2GB laptop memory (PC/Mac) for £22 delivered, and other memory bargains

TheYellowPeril

Ok, as it seems people are getting concerned over the issues surrounding upgrading your memory I'll try and sum up some key points:

1. In you PC (whether it's a laptop or desktop machine) you have three types of memory.

One is your hard drive, which stores all your programs, photos, music and anything else you decide to install. When your PC is turned off, all this is safe and will still be there when you switch it back on a again. Generally, this is fixed and if you run out of storage space you will need to seek expert help to upgrade your machine, this discussion is not for this thread and is best resolved by letting someone look at your machine physically.

The second type I will mention is "Graphics" memory. This is generally part of the main graphics card which processes pictures, video or video game graphics to display on your monitor. If you play a lot of games or are interested in design applications such as Autocad, you will need a reasonable amount of this. However, this is generally only upgradeable by adding a larger, better graphics card. Again, best seeking an expert as above.

The third and final type is what is being suggested in this thread from 7dayshop. This type of memory is purely for running the system when it is switched. This memory is such that when you switch off your PC it is completely cleared.

General levels recommended are as follows:

A machine running anything up to Windows 2000/ME/98/95 is 512Mb.
A machine running Windows XP, should have 1Gb to run efficiently.
A machine running Windows Vista (any guise), should have 2Gb to run efficiently.

Any 32-Bit (99% of all Windows systems) can't use more than around 3.5Gb.
To use the full 4Gb you will need a 64-Bit system (there are 64-Bit versions of XP and Vista, if you need to ask whether you have it, then you don't. It is rarely, if ever, installed on standard machines).

Some machines have a limit on how much memory they can use. If in doubt use the Crucial website to test or show what's possible. If it doesn't show anything for your machine, always contact the manufacturer to check.

To decide how much you'd like you need to know what you have. If you have 1 x 1Gb chip, 1 x 256Mb chip and only have 2 slots on the motherboard to take memory then I would recommend replacing the 256Mb chip with a 1Gb one. This would then give you 2Gb in total. Alternatively, if you have 2 x 512Mb chips and only have 2 slots to take memory, you will need to replace both chips with 1Gb chips to get to 2Gb. Laptops and PC World/Dixons machines generally always have 2 slots.

If you have more than 2 slots then you will either have 3 or 4 available. You then have more options, if currently only using 2 out of 3 slots, you can simply add another chip. If using 2 out of 4, you can add 2 chips. Where ever possible, try to stick to pairs of chips, preferably the same type and speed.

As for speed, you should always match the speed to what is already installed, or the maximum your system will take.

Crucials tester will tell you what your machine can take. If it says PC2-4300 or PC2-5300 then the later is the faster and would be better for your system.

It is highly unlikely that you will need to re-activate your Windows software. Re-activation is generally only required when you replace a major part of your pc such as the hard drive, processor or motherboard. Memory being added doesn't generally trigger the activation part, however even if it does, the pop up message gives you all the details you need to ring Microsoft and its a fairly easy process.

Incidentally, I'd also recommend http://www.cclonline.com for memory and anything PC related. They also have a forum, http://forums.cclonline.com where you can get help on upgrades etc.

grazing

For memory upgrades for Macs, I would recommend Other World Computing at: http://eshop.macsales.com/

Here you can take advantage of the weak dollar and get some bargain RAM upgrades. I was able to get Mac Pro memory significantly cheaper than Crucial.

You may want to bear in mind the possibility of customs duty of course. I believe this is 3.5% import duty plus 17.5% VAT. My own memory upgrade still works out cheaper with the duty included by about 60 quid

renard_2

MikeFishcake wrote: »

Sorry renard, I think I've confused myself here, never mind other people. What I meant to say was you can completely trust Crucial, but don't necessarily trust A N Other site that lists memory that sounds like it might be what you need, unless they give a 100% compatibility guarantee. So basically, if you want the memory, and you like Crucial's price - buy it!

Does your laptop have a sticker underneath it that looks something like this:

MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP HOME/PROFESSIONAL
ABCDE-12345-FGHIJ-67890-KLMNO

If so, that's your fully legal and legitimate license number.

Most of the memory upgrades I've done haven't required a re-activation, so that may be irrelevant anyway.

