adding more RAM

[jonc2006]

ive only got 1 GB on this laptop and im not 100% percent sure but wouldnt adding like another GB knock down the frequency of stuttering when im entering new areas in a game? bioshock runs smooth on mid settings with the exception of whenever i go into a new/large/highly populated area. it chops up for a second and goes back to normal after i get a full look around the room with the mouse or something. maybe im confusing this with a framerate issue but i think its more to do with the amount of RAM i have rather than my videocard, right? so adding another GB or so would stop this from happening most of the time?

[makotech222]

hmm most likely. i have about the same specs on my computer, a lil better tho and i get good framerates on max graphics.

[ian209]

yea some games, specially newer ones like bioshock, require a lot more ram. IMO, 1GB is insufficient for modern gaming, specially on vista. I wouldn't go anywhere lower than 1GB, cause thats basically minimal for decent performance. I'd say get another 1GB and u'd notice a huge difference. Just to make things clear, laptops can't use the same ram as desktops (DIMM). You have to buy SODIMM's instead of DIMM's.

[Jarrett]

The recommended specs ask for 2GB

[jonc2006]

Originally Posted by ian209

yea some games, specially newer ones like bioshock, require a lot more ram. IMO, 1GB is insufficient for modern gaming, specially on vista. I wouldn't go anywhere lower than 1GB, cause thats basically minimal for decent performance. I'd say get another 1GB and u'd notice a huge difference. Just to make things clear, laptops can't use the same ram as desktops (DIMM). You have to buy SODIMM's instead of DIMM's.

im still using xp, i dont really need/want vista atm. ive heard that alot of stuff that would run on xp would have trouble under vista since vista isnt really some xp rehash. but i could get that stuff you mentioned at my local staples or something right? btw, i dont know if this matters but my two RAM slots are filled by two 512MB sticks, do they sell or make single RAM sticks that are a full GB or 512 the highest you can get?

[Cheesus]

I have no idea what staples are,but 1GB RAM sticks do exist, and theyr not that expensive either. SODIMM RAM isnt difficult to find at all, any decent computer store should have.

[jonc2006]

i went to staples and some dude had to order a 1GB stick since he didnt have it in stock. should be there in a week or so, i paid $170 for it with the installation fee included. not too bad, i need to go out and get some more money out of my bank so i can get the 2nd 1GB stick put in.

[makotech222]

ew installation fee? you do know how easy it is to install ram, dont you? i was 12 when i first installed my ram into my pc

[TheCloudOfSmoke]

Originally Posted by jonc2006

i went to staples and some dude had to order a 1GB stick since he didnt have it in stock. should be there in a week or so, i paid $170 for it with the installation fee included. not too bad, i need to go out and get some more money out of my bank so i can get the 2nd 1GB stick put in.

Damn, jonc. You got F'd in the A. $170 for 1GB of laptop RAM and installation? I look in the local papers like Best Buy, Circuit City, Staples, and Office Depot and I always see sales for laptop RAM. You're mostly going to find sales that require you to do a mail in rebate which may take some time to recieve back but at least you will get your money back and save a lot of money.

I also have to agree with makotech, RAM is incredibly easy to install. Probably the easiest thing to install in any computer even for an ameteur like me. The only problem that I've ever had was finding out where the damn RAM is located in used laptops that I have bought before without a user's manual. The slots were hidden in really tricky places. But you said that you saw the slots yourself so you shouldn't have a problem. Just make sure that you have the right type of RAM. I saw 1GB stick of notebook RAM on sale at Circuit City for $44.99 without rebates and another one in the Office Depot paper for $89.99. Either way, it's still cheaper than what you payed for yours. Look in your local paper and see if you can find a good deal.

[jonc2006]

Originally Posted by makotech222

ew installation fee? you do know how easy it is to install ram, dont you? i was 12 when i first installed my ram into my pc

never tried installing on a laptop, ive done it once on my old desktop but that was some time ago. nother thing is, i dont know how to open my laptop, the guy at staples was even saying he wasnt sure how to open it. ill look through my manual and see if it will tell me how to open it so i can do it myself.

