Adding additional RAM to your laptop

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Adding additional RAM to your laptop

ImHighAs

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Geek

#81214 9-Apr-2011 15:03

Hey GZ,

I have recently purchased a laptop and was wanting to know if the brand or speed of RAM matters when looking around for one to buy?.

Here are the specs:

HP Envy 17-1006tx

i7 820qm
ATI 5850m
500GB 7200RPM
17.3 HD+ (1600x900)
4GB 1333Mhz DDR3 RAM.

for example could i have 1 stick of 1333Mhz 4gb ram and then a 4gb stick of 1033mhz ram?

Thanks,

Regs

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Snowflake

#457054 9-Apr-2011 18:52

the speed of ram does make a difference, but it depends on what you're using it for. if you're just using it as a regular laptop for a bit of browsing, office and email then you probably wont notice it.

as for mixing speeds - most laptops will let you mix speeds and will just run both DIMMS at the slower of the two speeds. Check with HP or the RAM provider first though, just to be sure. Its aways /recommended/ to run all your RAM the same speed/size/manufacturer but you dont have to.

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gzt

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#457149 10-Apr-2011 00:43

Many laptop manufacturers produce a list of 'approved' ram for particular models. This is specific ram tested in the specific configuration they have developed. Laptop boards can be be much more individually spec'ed.

The ram purchased directly from some laptop manufacturers online care can be reasonably priced, and it is worth checking. If it is not, as far as laptops go, I stick strictly to the 'approved' list.

Batman

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#457152 10-Apr-2011 01:33

in general you can use whatever brand you want in my experience. (as long as the specs are within accepted Mhz by the motherboard)

i suggest you use 1333Mhz ram unless you save a lot of money with 1033Mhz .... you have such a high end system why do you want to use cheap tyres on a racing car? but on the other hand if you dont care ... it will still work!

LennonNZ

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#457161 10-Apr-2011 08:48

A good place to find out what kind of ram you need is:

http://www.kingston.com

and choose your laptop brand/model up the top etc and you'll see what it can take

If you have 4G at the moment then as it says you probably have 2*2G sims at the moment. So throw those out and get 2*4G (the max you can have in that laptop)

Looking at the wholesalers the Kingston 1066 and the 1333 is same price at about $120 RRP Retail each but a lot of places selling cheaper than RRP

See: http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=555059

Other brands of RAM will work as well.

ImHighAs

50 posts

Geek

#457215 10-Apr-2011 12:48

Thanks LennonNZ.

Just another question however regarding branding of RAM and other details. What is the difference between SO-DIMM DDR3 , SDRAM, Micro-dimm DDR?

My laptop ram is represented by SDRAM so would this change anything? or is it just another name for the same thing just manufacturers lingo?

HP Envy 17-1006tx:
Core i7 820qm
ATI HD 5850m
500GB 7200RPM HDD
17.3" HD+ (1600 x 900)
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Beats Audio

Need a better desky!

Ragnor

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#457229 10-Apr-2011 14:44

Do you actually need more ram? What OS are you running, is it 64bit?

HP

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ImHighAs

50 posts

Geek

#457235 10-Apr-2011 15:02

Uhhh. Good question dont really NEED it just wanting to max my specs. Could think of it as futureproofing my laptop for a little bit longer.

Yep yep running Windows 7 Home premium 64-bit.

from what i understand increasing ram while running a 32-bit OS isnt as effective as if it was a 64-bit?. Something about not being able to recognise the full capacity of ram in 32bit os?

HP Envy 17-1006tx:
Core i7 820qm
ATI HD 5850m
500GB 7200RPM HDD
17.3" HD+ (1600 x 900)
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Beats Audio

Need a better desky!