Thanks very much for taking the time to reassure me (and probably many others), MikeFishcake. Much appreciated.

Thanks also to TheYellowPeril for another very informative post.

KrispiiDuck

Stuartli wrote: »

I've used 7DayShop for most of this decade - it's a first class online retailer based in Guernsey, offers a wide range of top products at very competitive prices and orders arrive within a week or so (you have to take into account the postal services and routes involved!)

I can thoroughly recommend the company and its standards of after sales service.

Re your comments about the company itself. You may have missed this information on its website:

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/info.php?PHPSESSID=66fb68a1e96bccabd9e48b58205a7532

(the About Us link).

I would most definitely second that - I've been using 7dayshop for many years and have always had excellent service and great prices from them. They are also very good at communications - I have asked questions before buying and also used their after-service which was exceptionally good!

(and no, I didn't buy the company - apologies to Victor Kiam!!)

patman99

CovOne wrote: »

quick question on this i have searched Crucial before and it comes back with no results for my laptop. It is in desperate need for an upgrade so can somebody point me in the right direction if possible for which ram my laptop will take, it would be greatly appreciated.
The Laptop is a Packard Bell EasyNote MZ35-216 Intel Celeron CPU @ 1.46 Ghz and 448MB of RAM.
Thanks

If you remove the memory & look at it, you may find that it has a sticker on it stating the maker & type. IE 'Nanya, DDR-2700', or something similar. failing that, try looking for a serial number, if it has one, google it and it should come back with speed & make.
I recently upgraded an Acer with a 1.5GHz Celeron, and was surprised to discover that it used DDR2 (also known as 'PC2') memory. As for damage by static, I have handled loads of memory without taking precautions & haven't killed any yet. Most PC/Laptop components are static-resistant.

KrispiiDuck

real1314 wrote: »

Use the tool at crucial - it will tell you the maximum memory you can install. My dell laptop can only take 1gb sticks, so i could go to 2 gb by using 1 gb in each of the slots, but I can't use the 2gb sticks on offer here.

7dayshop sell RAM sticks in flavours from 512mb,1gb,2gb - so might be worth a look if you are considering an upgrade.

patman99

Hardrives are NOT memory, they are fixed permanent storage.
Graphics memory is really called 'video RAM'.
32-bit WindowsXP & Vista can handle 4Gb Ram.

To access more than this requires a 64-bit version of Windows, or ANY version of Linux (PCLinuxOS is faster and more refined than Windows anyway).

Vista ReadyBoost - Memory sticks cheaper than RAM modules?. Maybe, but they are very much slower. USB2 transfers data at 400M/bits/sec (about 33M/bytes/sec), whilst proper memory works at 10-20x that.

If you know what memory your PC/laptop needs, why not get it off Ebay?, I bought 1Gb Nanya (2x512Mb) DDR2-667MHz for £3.42 (inc. p&p). It was brand new from USA & with no import duty to pay (seller marked it as 'gift' on customs form)

barmonkey

MikeFishcake wrote: »

Most of the memory upgrades I've done haven't required a re-activation, so that may be irrelevant anyway.

since xmas ive upgraded 2 x acer XP laptops, 1 x fujitsu Vista laptop, 1 x sony Vista laptop, 1 x HP XP tower and 1 x dell vista tower and ive never been asked for an activation code, so like mikefishcake says its probably irrelevant.

d123

barmonkey wrote: »

since xmas ive upgraded 2 x acer XP laptops, 1 x fujitsu Vista laptop, 1 x sony Vista laptop, 1 x HP XP tower and 1 x dell vista tower and ive never been asked for an activation code, so like mikefishcake says its probably irrelevant.

Pointless saying its irrelevant when it can happen, it doesn't always happen but the possibility does exist. I had it happen less than a month ago when installing 2GB ram into my EeePC.

It's like saying when you cross the road you don't normally get knocked down by a bus so anyone saying watch out for buses when crossing the road is irrelevant.

It's a possibility that might happen.

Just be aware to have your Windows key to hand and prepare for the possibility of a (painless) call to MS customer service if it does.

renard_2

d123 wrote: »

Pointless saying its irrelevant when it can happen,

Be fair - the man says it's probably irrelevant, and I for one am grateful for what he says.

Nevertheless, thanks for your post.