Computer Question RE: RAM Options

[Mynzeyes]

ok...surely someone on here would be able to tell me...i personally don't see why this wouldn't work, but perhaps someone else can back me up, or disprove me...

i have an HP Pavilion N5445 notebook. factory, it comes w/ 2x128 SDRAM (2 banks, totalling 256 SDRAM). anyway, i want at LEAST 512. max for my laptop is 1gig(1024).

ok..now..the info on the factory RAM is "PC133 SoDIMM SDRAM 144pin" yadda yadda...

my question is, would this right here work or not...i say yes...:
CircuitCity.com - Kingston Tech 512 SDRAM.
ok..that one says "DDR SDRAM", but being PC133 SODIMM, i would think that is a misrepresentation, as stated in the user reviews...

this apparently works, so i figure the one above would as well?:
MemoryX KingMax 512mb.

anyway, i want to get the one from circuit city, because they have it in stock locally, and i can just go pick it up, and that be that...

if you have any comments, suggestsions, etc, feel free. basically i'm lookin for a "yes that will work" or "no, it won't, get the memoryX one."

someone please help, and thanks in advance...

-John-

oh yeah, also...for you computer junkies...i'm running Windows XP home..and since i have 2 banks of 128, if i get the 512, will i be able to mix the RAM cards, and have 1x512 + 1x128 = 640...or would i be better off running the single bank 512, and leaving the 2nd bank empty?

blah. thanks again. .

[Mynzeyes]

oh yeah, btw, i went to circuit city, saw the memory in question, and it says SDRAM on the box...not DDR SDRAM...sooooo, that also says, no to the DDR issue...

[Ale_lock]

Go with memoryX & yes you can stack the other 128 with the 512mb.

edit: saw the second post, grr meh. go with kingston, their more known than memoryx so if anything goes down you'll have better chance of getting servicing if anything goes wrong.

This post has been edited by Ale_lock: Feb 14, 2005 - 5:33 PM

[erics1one]

Well the if their both straight up SDRAM without the DDR...then it should work.

DDR and Single Data Rate memory will not mix.

Although the speed of your memory will be set to the lower stick. So if you're upgrading your ram chances are you're going to be getting a higher/faster speed ram, I wouldn't leave any of the 128 sticks in there because it might slow it down.

example:
2x256mb DDR400 = 512 DDR400 mb total

will be faster than
1x128mb DDR300 +
2x256mb DDR400 = 768 DDR300 mb total

This post has been edited by erics1one: Feb 14, 2005 - 5:33 PM

[Ale_lock]

Their all PC133 so it won't matter.

[erics1one]

Their all PC133 so it won't matter.
[right][snapback]245936[/snapback][/right]

Thats what I'm saying, he could get faster RAM and not worry about his current stick

[creis]

technicly it works and I Highly recomend Kingston for there quality and lifetime warentee (unbeatable) but the thing to remember is that not all motherboard work with all ram brands, exspecualy laptop motherboards, I would make sure and chack the net to see that kingston works with it (dont trust the store guys most of them dont know jack, just what the computer tells them)

also its not gana make a big enough diff to add the 128 with the 512, when it comes to using more then one stick, for the best performance you wana keep the chennels (dinns/slots/blank spaces whatever you wana call them) equla so if you have 512 in one then you want 512 in the other, or 256 and 256, or 128 and 128, you dont gain much if anything from a 128 if a 512 in in the other slot, also its best to use the exact same speed etc in both, but that is all for the best results.

same idea goes for desktop motherboards, if you have 3 slots on 2 chennels you wana keep chennel 1 and 2 equal so if you want 1 gig of ram its best to get 2 256's in the first and 1 512 in the seccond, or just 2 512 with one in each chennel.

wow I'm a geek.

This post has been edited by creis: Feb 14, 2005 - 5:44 PM

[Ale_lock]

Their all PC133 so it won't matter.
[right][snapback]245936[/snapback][/right]

Thats what I'm saying, he could get faster RAM and not worry about his current stick
[right][snapback]245938[/snapback][/right]

Don't understand how you want him to go faster when PC-133 is the fastest for SDRAM?!

[Hanyo]

that is only if the bios in the motherboard recognizes the faster ram, stick with what the manufacture recomends. Your better off runing 512 and the 128. Make sure the pin count is correct before you buy the ram. And alway install the larger memory in the first bank.

[Supersprynt]

I have 2x256mb ram and sometimes my laptop doesnt start up and I gotta boot it up several times before windows starts, ghey.