Upgrading laptop memory.

[gel197]

I bought this laptop for my wife for Xmas http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...07267495#productdetail . It will be used for your basic things ie. internet, music, movies etc. She also wants to burn movies from our new video camera ( transfer from camera to laptop, then burn to DVD). So I figured I might as well throw in as much memory as I can to help speed it up.

It has 2GB expandable up to 4GB


What I'm not sure of is...

1. How many slots for memory there are. Is it 2 sticks of 1GB, which means I would have to buy 2 sticks of 2GB?
Do they leave open slots in laptops? This is my first time with one so I have no idea.

2. What memory should I buy? I'm not too familiar with the different brands or what all those numbers after the name means.

3. Where could I find a how to on how to do this. I opened up 2 panels in the back and it didn't look familiar like a PC does to me.

Any and all help is appreciated. Links to the suggested memory is even more appreciated.

 

[corkyg]

Laptops have generally two small SODIMM slots behind a cover on the back. H-P has it that way. Unless you are going to run a 64 bit bit OS, 4 GB will not be utilized. 2 GB will suffice. Your user manual should tell you exactly how to remove and put in the SODIMMs. It will also specify what chips to use. You can go to a good memory house such as Crucial, and select the exact SODIMMs required by your laptop model number, etc.

 

[gel197]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Unless you are going to run a 64 bit bit OS, 4 GB will not be utilized. 2 GB will suffice.

I'm not sure I understand you. You are saying that even if I install the maximum 4GB my laptop will not use it?

 

[corkyg]

Exactly. It all depends on your OS. Unless you are using Vista or XP Pro 64 bit, it will not use 4 GB of RAM.

What I did when I got my Thinkpad this past spring was to get it with a single SODIMM of 2 GB. It cost a bit more. But I have an open slot. Should I decide to move to a 64 bit OS, I can add the other 2 GB.