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    4 or 8gb ram?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by iphetamine, Apr 23, 2011.

  1. iphetamine

    iphetamine Notebook Evangelist

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    I bought the T420 with a single sodimm 2gb ram, knowing that'll buy another 2gb. But lately thinking of getting a 8gb kit, what do you guys think? Any recommendations?
     
    iphetamine, Apr 23, 2011
    #1
  2. Duckfart

    Duckfart Notebook Evangelist

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    newegg has 4gb for $39 free shipping.
    8gb for $78 + plus free shipping - do it.
     
    Duckfart, Apr 23, 2011
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  3. iphetamine

    iphetamine Notebook Evangelist

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    any brands recommended?
     
    iphetamine, Apr 23, 2011
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  4. Laser88

    Laser88 Newbie

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    Laser88, Apr 23, 2011
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  5. sml

    sml Notebook Guru

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    i am using archlinux.
    computer has been turned on for a few days.
    2 browsers and 40 tabs.
    spreadsheet
    movie
    .. RAM usage = 1.1Gb
     
    sml, Apr 23, 2011
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  6. marcob

    marcob Notebook Geek

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    Any sticks which are stable will do. That's unless you care for that you cannot feel, like a 0.5% improvement by going for the faster RAM modules. I use whatever is cheapest but no no-names, currently(and in the past 5-6 years) I use Corsair Value Select.
    My tip would be to go for the 8GB even if you think you don't need them, they are still very useful, even if only for the bigger system cache.
     
    marcob, Apr 23, 2011
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  7. GomJabbar

    GomJabbar Notebook Consultant

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    Someone here posted that their WEI (Windows Experience Index) score took quite a jump in regard to the Intel graphics GPU by increasing the RAM from 4GB to 8GB. Not sure how this would relate to the real world.
     
    GomJabbar, Apr 23, 2011
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  8. iphetamine

    iphetamine Notebook Evangelist

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    Gskill looks good, but which should I go for? :p 10% discount or the usb flash?? :p :p
     
    iphetamine, Apr 23, 2011
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  9. vinuneuro

    vinuneuro Notebook Virtuoso

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    Link? I never even considered using more than 4gb since my usage isn't at all memory intensive, but this may be worth it.
     
    vinuneuro, Apr 23, 2011
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  10. agb22

    agb22 Notebook Geek

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    agb22, Apr 23, 2011
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  11. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    No, RAM speed will not make a real world difference. Even in synthetic benchmarks and rendering will it make a minuscule difference.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Apr 23, 2011
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  12. GomJabbar

    GomJabbar Notebook Consultant

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    GomJabbar, Apr 23, 2011
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  13. agb22

    agb22 Notebook Geek

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    so 10600 and 10666 wont make a difference in my t420?
     
    agb22, Apr 23, 2011
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  14. LoneWolf15

    LoneWolf15 The Chairman

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    I use G.Skill memory. It's inexpensive and I've never had a problem with it, which is in contrast to even large vendors like Crucial.

    8GB of RAM is $80-85 for a kit. If you can afford that, I think it's worth it. You may not use all of it now, but you might later, and it will enhance the resale value of your ThinkPad down the road.

    It won't make a difference whether you go 10600 or 10666 when it comes to memory speed. Go with whichever is cheaper.
     
    LoneWolf15, Apr 23, 2011
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  15. agb22

    agb22 Notebook Geek

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    and both are compatible with my t420 right?
     
    agb22, Apr 23, 2011
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  16. LoneWolf15

    LoneWolf15 The Chairman

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    Yes. The T420 uses PC3-10600 DDR3 RAM, which means anything spec-ed as capable of running faster will just be run at the slower 10600 speed.
     
    LoneWolf15, Apr 23, 2011
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  17. vinuneuro

    vinuneuro Notebook Virtuoso

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    vinuneuro, Apr 23, 2011
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  18. zhaos

    zhaos Notebook Consultant

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    Save money and stick with 4 GB.
     
    zhaos, Apr 23, 2011
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  19. Duckfart

    Duckfart Notebook Evangelist

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    But the cost is almost the same if you get it from newegg.
     
