Forum Home
Press F1
 
Thread ID: 82750 2007-09-06 12:33:00 understanding Ram Danger (287) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
588602 2007-09-06 12:33:00 Hi I have a Toshiba Satellite Notebook Intel Pentium4 2.4GHz. I want to up the Ram from its current 256. I have room for another module and want to put in an additional 512 MB memory module.
Toshiba lists this part KTT3614/512I but when doing a google search it comes up as discontinued and no one seems to have it.
I understand I need PC2100, DDR. I recall adding the same extra ram to my PC several years ago. Are the laptop Ram modules the same as the RAM that is inside my broken down P2.4 PC? Can I use the ram out of my PC in my laptop?
If not, what exactly do I need to get? Its all quite confusing when perusing all the options on price spy etc.

I know this must be pretty simple stuff to you geeks, so thanks for any advice. I'm a bit out of touch with computer stuff these days, my time is taken up else where.

And how do I stop that annoying add on Press F1 everytime I go for the top right corner of the page?
Danger (287)
588603 2007-09-06 12:37:00 Hi,

No, the memory modules used in laptops are called SO-DIMMs, as opposed to DIMMs used in PCs. They are smaller, and have a different number of pins.

On the bright side, you can forget that part number. Any PC2100 (which is DDR 266) SO-DIMM will work in the laptop.

As for the ad, are you using Firefox? If so, just get the AdBlock plugin and block the ad. If you're using Internet Explorer, consider switching to Firefox, but if you don't want to do that, I'm sure someone else will tell you how to get rid of it (I haven't used IE in years, so I don't know much about getting rid of ads in it).
george12 (7)
588604 2007-09-06 12:58:00 Thanks George. Now I know what to look for.
One more thing, are all the laptops and memory modules 200 pin?
And another thing (I'm seaching then coming back to add to this post with more questions) what is DDR2?
I have found DDR SDRAM 200 pin SODIMM for laptops
And DDR2 SDRAM 200 pin SODIMM for laptops
Which one do I need? Sorry for the dumb questions.

Yes I use Firefox. Will check out the add blocker.

Cheers.
Danger (287)
588605 2007-09-06 13:15:00 Uh oh, it gets worse! I've found all these and not sure what to get?

DDR SDRAM 200 pin SODIMM for laptops
Sort order :
sorted by price | name | popularity | listing date. Show all prices*
Price count
lists all stores
Lowest price
Next lowest price
256MB SDRAM 200pin DDR SODIMM Notebook 103 prices $30.00 TasTech Computers $33.50 Sigma PC
128MB DDR SDRAM 200pin SODIMM Notebook 15 prices $33.75 CBCNZ $34.87 GadgetPeople
512MB DDR SDRAM 200pin SODIMM Notebook 236 prices $41.94 PC OnLine Shop $42.01 Alpha PC
1GB DDR SDRAM 200pin SODIMM Notebook 164 prices $109.43 PC OnLine Shop $109.50 Friendly Computer

DDR2 SDRAM 200 pin SODIMM for laptops
Sort order :
sorted by price | name | popularity | listing date. Show all prices*
Price count
lists all stores
Lowest price
Next lowest price
512MB DDR2 SODIMM 227 prices $33.01 Alpha PC $33.90 PC OnLine Shop
256MB DDR2 SODIMM 48 prices $33.45 C1 Shoppingmall $37.06 MyTOYS
1GB DDR2 SODIMM 240 prices $63.06 PC OnLine Shop $63.10 Expert Infotech
2GB DDR2 SODIMM 70 prices $162.90 Expert Infotech $163.00 EGE
4GB DDR2 SODIMM 7 prices $509.00 EGE $556.19 Gamma Computers

SDRAM 144 pin for Notebook
Sort order :
sorted by price | name | popularity | listing date. Show all prices*
Price count
lists all stores
Lowest price
Next lowest price
128MB SDRAM 144 Pin SODIMM Notebook 13 prices $51.80 Gibbraytechnologies $65.22 PC OnLine Shop
256MB SDRAM 144 Pin SODIMM Notebook 27 prices $63.00 Elive $69.99 PC Gear
512MB SDRAM 144 Pin SODIMM Notebook 13 prices $144.62 PC OnLine Shop $144.64 SuperCheapPC

OK I'm guessing its 512MB DDR SDRAM 200pin SODIMM Notebook 236 prices $41.94 PC OnLine Shop $42.01 Alpha PC?

And whats CL2.5?
Danger (287)
588606 2007-09-06 14:08:00 Uh oh, it gets worse! I've found all these and not sure what to get?

....

OK I'm guessing its 512MB DDR SDRAM 200pin SODIMM Notebook 236 prices $41.94 PC OnLine Shop $42.01 Alpha PC?

And whats CL2.5?

Yep, that's right.

200-pin DDR ram - make sure it's DDR266 if possible. Most of the stuff you find will be DDR400, which your laptop may not support. Chances are it will just run at a speed your laptop supports, which is fine, but it doesn't always work that way. Your best bet is DDR266 (another name for this is PC2100).

DDR266 = PC2100 |
DDR333 = PC2700 | <-- These are all 200-pin DDR SO-DIMMs
DDR400 = PC3200 |

Don't buy DDR2 memory (also 200-pin), as it is a completely different (newer) type and won't work. Also don't get SD-RAM (PC100 or PC133, 144-pin), which is for older laptops.

CL stands for "CAS Latency", which is to do with the time it takes to read or write to the memory. You don't need to worry about this, but lower is better. There is no CL value that won't work, it's just performance (but don't worry about it at all).
george12 (7)
588607 2007-09-06 15:17:00 CL stands for "CAS Latency", which is to do with the time it takes to read or write to the memory. You don't need to worry about this, but lower is better.

ummm.......in my experience sometimes systems dont like to 'mix' different 'cl' speed ram it'll be a good idea to either run aida32 which will tell you what cl you existing ram is or pop the cover off the lappy where the ram sits and read the sticker on your existing ram and try to get some with the same cl....
drcspy (146)
588608 2007-09-06 19:39:00 To end any confusion, just go here: www.crucial.com and let them scan your system for the right RAM types and what's available for your system.
It's free..not dangerous and it will answer all your questions.

Use the Memory Advisor Tool or the Scanner. ..I like the scanner myself when I don't really know all the data they need for the Advisor Tool.

They can also tell you if your system will run Vista..that's new and I just noticed it there.
SurferJoe46 (51)
588609 2007-09-06 19:44:00 Thanks everyone! Danger (287)
588610 2007-09-06 22:50:00 ummm.......in my experience sometimes systems dont like to 'mix' different 'cl' speed ram it'll be a good idea to either run aida32 which will tell you what cl you existing ram is or pop the cover off the lappy where the ram sits and read the sticker on your existing ram and try to get some with the same cl....

I have found that to be the case sometimes also, quite annoying
Agent_24 (57)
588611 2007-09-07 02:16:00 ummm.......in my experience sometimes systems dont like to 'mix' different 'cl' speed ram it'll be a good idea to either run aida32 which will tell you what cl you existing ram is or pop the cover off the lappy where the ram sits and read the sticker on your existing ram and try to get some with the same cl....

It's going to be very hard to find new RAM of a certain CL rating. You might be lucky, of course, and find that your existing RAM is CL2.5 anyway (follow drcspy's advice to find out).

But I still wouldn't worry too much. I've never, ever had a problem with mixing CLs - it should simply run at the slowest CL of all the modules installed.
george12 (7)
1 2