Memory

[SimpleSi]

Rule 1.
When upgrading machines with new memory - check inside them to see if there is actually a sticker on them telling you what the existing ones are before resorting to a Crucial memory scanner. Do this even if they never have in all previous ones you've looked at over the last 10 years. ops:

Rule2
When you determined (or guessed) which memory you want and you decide DDR will do nicely - don't make a mouse slip and add a 2 to DDR on the order otherwise you'll find that

They look pretty similar
The notch is nearly in the same place
The pins nearly line up
but...

regards
Simon

[alan-d]

It happens to us all some time or another

[ChrisC]

I actually trapped a reaaaaally tiny cable under some memory once, and couldn't understand why it beeped at me at startup!

Chris

[h792]

I could do with some help here. Two questions.

Our primary school staff laptops are 256mb. I know some staff are really using their laptops and it's worth upgrading the memory to 512 but, really, is 256mb still an ok size for most? I don't want problems with staff laptops for a year now.

2. I want to upgrade my laptop (ergo ensis) from 512 to 1gig but it's already full up with 2x 256mb. It's an asus L4500R but crucial memory scan doesn't recognise it in its options for ASUS based laptops. Is there another asus board that would be similar so I can use that spec to orer chips?

Thanks,

Howard.

[Norphy]

1) If you're using WinXP and want to run any software written in the last three years, 256MB is definately not enough. 512MB is the bear minimum to run software well.

We've recently upgraded all of our laptops that we got through LfT. All of them had 256MB RAM installed, even the ones got last year. Upgrading to 640MB/768MB has made a stunning difference

2) A quick google of Asus L4500R reveals this page which says that laptop uses a SiS M650 chipset. According to the SiS spec sheet, it is a DDR chipset which can use anything up to PC2700. In theory, a generic PC2700 or PC3200 SO-DIMM will work fine.

[h792]

Thanks, that's really helpful. I think payment otions being what they are, the county recommend crucial for the school but crucial don't list my laptop. Are you able to tell me what chip I should order from them exactly? Sorry, know this is a big ask, but there are so many options!

[Norphy]

This one

[h792]

Brilliant! Thanks! What a great site this is!

[StewartKnight]

Got some spare ddr2 Simon..... I'll see you on the 17th!