Originally Posted by TheCloudOfSmoke

Damn, jonc. You got F'd in the A. $170 for 1GB of laptop RAM and installation? I look in the local papers like Best Buy, Circuit City, Staples, and Office Depot and I always see sales for laptop RAM. You're mostly going to find sales that require you to do a mail in rebate which may take some time to recieve back but at least you will get your money back and save a lot of money.

I also have to agree with makotech, RAM is incredibly easy to install. Probably the easiest thing to install in any computer even for an ameteur like me. The only problem that I've ever had was finding out where the damn RAM is located in used laptops that I have bought before without a user's manual. The slots were hidden in really tricky places. But you said that you saw the slots yourself so you shouldn't have a problem. Just make sure that you have the right type of RAM. I saw 1GB stick of notebook RAM on sale at Circuit City for $44.99 without rebates and another one in the Office Depot paper for $89.99. Either way, it's still cheaper than what you payed for yours. Look in your local paper and see if you can find a good deal.

there is hardly any computer stores where i live, staples was the only place aside from walmart which i hate going to because its run by hippies. i definetly bought RAM made for a notebook and i would have gotten something cheaper if i could but it was the only 1GB model they had (or will have, it wasnt in stock). i never saw the slots myself though, going off the fact that im using a notebook i am just assuming there are two slots total since there is a document on this thing that tells me what type of RAM is in it, 2x 512MB sticks. so im taking those out and replacing both with 2 full GB sticks.

[ian209]

dude.... u should try some time cause an installation fee for ram isn't worth it.
It's simple:
1. Unscrew the cover for the ram
2. Look for the remaining SODIMM slot
3. Undo the 2 clips on the sides
4. Slide the ram right in
5. Enjoy....

better than paying someone to install it for u.

[TheCloudOfSmoke]

True, and considering the guy that he talked to didn't even know where the RAM was located, I'd say that they're a bunch of idiots and you'd be better off doing it yourself jonc.

[jonc2006]

i got the 1st chip in the mail today and with the help of my handy dandy users manuel, i got it working myself, so im now at 1.5GB of RAM and ive noticed a huge amount of stuttering is gone in bioshock. there is just a little bit of stuttering when i have the high detail shaders and when i get into new areas with it on, it doesnt happen all the time though. but im going to assume and hope that will be fixed when i put the 2nd chip in. its not making the game unplayable, as after a few seconds it catches up and everything is running smooth but it can be somewhat annoying when i am getting ambushed and the game is taking a lunch break while im getting lit up like a christmas tree.


btw, does anyone know if laptop specific RAM is limited in performance and/or size capabilities compared to desktop RAM? what is the max size a RAM stick can come in, 1GB or does it go higher?

[BigIg]

Well, I know laptop rams comes in at LEAST 1gig, because my laptop has 1x1GB ram stick.

[jonc2006]

what is the standard amount pc's (desktops or laptops) should come with these days? is it 1 or 2GB?

[firyace]

for a gaming desktop, most should be at least 2 gig. But I am not sure about the retail ones, as my last retail one is a Compaq P3 and it came with 256mb :P

[jonc2006]

alright i need some input on this: this laptop is apparently supports 2 video cards to increase overall performance. when i got this they only were able to put 1 card in because they didnt have anymore at the time (out of stock). im going to buy an exact duplicate of my primary card, geforce 7900 go gs, can i still add this in and use the SLI feature or is it too late? assuming i can, is there anything else i need to purchase like cooling or power source that will provide enough wattage to run SLI mode or are those things built into the card beforehand? basically is there anything other than the card itself that i will need in order to avoided messing up my system when and if i can do this, or is this one of those set-and-forget type of thing?

[skoreanime]

Well, I'm not exactly sure, but your laptop may support SLI. I dont exactly see a point however, you'd be severely bottlenecked by your CPU. If you still want to go ahead however, you only have to purchase the card I'm sure.

[jonc2006]

well if i could only get 1 upgrade, regardless of price, which would i see more results with? 1 more RAM (bringing me to 2 total), the 2nd GPU or a possible dual core processer?

using the SLI mode wouldnt actually hurt my performance, or make it worse than it already is woudl it? considering what you said.