    Duckfart, Apr 23, 2011
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  20. afhstingray

    afhstingray Notebook Prophet

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    i'd like to have 8GB of ram, but unfortunately my thinkpad came with 2x2gb instead of 1x4 gb so i wont be upgrading anytime soon. rather save up for an SSD
     
    afhstingray, Apr 23, 2011
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  21. vinuneuro

    vinuneuro Notebook Virtuoso

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    Heh? It's not even close to the same cost, 4gb vs 8gb from anywhere I've seen including newegg.
     
    vinuneuro, Apr 23, 2011
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  22. claudehl

    claudehl Notebook Geek

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    It won't make any difference. The memory modules can handle a faster speed but the motherboard will set it to what the CPU requires. If you're going to overclock, then consider the faster modules.

    I tossed out the Samsung 2.0GB memory module from my T520 and installed two G. Skill DDR3-1333- PC310600 (4.0GB x 2). Works great with my Core i5. I can't believe how much Lenovo wants to charge us for upgrading the hard drive or memory. They want more than full retail prices for the corresponding parts.

    Claude
     
    claudehl, Apr 23, 2011
    #22
  23. LoneWolf15

    LoneWolf15 The Chairman

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    While it is too late to do it in this case, the best thing is usually to buy 1 2GB, the lowest amount of RAM you can configure. The discount will probably be enough to buy a single 4GB module and go to 6GB without any additional out-of-pocket cost.
     
    LoneWolf15, Apr 23, 2011
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  24. GomJabbar

    GomJabbar Notebook Consultant

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    GomJabbar, Apr 23, 2011
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  25. Duckfart

    Duckfart Notebook Evangelist

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    I just paid $80 + free shipping for 8gb from newegg.

    Depending on the brand, the difference is between $1 - 35, not that much of a difference ( at least I don't think), especially when you are paying $900 + on a laptop.

    8gb

    Newegg.com - G.SKILL 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Laptop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-8GBSQ

    Newegg.com - G.SKILL 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Laptop Memory Model F3-8500CL7D-8GBSQ
     
    Duckfart, Apr 23, 2011
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  26. vinuneuro

    vinuneuro Notebook Virtuoso

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    4gb ram is almost $40 cheaper since there are coupons for 4gb too. If I don't actually need more than 4gb (SB Graphics doesn't benefit), that's $40 entirely wasted. And $40 is still $40 at the end of the day.
     
    vinuneuro, Apr 23, 2011
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  27. Laser88

    Laser88 Newbie

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    It should not. Here are some info for your reference -

    1) G. Skill has good quality and good support, from my personal experience.
    2) Usually 10600 and 10666 are priced the same, for 1x4GB or 2x4GB.
    3) There was one comment under 10600/4GB (dated 03/09/2011) that G.Skill suggested 10666 when one customer had some issue with 10600. When the price is the same, I would go for 10666.
    4) When I got my upgrade a few days ago, there was no promotion. Two packs of 1x4GB actually was cheaper ($39 x 2) than one pack of 2x4GB ($82). So I went for two packs of 10666/4GB.
    5) With the promotion, I would go for one pack of 10600/2x4GB at $72.99. I really don't think 10600 would fail.

    Regarding 4GB or 8GB, with Windows 7, 8GB seems better. But I think 6GB (2G+4G) is not bad either; easier to install, lower initial cost, and you can add the second 4GB (for additional 2GB) when needed later.

    Hope this helps.
     
    Laser88, Apr 23, 2011
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  28. intothefourth

    intothefourth Newbie

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    I just ordered a T420 as well. Is mixing brands okay, i.e. popping in a 4GB Corsair with the 2GB Lenovo stick my machine came with?
     
    intothefourth, Apr 23, 2011
    #28
  29. eiji-gravion

    eiji-gravion Notebook Enthusiast

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    eiji-gravion, Apr 23, 2011
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  30. agb22

    agb22 Notebook Geek

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    agb22, Apr 23, 2011
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  31. Duckfart

    Duckfart Notebook Evangelist

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    Newegg is good about shipping. I received mine in 2 days with free shipping.
     
    Duckfart, Apr 23, 2011
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  32. david1274

    david1274 Notebook Evangelist

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    the downside of adding more ram though is increased power consumption.
     
    david1274, Apr 23, 2011
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  33. iphetamine

    iphetamine Notebook Evangelist

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    Guys, the PC 8500 has Cas latency 7 and the PC 10600 has Cas latency 9, so the faster has higher latency.

    So any difference in latencies?
     
    iphetamine, Apr 23, 2011
    #33
  34. erik

    erik modifier

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    none whatsoever.   clock strobe latencies are only comparable when comparing similar clock speeds.

