Upgrading Ram... help

I want to upgrade my ram, but im running into a couple problems and also just looking for some suggestions.

I have a Chinese laptop with no documentation about the technical specs of what this thing can take. And ive searched and searched and cant find anyhitng online. If your bored maybe you can give it a shot its a Haier W36, but i dont really think that is a big problem.

Right now, its got 1GB ram. I opened the ram door on the bottom, and it looks like it has an A-data 512mb 533mhz module. So im assuming there is another one under the keyboard too.

Ram is cheap on newegg right now, and ive been looking at 667mhz on there. I dont know if the factory ram they installed is 533mhz because they are just trying to save a buck (common with chinese products) or if the motherboard cant take 667. Either way, if i bought 667 ram and it couldnt handle it, it would just automatically underclock it right?

Is there any diagnostic software that can tell me what mobo and chipsets i have so that i will just know for sure?

On another note, im not sure what i should upgrade to... ive got a lot of options. Right now Im running XP Pro, but i will definately be getting Vista before the life of this laptop is over.
Like i said ram is really cheap right now and i can afford 4gb off newegg, but do i really need that?

Buy 2x 2GB ram modules = 4GB ram
Buy 1x 2GB ram module and just replace one of the 512 sticks = 2.5GB ram
Buy 2x 1GB ram module = 2GB ram

Things im considering:
dual channel mode versus single channel - 2.5GB be better than 2GB in dual channel
If i replace just one of my current sticks instead of both, should i buy same manafacturer as what is alrealy in there? What about the speed, would it be ok to have 1x 512 533 and 1x 2GB 667 together?

What brands do you recommend, ive always used corsair in my desktops, but all they seem to have is "value" ram for notebooks? What about Adata, Gskill, Mushkin, OCZ? Right now A-Data has best deal

I know when i goto Vista im going to need more for sure, where do you all really see a cutoff in performance increase. Im not sure if ill be getting 32 or 64 bit. But right now ill definately be with XP Pro 32bit for a while longer.

Thanks

 

download sisandra from http://www.sisoftware.net
it tells you all the information that u will need about ram supported etc.
also ur ram will underclock if 667mhz is not supported
also i dont suggest vista (even though i use it) retain xp performance but go with the vista look using tune-up utilities

 

First you should download cpu-z. It's free software that'll tell you what you've got. http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php It will tell you your memory bus speed too. I believe that 667 will downgrade to 533 but I'd google that first.

I would find out if you can remove that other 512m chip. You may not be able to. In that case I'd order a single 2gb memory chip and plug it into that space you have, leaving you with 2.5gb. Unmatched memory isn't a big deal, there will be no noticeable difference in performance.

If you can get rid of the 512m chip then I'd get a match pair of 1gb memory (2gb total). That should be fine for whatever you can throw at it.

Your laptop may not be able to handle the Vista Aero, depending on the graphics processor. CPU-Z should tell you that too, or you can download the Vista readiness application from Microsoft and run it on the laptop. It'll give you a numerical score and you can compare that to other benchmarks.

Greg

 

Is common that that some ram modules cant be removed? I havent taken the keyboard off yet because i cant find any instructions on how to do so, even off the manafacturer website, so ive been waiting until i had enough free time to slowly and carefully pull it apart myself. Guess ill try to do that tongiht then.

the specs of my laptop are 13.3 widescreen, core 2 duo 1.83 ghz, gforce 7400 512mb

Ill use one of those programs to find the other info i need when i have a chance

 

That laptop should be able to run Vista fine and I doubt the other stick of ram is soldered either.

 

run vista fine... but with how much ram? would 4 gb be useful a couple years down the road?

 

OK, CPUz says:
Mainboard- Asus t76j
Chipset- i945pm
Memory DRAM frequency- 266MHZ .... HOW can that be right?
Under the SPD tab it says the max bandwidth is PC2-4300

Weird, ill check with another program.

Edited to add:

OK, Sisosoft shows the correct memory info and says the max is 667mhz. So just some help or recommendations on what configuration I should go with?

 

It is 266MHZ, but with two pipelines, so for marketing purposes they called it 533MHZ. You can get 667 and run it fine, which is lucky because there's a glut of the stuff right now and it's dirt cheap.

I have had ram soldered to the mainboard before, although it's quite rare these days. Hopefully you can remove it and upgrade it all. I personally don't think 4gb RAM is necessary, even with Vista. But 2 years down the line who knows.


Greg.

 

Assuming i go with 4GB just to get the most i can, how much will actually be available to me under XP Pro 32bit. What about even Vista 32bit?

What brands do you recommend? Right now Adata is the cheapest i can find, but would be willing to pay a little more if another brand is significantly better

 

3GB, and ADATA is fine, they have a lifetime warranty *in US* and also, that is what I am using in my laptop atm.