Maximum amount of RAM for Sony Vaio VGN-NR180E?

[henrylutz]

Hello to all,

Many sites, e.g. crucial.com, suggest that the maximum amount of RAM for a Vaio VGN-NR180E is 4GB. However, I was checking the system information with SiSoft Sandra, section Mainboard, and it detected that the maximum installable memory is 8GB DDR2 SO-DIMM.

I asked at Sony Community and the answer was: "The max RAM that Sony can support for your model is 4GB. That is what we have tested and know that works for sure. This is not to say that 8GB of RAM won't work but it has not been tested by Sony."

Before I test it myself, I would like to ask you guys what you think.

1) Could anyone please confirm if the maximum amount supported is 4GB or 8GB?

2) I am using Windows 7 64-bit, so I supposed all the memory would be used by the system?

3) Would it really make any difference at all regarding performance, since I am already using 4GB?

I appreciate comments and answers and thank you all for your time!


Here are some details about my computer, collected with SisSoft Sandra and CPU-Z.

Snapshot from the memory tab in CPU-Z: http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/9651/memoryhenrylutz.jpg

Sony Vaio VGN-NR180E
Version : C3LPWDML

Mainboard
Manufacturer: Sony
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processing (MPS) Version : 1.40

Chipset: Intel GM965 Rev. C0
Southbridge: Intel 82801HBM (ICH8-ME) Rev. B1

BIOS
Brand: Phoenix Technologies
Version: R0131J9

Logical/Chipset Memory Banks
Bank 0 : 1GB DDR2 SO-DIMM 5-5-5-15 3-20-5-3 1T
Bank 1 : 1GB DDR2 SO-DIMM 5-5-5-15 3-20-5-3 1T
Bank 4 : 1GB DDR2 SO-DIMM 5-5-5-15 3-20-5-3 1T
Bank 5 : 1GB DDR2 SO-DIMM 5-5-5-15 3-20-5-3 1T
Shared Memory : 8MB
Maximum Installable Memory : 8GB
Supported Memory Types : DDR2 SO-DIMM
Channels : 2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 332MHz (664MHz)
Maximum Memory Speed : 2x 333MHz (666MHz)
Multiplier : 2x
Width : 64-bit
FMAX - Fast Memory Access Support : No
Refresh Rate : 8µs
Power Save Mode : No
Fixed Hole Present : No
Maximum Memory Bus Bandwidth : 10.38GB/s

Memory Module
Manufacturer : Crucial
URL : http://www.crucial.com
Model : CT25664AC800K16F
Type : 2GB DDR2 SO-DIMM
Technology : 16x(128Mx8)
Speed : PC2-6400U DDR2-800
Standard Timings : 5-6-6-18 3-24-6-3
Version : 1.03
Date of Manufacture : Samstag, 22. Januar 2011
Memory DC Line : 1.800V
Timing @ 400MHz : 5-6-6-18 3-24-6-3
Timing @ 333MHz : 4-5-5-15 3-20-5-3

 

[ss202sl]

4 GB according to Sony

http://www.docs.sony.com/release/specs/VGNNR180ES_mksp.pdf

 

[swilczak]

I use crucial.com for upgrades a lot and it almost always gives me an accurate reading, with the exception of the one time it said a netbook only would take 1.5gb and it really took 2gb. With a 64bit OS you will get the full 4gb. You probably won't notice much of a difference between 4 and 8gb unless you are using applications that use a lot of Ram. For just browsing the web, performance will be about the same either way, but for heavy multi-tasking the 8gb would be better.

 

[webpro2k02]

The Sony VAIO VGN-NR180E has the Intel GM965 Express Chipset...

http://www.memorystock.com/memory/SonyVAIOVGNNR180ES.html

as per Intel itself this chipset supports up to max of 4GB only, specs here...

http://ark.intel.com/products/29821/Intel-82GM965-Graphics-and-Memory-Controller

 

[henrylutz]

Thank you very much for your answers.