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HP Recommended
G70-120ea
Microsoft Windows 10 (32-bit)

I have a G70-129EA Laptop and wanted to put more memory in it. I know that the orginal specs said the max memory it can use is 4GB but is that because its running 32 bit windows?  

 

If I upgrade to 64 bit can I put more memory in it ? Say 8gb or 16gb ?

 

(I know it has dual memory slots so can put 2 x 4gb etc in)

 

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions
HP Recommended

It is an older machine using an older type of memory, DDR2. Quoted from the service manual:

 

Supports up to 4 GB of system memory

Supports PC2-6400, 800-MHz, DDR2 and PC2-5300, 667-MHz, DDR2

 

So the 4 gigs is a hardware limitation, not caused by 32 bit Windows. Some other similar HP laptops from that era will run 8 gigs of DDR2 using the same processor and chipset combination. When the laptop was made 4 gig modules of DDR2 were pretty rare so the Manual just may not consider that possibility. However, 4 gig modules of DDR2, while available, are very expensive. An 8 gig kit (2 x 4gb) of any reputable brand is going to cost well over $100. 16 gigs of DDR2 is not possible as there are no 8 gig chips. It is not worth it for that laptop to go beyond 4 gigs in my opinion. Run 4 gigs of memory on 64 bit Windows, and spend that same $100 or even less on a 240 gig solid state drive and you will get the speed you are missing from it. 

 

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

View solution in original post

2 REPLIES 2
HP Recommended

It is an older machine using an older type of memory, DDR2. Quoted from the service manual:

 

Supports up to 4 GB of system memory

Supports PC2-6400, 800-MHz, DDR2 and PC2-5300, 667-MHz, DDR2

 

So the 4 gigs is a hardware limitation, not caused by 32 bit Windows. Some other similar HP laptops from that era will run 8 gigs of DDR2 using the same processor and chipset combination. When the laptop was made 4 gig modules of DDR2 were pretty rare so the Manual just may not consider that possibility. However, 4 gig modules of DDR2, while available, are very expensive. An 8 gig kit (2 x 4gb) of any reputable brand is going to cost well over $100. 16 gigs of DDR2 is not possible as there are no 8 gig chips. It is not worth it for that laptop to go beyond 4 gigs in my opinion. Run 4 gigs of memory on 64 bit Windows, and spend that same $100 or even less on a 240 gig solid state drive and you will get the speed you are missing from it. 

 

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

HP Recommended

WOW thankyou for such a helpful informative answer! 😄 I will look into the SSD

 

btw are there limiations for this laptop on the type of SSD I can use?

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