How do I find out what memory to use for my laptop?

I have a lenovo N500 and want to install and extra 2GB of RAM. Currently running on 2GB and want to install the max of 4GB. Problem is I don't know what type of RAM I need to buy or best place to get it.

Can anyone tell me what type of RAM to use or how to find out?

Copper_pipe

brenbrady wrote: »

I have a lenovo N500 and want to install and extra 2GB of RAM. Currently running on 2GB and want to install the max of 4GB. Problem is I don't know what type of RAM I need to buy or best place to get it.



Can anyone tell me what type of RAM to use or how to find out?

crucial.com

Copper_pipe

Copper_pipe wrote: »

crucial.com

Thanks, have you bought from these before?

Monotype

Crucial is a big and reliable brand of RAM. I've heard good reports from people buying from there.
My own preference is memoryc.com.

According to the specs page,
http://www.lenovo.com/partners/us/en/pdfs/Lenovo%20N500%20Datasheet.pdf
you'll need 667MHz DDR2 SO-DIMM.

The configurator recommends these.
http://www.memoryc.com/lenovo-ibm-laptop-3000-series-n500-ns739ix--memory-upgrade.html
but you'd probably be ok with most of these
http://www.memoryc.com/computermemory/ddr2sodimm.html?Memory+Speed=667MHz

Two of those G-Skill 2GB ones looks like the best option.

Edit: Actually, crucial.com is a good bit cheaper in this case so go with them.

Monotype

Monotype wrote: »

Crucial is a big and reliable brand of RAM. I've heard good reports from people buying from there.
My own preference is memoryc.com.

According to the specs page,
http://www.lenovo.com/partners/us/en/pdfs/Lenovo%20N500%20Datasheet.pdf
you'll need 667MHz DDR2 SO-DIMM.

The configurator recommends these.
http://www.memoryc.com/lenovo-ibm-laptop-3000-series-n500-ns739ix--memory-upgrade.html
but you'd probably be ok with most of these
http://www.memoryc.com/computermemory/ddr2sodimm.html?Memory+Speed=667MHz

Two of those G-Skill 2GB ones looks like the best option.

Edit: Actually, crucial.com is a good bit cheaper in this case so go with them.

Thanks a million. Last question(s), the os that I run is 32 Bit Windows 7 Ultimate, 2GB RAM (2 x 1 slots). Although the max capacity is 4GB RAM, I understand that 32 Bit versions only see 3GB RAM. In that case should I just by 2GB RAM and leave 1GB that's already in one slot and replace the second slot with 2GB? BTW. do you order from the crucial UK site or their European website?

Tea_Bag

best thing to do would be to get the 4gb and reinstall windows with a 64bit .iso which you can download from microsoft legally and create a bootable DVD or better yet a bootable USB stick (bigger than 4gb)

you can reuse your licence key on the 64bit edition without any problems.

reinstalling windows and drivers will go a long way to making your laptop fast again.

use www.ninite.com to quickly install most of the baseline programs you probably use after teh format, it'll save you some time.

Monotype

You'll probably have to ring up MS though when it comes to activating with a fresh install.
To get around this, you can use the ABR tool to backup your activation.
http://directedge.us/content/abr-activation-backup-and-restore
Scroll down to the end to get the beta version for Windows 7.

Backup all your files to an external first, of course.

Here's a guide.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/144783-clean-install-guide-works-32-bit-64-bit.html

A lot of it is out of date since it refers to Vista and you can just get a Windows 7 disc for whatever version you have installed.

I'm a bit reluctant to re-install the 32 Bit version even thought I have the number and serial codes. Doesn't that mean I have to reinstall all my programs and lose any data that I have?

Is it possible to turn off the /3GB switch on Windows 7?

Monotype

There's no switch. It's a completely different architecture.

When you line up 32 digits which can be 0 or 1 there are 2^32 = 4,294,967,296 combinations.

You'll be OK with 32-bit if you don't want the trouble. You'll be able to use most of the 4GB. The 4GB limit includes all the bits of memory around the system like BIOS and graphic cards. It usually doesn't go as low as 3GB unless you have a large amount of video memory eating into your RAM limit.

Monotype

Monotype wrote: »

There's no switch. It's a completely different architecture.

When you line up 32 digits which can be 0 or 1 there are 2^32 = 4,294,967,296 combinations.

You'll be OK with 32-bit if you don't want the trouble. You'll be able to use most of the 4GB. The 4GB limit includes all the bits of memory around the system like BIOS and graphic cards. It usually doesn't go as low as 3GB unless you have a large amount of video memory eating into your RAM limit.

Thanks. I've just ordered the 2x2GB RAM from crucial and schedule automatic defrag. My main concern is that I want to install a couple of different development environments and was concerned that 3GB RAM wouldn't be enough. I'll only be working in one IDE at a time so it should be fine.

Monotype

You'd be supposed to get RAM in pairs. 2x2GB.

Monotype

Monotype wrote: »

You'd be supposed to get RAM in pairs. 2x2GB.

Sorry just noticed that. You're right it's 2x2GB.