laptop RAM

Dave0w · 17 Aug 2013 at 11:02

hi, my laptop as 2gb(2 X 1gb) of ram and i was going to get more but i found out it can only support 3gb.....

my question is will i be better off with 2 x 1gb in dual channel OR
1 x 1gb and 1 x 2gb in single channel.

that said if the system will only support 3gb can i for 2 x 2gb sticks and will it run in dual channel but only show 3gb?

Ram confuses me, i only hope i have not confused you

Ethermaster · 17 Aug 2013 at 11:09

Is it just an Operating System limit like Windows 7 x86 (32 bit) limit or are you sure its a hardware limit? if its an hardware limit I'm guessing thats its quite old.

Dave0w · 17 Aug 2013 at 11:18

Ethermaster said:
Is it just an Operating System limit like Windows 7 x86 (32 bit) limit or are you sure its a hardware limit? if its an hardware limit I'm guessing thats its quite old.

out of the box it did have a 32bit vista so you may be right it could just say it limited because of that, it now as 64bit win7, the laptop is a compaq Presario CQ60, i have had it 3 years from new, just changed cpu from a Pentium to a Core2. it dose what i need it to do and never miss a beat but if you upgrade cpu it rude not to do ram too.

i think maybe i should just buy it and try?

RJC · 17 Aug 2013 at 11:21

Do you know the Make / model of the Laptop?

Ethermaster · 17 Aug 2013 at 11:28

I think your be fine with 2x2gb sticks to be honest, just make sure its either DDR2 PC2-5300 (667Mhz) or DDR2 PC2-6400 (800 Mhz) to ensure that it works. The only problem is that DDR2 isn't exactly cheap these days.....

Dave0w · 17 Aug 2013 at 12:12

Ethermaster said:
I think your be fine with 2x2gb sticks to be honest, just make sure its either DDR2 PC2-5300 (667Mhz) or DDR2 PC2-6400 (800 Mhz) to ensure that it works. The only problem is that DDR2 isn't exactly cheap these days.....

no ram is cheap now. i got 4 packs of kingston hyperX 2 x 2gb for £18 each now there £40.
Kingston HyperX Beast 8GB started its life at £55 its now £70

the cost of ram is getting silly.

but 2 x 2gb PC2-5300 is £50 new so not too bad as laptop ram is always more expensive

Dave0w · 17 Aug 2013 at 12:13

RJC said:
Do you know the Make / model of the Laptop?

compaq Presario CQ60 430ca

RJC · 17 Aug 2013 at 14:02

Looking at the HP support page the laptop can take 4gb.

Does it take DDR 3 or DDR 2 ram?

Ethermaster · 17 Aug 2013 at 14:10

RJC said:
Looking at the HP support page the laptop can take 4gb.

Does it take DDR 3 or DDR 2 ram?

As the OP has just upgraded to a Core 2 Duo I will take a guess at DDR 2 mate.

RJC · 17 Aug 2013 at 14:45

Ethermaster said:
As the OP has just upgraded to a Core 2 Duo I will take a guess at DDR 2 mate.

I thought some were ddr3, I know some desktop board could do either.

hmm, must be me, cheers mate

Ethermaster · 17 Aug 2013 at 14:53

RJC said:
I thought some were ddr3, I know some desktop board could do either.

hmm, must be me, cheers mate

Its a HP OEM laptop if it takes DD3 I would be surprised

Dave0w · 17 Aug 2013 at 23:24

Ethermaster said:
Its a HP OEM laptop if it takes DD3 I would be surprised

mmmmm lol, yer it's DDR2, but just to put a stick in the spokes i have a Dell that runs a core 2 duo, that dose take ddr3.

EDIT: nope my mistake the dell is a AMD chip

Dave0w · 17 Aug 2013 at 23:27

Also thanks for the help guys. will get some ram ordered,