Can I trust a laptop memory finder?

Brent — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:45:02 +0000

Have you ever used a laptop memory finder? If you have, you probably have noticed that they can be hit or miss. Most of them are pretty decent; the ones from major memory manufacturers are usually pretty solid and do a good job at making sure you get the right type of memory. However, laptop memory finders from less-established sites and companies can be a little suspect. Those memory finders might not have all the data about your laptop, and can give you inaccurate data just to get you to buy something you don’t really need. Be careful.

So, we’re going to talk about a couple memory finder applications that can really be worth your time and money. Most importantly, these will ensure that you’re actually getting the type of RAM that your computer actually needs. This is what really matters, doesn’t it?

I’d have to say that Crucial’s laptop memory finder is probably the best. You can put in your exact make and model of laptop and it’ll spit out what type of memory your laptop takes, plus the amount that your laptop can handle period (also a great thing to know before you go out and buy 8 GB worth!). I don’t work for this company so please don’t feel that I’m pushing my wares on you. I’m just telling you what I really think about the place, and I think it’s solid. I’ve bought plenty of RAM through their site previously using their memory finder for laptops. Check it out.

Most reputable sites these days even have an “auto check” function that’ll actually take all the guesswork out of the process. If you really don’t know the brand of laptop, this is the thing for you. I have to caution you again, though: You really should know what type of laptop you have before you get started on this venture. These tools are sometimes wrong; if the tool does get it wrong you’re not going to know any better. This is also a good reason to check your manuals before you get started (you do have manuals don’t you?). But, an automatic laptop memory finder is better than no finder at all, so if you really trust the results the computer spits out, go for it. Oh, and don’t let me forget: If you’re not new to working on computers, you can even open up the bottom part of your laptop and compare the picture of the RAM on the screen (the finder program will show you a picture generally). If the two match, there’s a very good chance that what it says is correct. Still, do your homework.

Shopping:

Ultrasonic Distance Measurer with Laser Pointer

Kingston Technologies 1GB PC2-5300 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM Notebook Memory

PNY OPTIMA 1GB DDR2 533 MHz PC2-4200 Notebook / Laptop SODIMM Memory Module MN1024SD2-533

PNY OPTIMA 512MB DDR 333 MHz PC2700 Notebook / Laptop SODIMM Memory Module MN0512SD1-333

NCAA Desk Lamp Team: University of Mississippi

Selecting Laptop Memory

Brent — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:20:21 +0000

Finding laptop memory shouldn’t be a hair-pulling task. Amazingly though, a lot of people do find it difficult to select the proper memory for their laptop. Laptop RAM memory comes in many different flavors, and computer manufacturers don’t always make it easy to find which one your system actually takes; sometimes it involves searching through pages upon pages of manuals to get the answer you want. You don’t want to deal with that, do you?

Me either. That’s why in this post I’ll tell you how to find out which type of RAM your laptop takes, and then at the same time talk about the various types of memory that are on the market today. Stick around…this can be good for your mental health and blood pressure!

Now, I should mention that there are a few websites out there that will help you find out which type of memory your laptop takes. The Crucial website actually has a tool that allows you to plug in which type of computer you have, and it’ll come back with the type of laptop memory upgrades that you should buy, along with the actual limit of memory that your laptop can actually take. You might not have been aware that there’s generally a limit to the amount of memory one computer can handle; this is usually a hardware limitation, not a software limitation (however, it can be). This is something that is often overlooked in the manuals. The Crucial site is almost always right on target, but you should also consult your manual just to make sure what you’re buying is the correct one.

Okay, so let’s talk about some types of RAM that you should be aware of. Most modules are classified as DDR laptop memory, with sub-types being DDR1 (the original type of memory), DDR2, and the newest DDR3. Each one is compatible with certain laptops, but not all of them. It’s important to note that each type is not cross-compatible with other types, so don’t try to put memory into a slot that is supposed to fit another type of module. The results can be catastrophic. You’ve been warned!

Okay everyone, I hope that gave you a nice primer into the world of RAM, even though I didn’t quite get to talking about brand names. Perhaps in a later post. I sincerely hope that this post has given you a bit more insight into how to select laptop memory!

Shopping:

Kingston Technologies 1GB PC2-5300 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM Notebook Memory

PNY OPTIMA 2GB DDR2 667 MHz PC2-5300 Notebook / Laptop SODIMM Memory Module MN2048SD2-667

Kingston Apple 4GB Kit (2x2GB Modules) 667MHz DDR2 SoDimm iMac and Macbook Memory (KTA-MB667K2/4GR)

Crucial Technology CT25664AC800 2GB 200-pin SODIMM DDR2 PC2-6400 Memory Module

PNY OPTIMA 4GB (2x2GB) Dual Channel Kit DDR2 667 MHz PC2-5300 Notebook / Laptop SODIMM Memory Modules MN4096KD2-667

The Refurbished Laptops Guide » laptop memory

Can I trust a laptop memory finder?

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Selecting Laptop Memory

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