4 or 8gb ram?

0.5-1W but not when they sit idle, only when they are actively used, in which case, the probability that you save on power consumption compared to the alternative (HDD I/O) is quite low.

 

Is memory ever idle? Either way, if one actually needs 8gb vs. 4gb because their applications consume that much, it's completely justified. But as clarified by the guys in the ssd forum, getting extra memory for sake of limiting ssd wear is just wasting money.

 

question:

How much speed/performance am I sacrificing if I use one 2GB + 4GB stick of memory as opposed to dual channel mode and going 2 X 4GB sticks of memory?

My dilemma is that the x220 I ordered will be coming with 1 x 2GB of memory. I think 6GB will be plenty but I honestly do not know if having this set up will be slower than a 2 X 4GB setup.

 

2GB + 4GB will run in asynchronous dual-channel mode
4GB + 4GB will run in synchronous dual-channel mode

you will never notice the difference.

 

Must ram be matching brands? I just want 4gb so should I just pick up any matching spec 2gb stick?

 

"Is memory ever idle?"

Yes, of course a portion of a phsical memory may be and probably is unused.

Renee

 

Power consumption of laptop DDR3 memory is around 1.5W per stick. If the laptop uses dual channel memory then both stick will get activily used at the same time requireing full power. If you have a conventional hard drive and 2GB of ram, adding a second 2GB memory stick will lower the hard drive activity and maybe even save power. If you have 4GB ram and a SSD then adding a second 4GB will use quite a bit more power and result in a significant loss of battery life.

 

My W520 has 4 DDR3 sticks, and let me assure you I can hardly see an effect on the power consumption by going to only two sticks (I did it just for the kicks). Actually, my W520 has a few seconds now and then when it only consumes like 9W. So that would leave like 3W for the mainboard, a quad core, a FHD, WLAN, SDD, keyboard etc. etc.

Come on guys, try if for yourself before spreading FUD. And saying that a stick actually consumes 1.5W is nothing else but FUD.

 

With the whole system sitting idle the memory isn't going to consume 1.5W per stick, memory like pretty much all compnent consumes much less power when idle. Also if you are using 4 memory sticks I cam see that half of the memory could sit idle if the memory utilization is low.

 

Guys, we're really talking about peanuts here. The laptop has 8hr battery life on a 6 cell, and 12+ on a 9 cell. The battery time lost from adding an extra stick of ram is how long?

I have no use for 8gb of RAM except maybe very rarely, but got it anyways, because I felt like it. Other people may require it all the time, or not at all, but the decision to get 4gb vs 8gb really isn't that big of a deal in terms of performance vs battery life IMO. If you want to spend the extra $40, go ahead. If not, don't.

 

wow, look how the thread got deviated... good stuff..

But you guys don't believe that the 6cell would actually pull off 8 hrs?? (now that's another debate.. )

 

That's why I got the 9 cell

We'll have a much better idea a month from now, after all the people that just ordered receive their laptops and have used it for a couple of weeks.

 

Do you guys recommend a specific brand?
I cannot buy from Newegg, Amazon is my only bet, and does have the wide variety Newegg has.

So is Crucial or Corsair good names?

 

I've used Corsair ValueSelect for years, never had a problem.

 

+1 Using Corsair 8GB kit (2x 4GB 1333MHz DDR3) in my T420, no issues to report here.

 

Crucial is also good choice as brand name, as they using Micron chips in their DDR3 memory (same company)...
At least i have no any problems with memory currently installed

 

I recommend... Cheap (TM).

Seriously though, there is absolutely no difference in performance, reliability, or longevity between the various brands of RAM. None. Either a module is functional and does the spec with no bit errors or it's defective and does not. That's it.

Save your money. Get whatever is cheapest.

 

Gotta go with Rob on this. If it makes it through a pass or two of memtest86+, it just works.

I got 8G of G.Skill for $73 coming from NewEgg for my brand spanking new T420. With RAM prices this reasonable, it's a shame not to load UP.

 

That's why I only get Corsair ValueSelect... They are the cheapest over here, and they never ever let me down.

 

I agree with you on all points except reliability. I'll admit they fall within a few percentage points, but I've had slightly more issues with Crucial RAM in the past few years than other brands I've used (i.e., Mushkin, G.Skill, Corsair), and the same has been true for me of OCZ. Not huge, but noticeable.

I'd say get the cheapest RAM that is backed by good customer service. Crucial has good service. Kingston has one of the best RMA policies I've seen in recent years, just print out a label they e-mail you and bring it to a FedEx shipping center. I've never had to return a G.Skill module yet because I've never had one fail, so I go with them because they're reasonably priced.

 

Good to see a thread about RAM If i get the GSkill, will it work ok with the W520? Is the W520 RAM that ships with the machine 1333 mhz as well? Is there any point to go 1600 mhz if the bus on the cpu is 1333 mhz?

 

Yes, Yes, and No.

 

Thanks, going for the GSkill then!

 

Sincere apologies for the double post... I really did try searching before I posted this same question in the "what I've learned..." thread but couldn't find one discussing memory - until this one popped up to page 1 today...


If I want 8GB (X220) - is there anything wrong with just getting another 4GB stick to match the one that comes with it, or should I get a matched pair that are the same brand?

4 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory

Or does anybody know the brand included in Lenovo that I can match with another single stick?

Does it matter?

Thanks!

 

Go with a single stick. You'll be just fine.

Chances are Lenovo is using Samsung OEM, but it may not be their only supplier. I've seen Dell, HP, and some others using Hynix modules as well, so it wouldn't surprise me to see them either. Either way though, it shouldn't matter, one stick of the same capacity and speed rating (PC-10600) should do what you need.

 

why/how did you order your x220 with 4gb instead of the standard single stick of 2gb? did you buy yours as preconfigured with 4gb an at online store?

 

x220t - 4gb is the minimum.

 

interesting. didn't know lenovo made you choose at least 4gb for the tablet version.

 

4gb should be sufficient for most purposes, unless you do a lot of video editing, rendering, photoshop, heavy gaming or anything that requires you to load large amounts of data into the ram.

 

I have never upgraded ram on a laptop, so newbie question here.

Will a 240pin "desktop" memory (PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM) fit the x220t?

 

NO DESKTOP MEMORY will fit into laptop. They are simply different size.

 

^No!

You want to find "SO-DIMM" memory thats DDR3 format.

I hope this link works for you it should take you to the newegg page with Memory that would fit your X220T.

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Memory, Laptop Memory, 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM

 

Thanks for your help!

 

In my T520, Lenovo used a 2.0GB SO-DIMM made by Samsung. I used it with a 4.0GB G.SKILL without any problem. Removed the 2.0.GB after a week and tossed in another 4.0GB of G.Skill. Been running problem free.

C.

 

never mind

 

There is a pretty good deal on the Kingston HyperX DDR3 1600 memory sticks on newegg. Will the T420 support this speed or just ratchet it down to the 1333 spec? I have the i5-2520m in my notebook.

 

The memory controller in the Core i dual core CPUs only runs at up to 1333MHz. You need a quad core CPU to be able to use 1600MHz RAM at its full speed.

John