Ram Upgrade for G72-260US

[ikaza]

Hi,

Am planning to upgrade my RAM from existing 3GB[1GB in Slot 1, 2GB in Slot 2] to 6GB.  

There are 2 dedicated slots for RAM

[Slot1: Engraved with 1.5V 5.2R LTK] - Elpida 1GB 1Rx8 PC3-10600S-9-10-B1 - Single Rank 

[Slot2: Engraved with 1.5V 9.2R LTK] - Samsung 2GB 1Rx8 PC3-10600S-09-10-ZZZ - Single Rank 

My Config as follows,

CPU: Intel Core i3 M380 @2.53GHz

Motherboard: Hewlett-Packard 1425 54.57

Memory: DDR3, Channel# Dual, Symmetric DC Mode, CAS# Latency (CL) 7.0 clocks

Out of curiosity, I rearranged the RAM modules leaving Samsung to Slot 1 & Elpida to Slot 2. Unfortunately, my Laptop didn't boot. I reverted them to their initial state, everything works fine.

I thought of purchasing an additional 4GB RAM Module which can be replaced with the existing in Slot 1. But the scenario reflected made me dumb about my purchase.  Could you please let me know, whether I can purchase any sort of 4GB DDR3 1333MHz RAM Module irrespective of the engravings[1.5V 5.2R LTK, 1.5V 9.2R LTK], to be installed in either of the slots resulting 6GB of RAM in total.

Regards,

Harish.

[banhien]

@ikaza

The following link shows compatible RAM for your machine

        http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/HP-Compaq/hp-g72-260us

Regards.

[ikaza]

@banhien

Thanks! for the reply,

Can I Install it any of the slots irrespective of the engravings? If yes, Which slot?

The link provided suggests me to use DDR3L which is backward compatible with DDR3 being a wasteful resource of using it.

Regards,

Harish.

[banhien]

Hi,

Normally we install higher capacity on slot 1 (actually slot 0) and lower capacity on slot 2 (actually slot 1) BUT to be able to get FULL benefit of dual channels, you need to install the SAME for two slots.

DDR3L uses less ernergy than DDR3 RAM therefore your battery would stay longer between charge.

Regards.

[ikaza]

Hi,

I think DDR3L is compatible only with successors of i3 3rd Generation CPUs Right? Correct me, if am wrong.

Can we use a combination of DDR3 & DDR3L RAM Modules in 2 different slots?

Can a Single Channel Operable RAM support even Dual Channel?

Can I install any sort of RAM or am I supposed to install only which has a specification of Dual Channel?

Regards,

Harish.

[Huffer]

Let's take a backward step here. Crucial is normally a fairly reliable source of memory specs but in this case it has been proven many times Crucial is offbase on their suggestions for HP notebooks with 1st-gen Intel Core CPUs. These laptops are extraordinarily finicky about the memory they will accept. It must be DDR3-1333 1.5 volt and it must be low density. That means 2 rows of 4 black memory chips on the side of the module not 1 x 4...i.e. must be 8 black memory chips in total. You seem to be running a pair of high density modules but apparently only a 1 gig high density module can work in the primary slot. The reason the laptop will not boot with the 2 gig high density module in that slot is what I said...if you want 4, 6 or 8 gigs of memory it needs to be low density. 

The motherboard will not run the memory at 1.35 volts so there is no power saving to be achieved. Many computers that use only 1.5 volt memory can nevertheless use low voltage DDR3L because all DDR3L will also run at 1.5 volt except when it will not and these HP first gen notebooks are the exception that proves the rule. 

Your safest bet is actually to get a matched pair of HP specified memory chips. I would install either 2 x 2 gig modules or 2 x 4 gig modules and as long as you install 2 identical or otherwise compatible chips you will have dual channel operation. You will never get dual channel with 2 modules of different capacity (e.g a 2 and a 4). "Dual channel" memory is not a different product it is just 2 compatible memory chips playing nicely together on a motherboard capable of dual channel memory operation. 

Post back with any more questions but do not buy the DDR3L. 

[ikaza]

Thanks! for the detailed explanation,

As per the comment mentioned, can I conclude as any pair of similar RAM Modules is operable in dual channel? Or any Limitation? Or should they have any parameter as "Dual Channel" in their specifications?

Can a RAM Module of [4 GB (8 x 512) DDR3 SO DIMMS] or [4 GB (16 x 256) DDR3 SO DIMMS]  categorise under Low Density? If yes, could you please suggest one between those 2 configurations,  as my Samsung RAM seems to be in high density which won't work in the primary slot, Can I use this in the primary slot?

How can I get the count of the black chips in any RAM Module just by viewing it? Are those present on the opposite side of the module where their renowned Brand Labels[with a message: Warranty void if broken] are affixed?

As per my knowledge, Dual Channel doesn't create much impact until & unless for a high-end data rate games/applications[Not in any general use]. Correct me if am wrong

Does CAS# Latency even impact the configuration to be installed?

Regards,

Harish.

[ikaza]

Can someone clarify my above-mentioned queries?

Thanks in Advance 🙂

Regards,

Harish.

[Huffer]

Really? You can't count to 4 or 8 even with a label over it? Dual channel operates the memory at maybe 8% faster bandwidth for all purposes....not huge but worth doing. 

Not sure what else is still murky really