    1066 MHz / CL 7 = 152.286
    1333 MHz / CL 9 = 148.111

    the math would be identical when you know the exact latency.   latencies are always rounded with no placeholder.   most likely you're looking at CL 7.107 and CL 8.887 with divisors of 150 MHz.   i don't know the exact math here so i'm making an educated guess.

    in short, the CL7 1066 MHz modules have the same latency at their given frequency as the CL9 1333 MHz modules.   the only way for the 1333 MHz modules to be faster is to be CL7.   the only way for the 1066 modules to be faster is to be CL5.   what's being compared above is equal.
     
    erik, Apr 23, 2011
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  35. iphetamine

    iphetamine Notebook Evangelist

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    Then I should go for the PC 10600 (CL 9) as it's relatively faster and CHEAPER? $72 after discount vs $80 for PC 8500 (CL 7).
     
    iphetamine, Apr 24, 2011
    #35
  36. sprtnbsblplya

    sprtnbsblplya Notebook Deity

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    Thats what I did. Works just fine. Couldn't justify 8gb as I don't need the space.
     
    sprtnbsblplya, Apr 24, 2011
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  37. lyrebird

    lyrebird Notebook Geek

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    more ram can help you a lot especially if you use ssd! i am using 8gb for all my laps since ram is so cheap now.

    use software like ramdisk to make your ram a drive! throw all the temp folders, cache folders of browsers, cache folders of your download software, page file, etc to this ram drive. it will significantly reduce the write frequency to your expensive ssd.

    and yes, i am still using 32-bit win7, and never worry about wasting the memory because of the ramdisk!
     
    lyrebird, Apr 24, 2011
    #37
  38. marcob

    marcob Notebook Geek

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    Wow! So your 32-bit Windows can access all your 8GB of RAM. Right?
     
    marcob, Apr 24, 2011
    #38
  39. lyrebird

    lyrebird Notebook Geek

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    32-bit win7 can directly manager 3.3gb memory! all the other unused part goes to ramdrive.

    so you don't waste any.

     

    Attached Files:

    lyrebird, Apr 24, 2011
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  40. marcob

    marcob Notebook Geek

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    How do you create the RAM drive if I may ask???
     
    marcob, Apr 24, 2011
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  41. lyrebird

    lyrebird Notebook Geek

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    google ramdisk, you will find a lot.

     
    lyrebird, Apr 24, 2011
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  42. marcob

    marcob Notebook Geek

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    Ok, with PAE.
    As about ramdisks, it's a game I played years ago, even then on 64-bit systems, as of now I use SSD cause I need the RAM, all 16GB of them for something else.

    So if anybody is curious, google ramdisk PAE, not ramdisk alone.
     
    marcob, Apr 24, 2011
    #42
  43. vinuneuro

    vinuneuro Notebook Virtuoso

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    1. How much space does all that'd go on the ram disk take up on the hard drive?
    2. Is there a real concern with wear even on good quality drives like Intel to have this stuff constantly writing to the ssd?

    Number 2 is ringing bells in my mind and I'm wondering if may be worth it to get the ram disk. Then again surely ssd's will be cheaper in a few years if/when the ssd wears out, so maybe I should just keep the extra $40 in my pocket?
     
    vinuneuro, Apr 24, 2011
    #43
  44. hkterror

    hkterror Notebook Enthusiast

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    hkterror, Apr 24, 2011
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  45. vinuneuro

    vinuneuro Notebook Virtuoso

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    That links back to this thread. I have no doubt it speeds up hdd's, but the ram disk would only be used for limiting wear in an ssd (provided there's merit to the idea that what goes on the ramdisk significantly wears an ssd).
     
    vinuneuro, Apr 24, 2011
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  46. marcob

    marcob Notebook Geek

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    I wouldn't waste any second over the wear of a SDD by temp or cache files.
     
    marcob, Apr 24, 2011
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  47. hkterror

    hkterror Notebook Enthusiast

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    hkterror, Apr 24, 2011
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  48. vinuneuro

    vinuneuro Notebook Virtuoso

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    vinuneuro, Apr 24, 2011
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  49. marcob

    marcob Notebook Geek

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    Peanuts, really.
     
    marcob, Apr 24, 2011
    #49
  50. vinuneuro

    vinuneuro Notebook Virtuoso

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    0.5-1W is a lot when your machine only consumes 8W. Even if it increases only by .5W, that's a reduction in battery life of 28 min, far from trivial.
     
    vinuneuro, Apr 24, 2011
    #50
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