Laptop RAM Capacity/Limit

[Zashee]

I am not sure if my laptop's motherboard memory (ram) slot can handle 4gb DDR3 memory modules.
My current RAM is 4gb (2 x 2gb dual channel DDR3), I want to upgrade my total RAM to 8gb using 2 x 4gb DDR3.

I am afraid that I would buy a 4gb stick but my motherboard would not recognize it because there are no local stores selling ram with a return policy, they only give warranty but you cannot return what you bought.

I am running a 64-bit Windows 7 operating system.


My laptop is MSI CX420 with an Intel HM55 Chipset.
----> http://www.msi.com/product/nb/CX420.html

Here are the specifications:
• via CPU-Z Validator 3.1
----> http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=2413250

According to the MSI website, my laptop can only handle up to 4gb maximum ram which is 2gb per slot.
----> http://www.msi.com/product/nb/CX420.html#/?div=Specification

According to crucial.com, my laptop can only handle up to 4gb maximum ram which is 2gb per slot.
----> http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=CX420&Cat=RAM

But I have searched for some answers by using google search and found the following discussions (see discussion links below) where-in the people with the same chipset (Intel HM55) says that a 4gb ram in a memory slot would be compatible and could be handled by the motherboard.
----> http://forum.notebookreview.com/msi/516321-intel-hm55-chipset-issues.html#
----> http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/IdeaPad-Y-U-V-and-Z-series/Can-my-U160-be-upgraded-to-8GB-RAM-for-maximum/td-p/343611


Thank you!

 

[jaquith]

IF you open Control Panel\System and Security\System -- What System / System type = __-bit Operating System? IF it's 32-bit then you'll also need to upgrade to a 64-bit which requires a fresh install of Windows and on a Notebook can be very tricky with all of it's 'specialized' chipsets and in particular the add-on chipsets/devices.

Another couple of notes, 8GB is much slower if you use Hibernation or Hybrid Sleep, and for 'most' users will not speed-up your system.

The Intel HM55 nor CPU i5 mobile will 'limit' you to 2GB/stick or 4GB/stick.

IF the Resource Monitor under normal use lists ANY Free memory then there's no reason to upgrade.

 

[Zashee]

IF you open Control Panel\System and Security\System -- What System / System type = __-bit Operating System? IF it's 32-bit then you'll also need to upgrade to a 64-bit which requires a fresh install of Windows and on a Notebook can be very tricky with all of it's 'specialized' chipsets and in particular the add-on chipsets/devices.

Another couple of notes, 8GB is much slower if you use Hibernation or Hybrid Sleep, and for 'most' users will not speed-up your system.

The Intel HM55 nor CPU i5 mobile will 'limit' you to 2GB/stick or 4GB/stick.

IF the Resource Monitor under normal use lists ANY Free memory then there's no reason to upgrade.

http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af254/Jaquith/RM_7PRO6GB.gif

I am using a 64-bit Windows 7 operating system.

Well I am running more than one application at a time when working with my multimedia stuffs and would want an increase of ram. Especially, when editing and rendering videos and authoring, I would really want an increase of ram.

When playing games, adding more ram would improve performance. My basis for saying this are from the discussion videos from this YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/NCIXcom

And according to the Resoure Monitor, when I tried running some applications it shows something around " Free: 0 - 10 mb "

Then I could handle 8gb ram (4GB/stick) according to your statement "The Intel HM55 nor CPU i5 mobile will 'limit' you to 2GB/stick or 4GB/stick." ?

 

[jaquith]

I've seen plenty of HM55 + i3 (or i5) running 8GB of RAM. IF there's ANY limit MSI would have to had implemented the limit itself.

Example Gigabyte Q1447N - http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3362#sp
System Memory 2GB/4GB DDRIII, 2 slots (Max 8GB)

Best advice is to contact MSI and ask them if they placed an 'artificial memory limit.'

//

I see folks putting 2x8GB kits in (older) Apple notebooks where the specs were 2x4GB and every time they've worked. OLDER Chipsets and CPU's can be an issue where the memory controller is not integrated. Your CPU uses an (IMC) Integrated Memory Controller.

//

i3-330M (8GB) - http://ark.intel.com/products/47663/Intel-Core-i3-330M-Processor-(3M-Cache-2_13-GHz)

Memory Specifications
Max Memory Size (dependent on memory type) 8 GB
Memory Types DDR3-800/1066
# of Memory Channels 2
Max Memory Bandwidth 17.1 GB/s
Physical Address Extensions 36-bit
ECC Memory Supported No

 

[Zashee]

I would try to ask people from the Global MSI via e-mail because the MSI here in our country, they just hire salesmen with some knowledge on computers, meaning they really are not sure with what they are talking about sometimes. They just say what they are trained to say.

I would also try to find if some of my friends have a spare 4gb stick and borrow it for me to test if it really works with no problems.

I am currently using DDR3-667...
what would be the impact if I buy 2pcs. 4gb DDR3-800?
what would be the impact if I buy 2pcs. 4gb DDR3-1066?

 

[jaquith]

Anything faster than DDR3-1067 (PC3-10600) won't help and chances are the BIOS will default to DDR3-800.

Gambling, I'd say it will run 8GB especially since Windows 7 64-bit drivers are listed - http://www.msi.com/product/nb/CX420.html#/?div=Driver&os=Win7%2064

 

[Zashee]

I have read somewhere that i3 and i5 can only handle maximum of DDR3-1066 (I forgot the link). The only ones that can handle DDR3-1333 are the i7 ones.

I hope I can find someone in my circle of friends who has a spare 4gb DDR3-1066 so that I can test myself if my laptop's motherboard could handle it.

 

[jaquith]

Anything OEM is going to use the slowest default setting, and OEM BIOS don't allow you to change the DRAM Frequency.

Use CPU-z and look at your 'Memory' tab - http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

 

[Zashee]

Best answer selected by Zashee.
n
nThank you very much for those wonderful informations, they were very helpful I learned a lot.