Toshiba F50-108 SSD disc and memory upgrade

[koli99]

Hi!

After 3 years I decided to upgrade my Qosmio F50 with new SSD and extra memory.

With disc, I'm pretty much decided on Intel 320 120GB SSD, unless you recommend something different maybe?

But I have problem with deciding what memory size to take. Now I have 3,072 (2,048 + 1,024) MB DDR2 (800MHz), and CPU-z says it runs in dual channel mode with timings 6-6-6-18(on memory stick it says 6-6-6-12?). I was looking at Patriot DDR2 SO-DIMM 4 GB 800 MHz, and it says just Cas latency 6. I haven't found on internet what timings it has so I have this question:
If I buy 1(one) memory stick(Patriot) and replace it with 1GB stick in laptop, will old 2GB + new 4 GB work in dual channel, or do I have to buy 2 x 4GB (Patriot)?

Thanks for all the answers!

 

[razel]

Laptop BIOSs tend to stick to SPD settings. So when you mix sticks will either work or not. When you mix it will *usually* try to use the lower settings. So yes, if you exchange the 1GB for 2GB it can work.

I was surprized myself when I see newer laptops come with 3 GB or 6 GB of RAM and they use two sticks like in your case. Perhaps newer chipsets when run dual are more stable with interleaving than older (4-5 years) laptops which tend to favor matched pairs. Your laptop is 3 years old and is somewhat in the gray area.

 

[koli99]

Thanks for the answer! So there's no telling if it will work in dual channel mode unless if I try it? It's funny cos CPU-z says that they run in symetrical mode eventhough they are different sizes...