Ram Upgrade Question

DragonMechDragonMech Join Date: 2003-09-19 Member: 21023Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
in Off-Topic
I've recently won a $150 gift certificate for Best Buy, and decided to upgrade my PC. Now, it only has 512 MB of RAM, and I'd like to boost that. I would like to ask the more technologically-minded folk of the off-topic forum which type of RAM I should get. For starters, I have a <a href='http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=AN' target='_blank'>Fujitsu LifeBook N3010 FPCM60056</a>. (It's the middle one on that page.)

Now, I've looked on the BestBuy website, and I can see three RAM items that could work, of varying sizes and statistics. If anyone could help me select the best one (or if the ones I've selected wouldn't work), I'd appreciate it.

Now, the contenders:
<a href='http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1051826247108&skuId=5517782&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01169' target='_blank'>Kingston</a>
<a href='http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1061769821877&skuId=5993384&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01169' target='_blank'>Viking 1</a>
<a href='http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1061769821822&skuId=5993357&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01169' target='_blank'>Viking 2</a>
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Comments

  • Cold_NiTeCold_NiTe Join Date: 2003-09-15 Member: 20875Members
    I can't help you much with types, but congrats man! Hope you enjoy your new upgrade.
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  • DOOManiacDOOManiac Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
    Go w/ Kingston.

    But unless you're a coder or some other type of developer, 512 is still a lot. Unless your video card is top of the line and you got plenty of HDD space, i'd recommend putting the cash towards that. Also remember Battlefield: Vietnam, Far Cry, and Splinter Cell: Pandora Tommorrow will all be out within a month. :)
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  • ComproxComprox *chortle* Canada Join Date: 2002-01-23 Member: 7Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Silver, Subnautica Developer, Subnautica Playtester, Pistachionauts
    edited March 2004
    I see DOOM doesn't read, or even click links. It's a laptop nublar. Video upgrades are usually nigh impossible. HDD's upgrades might be done, but at 60 gigs in a notebook, that's pretty good.

    Overall, that is a very good notebook, you are probably right in upgrading the RAM on it if you want to upgrade something on it. Ill go with DOOM on Kingston here too. But really, that laptop is good, maybe look for accessories for it? A new bag, wireless mouse, car adapter or such.

    If you do go for the RAM, keep in mind it's in 2 sticks of 256. 99% of laptops have only 2 slots, so you will be removing 256 to add one stick. So if you wanted to bump it to 1 gig or so, you would need 2 sticks of 512, or one stick of 1 gig. Oh, also make sure your notebook uses normal sticks of RAM. Some manufactures use speciality laptop RAm that is smaller, never looked inside a Fujitsu myself.
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  • DOOManiacDOOManiac Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
    Heh, nope, didn't read or click. However Kingston is the only brand name I recognize of the uhh. 2. so go w/ Kingston. :)
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  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Worst. Critic. Ever.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Anyway, go with the Viking, just because of that <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • NikonNikon Join Date: 2003-09-29 Member: 21313Members, Constellation
    Ok, after a little research, ive found out a few things about your laptop.
    1) It has two memory slots, one that is currently housing 256Mb in the main memory slot, and and extended slot that also houses 256Mb.
    So, you only have one slot to really play with, replacing 1 of the 256Mb sticks.

    2) Your current memory is PC266, which i believe is DDR2600, and the Viking ram is DDR2100, which is a downgrade. The Kingston is DDR3500, which is faster. Having faster ram is ok, as your computer will only be able to use it up to the maximum potential of the motherboard, but going down will slow down your system. I would suggest looking for a speed to match your current memory, or replacing both sticks.

    3) your laptop already kicks arse, and there is no real reason to have more than 512Mb. The site did not mention what vid card you had, so I would assume it is an onboard vid card, which means its nothing special. You may want to look into spending your gift card on something more usefull, unless you have a particular reason to have a gig of memory in a laptop.

    hope that helps
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  • DragonMechDragonMech Join Date: 2003-09-19 Member: 21023Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--QuoteBegin-[BFG]-|NiKoN|-+Mar 10 2004, 06:00 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> ([BFG]-|NiKoN|- @ Mar 10 2004, 06:00 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> 3) your laptop already kicks arse, and there is no real reason to have more than 512Mb. The site did not mention what vid card you had, so I would assume it is an onboard vid card, which means its nothing special. You may want to look into spending your gift card on something more usefull, unless you have a particular reason to have a gig of memory in a laptop.

    hope that helps <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It's an ATI Radeon Mobility 9000, with 64 MB of RAM. The main reason I'm looking to upgrade is for gaming. Do you believe that an increase in RAM wouldn't affect that?
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  • NikonNikon Join Date: 2003-09-29 Member: 21313Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Dragon_Mech+Mar 10 2004, 04:06 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Dragon_Mech @ Mar 10 2004, 04:06 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-[BFG+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> ([BFG)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->-|NiKoN|-,Mar 10 2004, 06:00 PM] 3) your laptop already kicks arse, and there is no real reason to have more than 512Mb.  The site did not mention what vid card you had, so I would assume it is an onboard vid card, which means its nothing special.  You may want to look into spending your gift card on something more usefull, unless you have a particular reason to have a gig of memory in a laptop.

    hope that helps <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It's an ATI Radeon Mobility 9000, with 64 MB of RAM. The main reason I'm looking to upgrade is for gaming. Do you believe that an increase in RAM wouldn't affect that? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    well, as im not all too familiar with the ATI mobility cards, id say do this. Firstly, is the 64Mb for the ATI card shared? If not, then as far as I understand, it would not effect your gaming experience. If it is shared, do this. Start up a game of NS and have some freinds jump around in front of you shooting and biting, then alt+tab back to windows and open your system monitor. Check your RAM usage, this will tell you if your system needs more ram while you are gaming. You can also do this even if the ATI does not share RAM.
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