4 GB RAM modules PC-8500? for Vista-64 bit, Windows-7-64 bit [ Edited ]

[dfumento]

More and more people people are going 64-bit Vista and especially Windows-7 is heading in that direction:

http://i.gizmodo.com/5133771/why-you-should-go-64+bit-with-windows-7 

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/notebook_vendors_giving_32bit_vista_boot_favor_64bit 

Dated: 10/28/08

Most new laptops are now shipping with a 64-bit OS. Take Best Buy's newest shipment of HP laptops, for example, who shows 11 models listed as "new arrivals." All but three come with Vista 64-bit, with the remaining models sporting Windows Vista Business downgraded to XP Pro, also in 64-bit form

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=506

Dated: 7/30/2008

Using data from its Windows Update servers, Microsoft calculated that 1.45% of all Windows Vista machines were running x64 Vista editions in March of this year. By June, that figure was up to 5.18%. That number is actually more impressive than it sounds: by my back-of-the-envelope calculations, making that shift in total market share means that at least 20% of all Vista PCs sold in the second quarter of this year came with 64-bit editions of Windows Vista preinstalled. By fall, it’s possible, even likely, that we’ll reach a tipping point, with more than 50% of new PCs sold at retail coming with 64-bit editions of Windows Vista preinstalled.

The problem is that for laptops you need to use expensive 4 GB SODIMMs which for PC2-5300  which is used in the older T61 you can purchase for about $200 each for a total of $400 for 8 GB which is not too bad of a price:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231202

But the newer laptops use the faster PC3-8500 which comes in the 2 GB module at $45 for a total of $90 for 4 GB.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148192

And the 4 GB PC3-8500 is about $500 or a total of $1000 for 8 GB.

http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT51264BC1067

Is there a way to use the cheaper PC2-5300 4 GB modules in the T400 and save $600?

Lenovo tech support?  Tim?

TIA.

Message Edited by dfumento on 01-22-2009 04:15 AM

Message Edited by dfumento on 01-22-2009 05:52 AM

[erik Community SuperMod · Accepted solution]

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dfumento wrote:

Is there a way to use the cheaper PC2-5300 4 GB modules in the T400 and save $600?

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unfortunately that's impossible.   the T400 requires 204-pin DDR3 modules and will not physically accept 200-pin DDR2 modules.   if you compare images of each module type, you'll see that they aren't even close.

sorry.

[dfumento]

Thank you, Erik.

Here is a slighter cheaper module for $425 or $850 for 8 GB:

http://www.memory4less.com/m4l_itemdetail.asp?rid=fd_10&itemid=1439873079 

[oscar9]

Hello, not exacly new here, just a new account (I didn't feel like trying to figure out the password of my old acct. and which email it used).

I have been looking into this subject for the past month and, being a total geek, think it might be fun installing 8 gigs of RAM on my system.

I know it's overkill, but why not...

edited my question out because i found out the answer and now feel like an idiot.

PS. 8 gigs is overkill, unless you are planning on turning your laptop into a server (which would make you an idiot).