1gb Turbo Memory

After reading a cnet review about Lenovo and turbo memory I would like to invest in it. Questions. I do a lot of photo work.

I just bought the T61 Lenovo computer but am not 100% it doesn't already have it installed. How do I double check. What should it say in hardware manager?

Will any 1GB Intel turbo memory work like this one ( http://shopper.cnet.com/flash-memory/intel-turbo-memory-card/4014-8897_9-32454735.html)?

I am not familiar with the new PCI mini slots. The hardware shown in the above link looks like a raw hardware board like ram memory instead of external PCI slot hardware I am use to seeing on older laptops (i.e. Linksys wireless card, etc.) . Is this what the new Mini slot hardware looks like?
Thanks,
Randall

 

make sure you read a couple reviews about this product before you decide. Specifically this one: http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3009&p=1

 

raw hardware?

Isn't it a card?

 

oops i'm an idiot

 

Do you have more than 2gb of memory? If you do Turbo memory would have virtually no effect on your computer.

 

I have turbo memory in a couple of boxes that have 3GB.... I'm holding out for an improvement in overall battery life versus a performance improvement. Both have 7200RPM drives and are pretty zippy. I think the improvement is probably marginal but it's pretty inexpensive.

 

What are you basing this claim on?

My T61P has 4gb of RAM and it still runs noticeably faster with the turbo memory enabled. Especially boot time is shorter and programs load faster.

 

Have you measured the differences in boot time and application load times? If so, I think many people would be interested in seeing the results.

It would especially be appreciated if you could post screenshots of results with and without Turbo Memory enabled, using i.e. the following test applications:

- Event Viewer (for measurement of boot time)
- HD Tune/Tach
- PCMark05

 

OK I will do that when I can.

My laptop is at the repair depot and might not be fixable, I might be getting a new one.

I don't know how long that will take, could be weeks or even months. It's a long story.

So basically, I'll have to do this at some unknown time in the future, IF I remember. If you want results sooner maybe someone else can try it.

 

i only noticed a different in opening up commonly used programs (such as FF, outlook) they open so fast that the startup screen doesn't even show

before enabling turbo memory, it would hang on the startup screen for 1-2 seconds...i have no way of scientifically calculating it...but opening up programs seems much faster

I didn't notice a difference in boot times though

 

It would be a challenge to get accurate results when using a single machine, as the ReadyBoost/ReadyDrive supposedly "learns" and can take a number of reboots (I've seen in the 20-50) range to completely optimize. You'd almost want to do the test with two identical machines/identical builds (sans the ITM in one machine) to get really accurate timings.

I'd believe the benchmarks that are well publicized.... it's effective, probably not as effective as originally planned, and should provide a marginal battery life improvement, but do not expect night and day from a $30 part.

 

also keep in mind that the drivers still need to be written to fully utilize turbo memory..as long as the hardware is there..you can future proof your notebook

 

eyecon82, I agree. Intel hasn't done much with the ITM drivers since they originally debuted, and we know MS ripped some code out of vista before RTM that would have made it even more beneficial. Perhaps that code will resurface in Vista SP1 in Q1-08.