Question about RAM

[helpfulnerd]

Ok so I have a question, and if anyone has expirience with this please share.

Back in the day in a galaxy not far away I had a Apple Powerbook Pismo and it had more RAM than what Apple said you could put in it. At the time Apple recommended 512 max, and I put in 1 gig (two 512 sticks) it worked fine, and others did that too.

I currently have a Compaq Presario F700 and it maxes out at 2gigs. DDR2 PC-5300 667 Mhz is the RAM type that it uses. Two slots available and each one can use 1 gig. Currently only have 1 gig, running win7.

I am wondering if that is set in stone. I really want 4gigs total. But currently can't afford a new laptop. I have put more RAM than recomended in other computers with no issues, I also know that a 32 bit system only supports a maximum of 3 gigs (right, is that correct?) and that a 64 bit system supports higher amounts (not sure exaclty how much)

So if its not going to kill my computer, and if it works I would put two 2gig sticks in my current computer. I would re-install win7 64 bit eddition if I have to in order to use more RAM. perhaps I can't because of motherboard only supports 2 gigs??? Any ideas??

If anyone has expirience with doing this, advice, or knows for sure that I would ef-up my computer just tell me what you think. I am a nerd because I like trying things.

I don't want to kill this laptop and if I have to wait and buy a computer with more RAM I will.

What do you guys think?

Thanks for any info.

 

[Captain Zero]

This is going to depend of a few factors, number of slots, northbridge, etc. But your Notebook supports 3GB according the the spec sheet. Maybe I have the wrong system?

 

[DocBrown]

I found only 2gb max, when I searched it.

 

[helpfulnerd]

From what I've read, the F700 has many individual models. Mine is the F763NR. Some F700's can use more RAM and some max out at 2gig. i found the specs that you did McBlzr.

Just wish someone could tell me if they tried more than the max. I don't want anyone testing that on my account.

I'll keep an eye out, and wait to see what developes. This computer shipped with vista basic, wished that some PC manufactures would see a bit more into the future, and sell a computer with 1gig in the box, that can be upgraded to 4 gigs.

My previous notebook was a thinkpad before Lenovo took over the Thinkpad name / branding for IBM, and when I got it new it had 512 in one slot, two slots total, and it supported up to 2gig max, thats four times the RAM that shipped with it, so it was upgradeable and could stay in the game longer.

Wish compaq would have done that.

I'll keep looking.

 

[helpfulnerd]

I did look at the specs you posted, Captain Zero, I have an F700, diff model though, Makes me think I could use 3 gig. If so I'll take 3gig instead of 4, I'll look into it.

Thanks for the info.

laters

 

[smarteyeball]

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...7&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=ca&lang=en&product=3692011#

3GB according to HP.

At any rate, using more RAM than it's capabale of won't harm your laptop, but it also may or may not function correctly nor will it use all the installed memory. If it has a 3GB limit, then 3GB is all it will use regardless of whether or not you have 4GB installed.

 

[helpfulnerd]

Most of the info I found says 3gig, a couple places says 4gig. Although what I found the most was that it supports 3gig.

I feel like a tard asking this, but I have to RAM slots, and it supports 3gigs, so I assume that I need a 2gig stick and a 1 gig stick to max it out right?

I'm pretty sure they don't make 1.5 gig sticks. Maybe they exist?? Feel retarded asking that.

Anyway thanks for the help so far. I am running Win7 on 1 gig of RAM and I am impressed at how stable it has been, even when running Dreamweaver and photoshop at the same time. Although it lags occasionally. I would rather have more RAM. Plus I want install Warcraft and play, but I won't until I have more RAM. Since the Video ram is 64 on chip and the rest is shared I want to max out the system for that too.

Thanks as always everyone for your help.

Laters

 

[helpfulnerd]

I goofed the V-RAM its more than 64, don't remember how much, but its more I think

 

[smarteyeball]

I feel like a tard asking this, but I have to RAM slots, and it supports 3gigs, so I assume that I need a 2gig stick and a 1 gig stick to max it out right?

Yep. One 2GB stick and 1 1GB stick. Ram only comes in 512mb, 1G, 2GB and now 4GB (for desktops only atm I believe)

Your on-board video has 64mb of it's own dedicated v-ram and then can use up to 223mb of system memory giving it a total of 287mb v-ram. The 223mb is detracted from your total 3GB.

 

[helpfulnerd]

thanks for clearing it up, I'll be ordering so RAM this week

 

[smarteyeball]

You're welcome mate.

 

[ccatlett1984]

fyi, you can buy 4gb SO-DIMM's (for laptops) but they are hella expensive. On the desktop/server side the largest DIMM you can get is 8GB.