMBIOS entry point at 0x79e8b000
SMBIOS 2.7 present.
35 structures occupying 1644 bytes.
Table at 0x000E0B70.

Handle 0x0000, DMI type 4, 42 bytes
Processor Information
	Socket Designation: CPU Socket - U3E1
	Type: Central Processor
	Family: Pentium
	Manufacturer: Intel(R) Corporation
	ID: A7 06 02 00 FF FB EB BF
	Signature: Type 0, Family 6, Model 42, Stepping 7
	Flags:
		FPU (Floating-point unit on-chip)
		VME (Virtual mode extension)
		DE (Debugging extension)
		PSE (Page size extension)
		TSC (Time stamp counter)
		MSR (Model specific registers)
		PAE (Physical address extension)
		MCE (Machine check exception)
		CX8 (CMPXCHG8 instruction supported)
		APIC (On-chip APIC hardware supported)
		SEP (Fast system call)
		MTRR (Memory type range registers)
		PGE (Page global enable)
		MCA (Machine check architecture)
		CMOV (Conditional move instruction supported)
		PAT (Page attribute table)
		PSE-36 (36-bit page size extension)
		CLFSH (CLFLUSH instruction supported)
		DS (Debug store)
		ACPI (ACPI supported)
		MMX (MMX technology supported)
		FXSR (FXSAVE and FXSTOR instructions supported)
		SSE (Streaming SIMD extensions)
		SSE2 (Streaming SIMD extensions 2)
		SS (Self-snoop)
		HTT (Multi-threading)
		TM (Thermal monitor supported)
		PBE (Pending break enabled)
	Version: Intel(R) Pentium(R) CPU B960 @ 2.20GHz
	Voltage: 1.1 V
	External Clock: 100 MHz
	Max Speed: 2200 MHz
	Current Speed: 2200 MHz
	Status: Populated, Enabled
	Upgrade: Socket rPGA988B
	L1 Cache Handle: 0x0002
	L2 Cache Handle: 0x0003
	L3 Cache Handle: 0x0004
	Serial Number: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
	Asset Tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
	Part Number: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
	Core Count: 2
	Core Enabled: 2
	Thread Count: 2
	Characteristics:
		64-bit capable

Base Board

Handle 0x0010, DMI type 2, 15 bytes
Base Board Information
	Manufacturer: FUJITSU
	Product Name: FJNBB1E
	Version:  
	Serial Number: DQBA002655
	Asset Tag:  
	Features:
		Board is a hosting board
	Location In Chassis:  
	Chassis Handle: 0x0000
	Type: Motherboard
	Contained Object Handles: 0

I am planning to upgrade my RAM to 8GB (two 4GB modules; throwing out my current 2GB) but can't decide between DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1600.

The Intel spec for B960 says it supports only DDR3-1066 and DDR3-1333. However my current 2GB module is DDR3-1600 (Hynix HMT325S6CFR8A-PB) but dmidecode clearly shows that the Configured Clock Speed is only 1333MHz.

Handle 0x0008, DMI type 17, 34 bytes
Memory Device
    Array Handle: 0x0007
    Error Information Handle: Not Provided
    Total Width: 64 bits
    Data Width: 64 bits
    Size: 2048 MB
    Form Factor: SODIMM
    Set: None
    Locator: ChannelA-DIMM0
    Bank Locator: BANK 0
    Type: DDR3
    Type Detail: Synchronous
    Speed: 1333 MHz
    Manufacturer: Hynix/Hyundai
    Serial Number: 293B18BE
    Asset Tag: 9876543210
    Part Number: HMT325S6CFR8A-PB  
    Rank: Unknown
    Configured Clock Speed: 1333 MHz

From what I know there is no benefit in going for 1600Mhz when my mobo will step in and underclock the memory. But just want to get the experts' opinion.

Would I be better off going for 1600MHz or should this be a decision led by $$ alone?

Thanks
Satish

 

[dma0991]

Adding more is unnecessary as 2GB is sufficient for browsing and media consumption. An additional 2GB stick should be good enough for a laptop. Also, its speed hardly matters for a laptop.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Adding more is unnecessary as 2GB is sufficient for browsing and media consumption. An additional 2GB stick should be good enough for a laptop. Also, its speed hardly matters for a laptop.

Says who? My Asus X401A has 4GB of RAM, and I exceed that some times browsing with Waterfox. I wish it has 8GB, but it's a complete PITA to teardown this laptop to add RAM, so I'm not going to bother.

 

[dma0991]

Says who? My Asus X401A has 4GB of RAM, and I exceed that some times browsing with Waterfox. I wish it has 8GB, but it's a complete PITA to teardown this laptop to add RAM, so I'm not going to bother.

Don't see the need to leave tabs open if unused. Its a habit, even if you had 8GB, you'll fill it to the brim again. Just because you need 8GB of RAM, doesn't mean that OP needs that much. I need a lot of HDD space but that doesn't mean that the average user would need as much as I do.

Considering that OP is using Ubuntu which doesn't use as much/cache RAM like Windows do, 4GB is sufficient for the average use case(web browsing and consuming media).

 

[Coup27]

Do not try and run 1600Mhz RAM in an OEM machine. OEM machines have no overclocking options so it is unlikely you will even be able to do this anyway.

If you're adding to existing RAM try and buy a matching stick. If you're removing the existing RAM, try and buy 1333Mhz RAM. If you can only buy 1600Mhz it will likely clock down to 1333Mhz anyway.

OEM machines are very strict on hardware specification so running 1600Mhz RAM, if even possible is not recommended and would likely cause stability issues.

 

[xqzit]

Hello Satish,

Alright, I don't wanna know why you need more than 2GB of RAM for Browsing and media usage.:whiste: But it is always better to have more RAM. Ignore the arguments in this thread about the same. :thumbsdown:

Anyways, in respect to DDR3-1333MHz and DDR3-1600MHz memory speeds both are compatible. But theoretically 1600MHz is faster compared to 1333MHz (the performance difference is minute and most of the times user cannot discern the same). I suspect that your existing 2GB module also is of 1600MHz. Fujitsu's official specs confirms that your laptop would do fine with 1600MHz memory.

Check the following link for the official specs:
http://globalsp.ts.fujitsu.com/dmsp/Publications/public/ds-LIFEBOOK-LH532.pdf

BTW, you can find this memory in Crucial.com, Memorystock, Amazon. If you are from India.. you can find it Flipkart.

P.S - Since, the memory is for a laptop search for DDR3-1600MHz SODIMM 204 pin memory

BR,
xqzit

 

[el-Capitan]

No, the 1600 will be a waste as the RAM will only be clocked at 1333. This is confirmed by a. Intel's spec, and b. your observation.

Unless it comes at the same/less price, I would only buy 1333.

 

[Satish]

Thanks to everyone who took time to advise me. I appreciate your effort.

My initial thought was to add to my existing stick but finding a matching one (brand, freq, latency, et al) turned out to be difficult - so I decided to throw it away and go for a new set.

I am in India and unfortunately no one sells kits (God knows why) so I'll have to get one from the US. I am inclined towards Crucial since I read many people recommending them for their reliability.

Again, thanks to everyone who pitched in.