[SOLVED] safe alternative to M471A1K43BB0

[js0478759]

this thread is posted with explicit permission of Rogue Leader.

i need to top up my ram.

ideally i dont want to replace my current modules, which are working perfectly fine. im therefore looking for suggestions to safe alternatives to samsung M471A1K43BB0, which i have in my laptop atm. i need something that is safe, will play well with the ram i already have and wont fry my laptop in the process.

please dont comment on ram compatibility issues, im well aware of that. if your only suggestion is to bin the existing modules, im already well aware of this option, please dont repeat it.

im only looking for (preferably) empirically supported suggestions of alternatives.

p.s. 8gb is the minimum size module i need to buy, but if its safe id gladly go for a bigger one.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Helpful pics:
https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/memory+module

Exactly. That other DIMM is a DDR3 SODIMM, like I said.

 

[js0478759]

One of those is likely DDR3 while the other is DDR4. On ALL marketplace, retail and online vendor sites, there are ALWAYS a variety of problems with pictures not being accurate to the product. Not only that, but RARELY are the reviews for any product on Amazon, actually for THAT specific product, because they use reviews from any number of different or similar but not same products sold by that same marketplace seller or manufacturer, for any given product. You can OFTEN find reviews for one product in the reviews for three or four other products sold by the same retailer or made by the same manufacturer. They also OFTEN use generic images for a variety of products. Amazon rarely vets these listings for accuracy. Other sites like Ebay rarely do either.

thanks for ram explanation. im aware of amazon being only marginally better than alipay lately, hence my principled aversion to anything not sold directly by amazon.

apropos of nothing, samsung states that my modules have 260pins. does that in combination with your statement of all ddr4 sodimm modules being equal mean that there is no other pin count on any other ddr4 sodimm? im asking because in nvme land pins make a world of difference (eg. 2280, 2260, 2242 and 2230).

disregard this, it was already answered while i was typing this. 🙂

 

[USAFRet]

thanks for ram explanation. im aware of amazon being only marginally better than alipay lately, hence my principled aversion to anything not sold directly by amazon.

apropos of nothing, samsung states that my modules have 260pins. does that in combination with your statement of all ddr4 sodimm modules being equal mean that there is no other pin count on any other ddr4 sodimm? im asking because in nvme land pins make a world of difference (eg. 2280, 2260, 2242 and 2230).

2280 is NOT pin count, but rather the physical size of the device.
22mm x 80mm is the typical size.

 

[Darkbreeze]

2280 is NOT pin count, but rather the physical size of the device.
22mm x 80mm is the typical size.

Exactly.

 

[js0478759]

2280 is NOT pin count, but rather the physical size of the device.
22mm x 80mm is the typical size.

oh, is that what that is? thats surprisingly elegant for a memory product. thanks for pointing that out to me.

/non sequitur/ i do love, tho, how thats the only thing i have to pay attention to in nvme land. at least until pcie5 becomes an actual thing. /rhetorical remark ends/

 

[USAFRet]

For M.2 devices, you need to pay attention to the key, among other things.
B, M, B+M, E....

An M.2 port with only E is for WiFi or bluetooth devices.

And of course protocol.
M.2 NVMe, M.2 SATA, mSATA
And PCIe 3.0 vs 4.0
etc etc.

https://www.atpinc.com/blog/what-is-m.2-M-B-BM-key-socket-3

 

[js0478759]

Actually in the M.2 land you have SATA and PCIe NVMe. Both with different connectors

https://imgur.com/a/yb9KyGQ

View: https://imgur.com/a/yb9KyGQ

heh, i had no idea there was a stick sata connector. i always thought sata only applied to those old school drive format ssds.

i need to stop digging down this rabbit hole, evidently it never stops.

 

[js0478759]

For M.2 devices, you need to pay attention to the key, among other things.
B, M, B+M, E....

An M.2 port with only E is for WiFi or bluetooth devices.

And of course protocol.
M.2 NVMe, M.2 SATA, mSATA
And PCIe 3.0 vs 4.0
etc etc.

https://www.atpinc.com/blog/what-is-m.2-M-B-BM-key-socket-3

ok, this is the last question, i promise. why would anyone stick something so slow in such a fast socket? isnt that extremely counter intuitive/productive? i always thought sata tops out at 0.6gbps while nvmes go up to 3-4gbps.

 

[js0478759]

how do i mark the question as answered, btw? cant find the option anywhere.

 

[USAFRet]

ok, this is the last question, i promise. why would anyone stick something so slow in such a fast socket? isnt that extremely counter intuitive/productive? i always thought sata tops out at 0.6gbps while nvmes go up to 3-4gbps.

The M.2 socket does not have a speed.
However it is built and connects to has a speed.

Up until very recently, there was a significant price difference between SATA III and NVMe drives, no matter how they connect.
Only in maybe the last few months are they approaching parity.


And in actual user facing performance, there is not necessarily a huge difference between NVMe and SATA III drives.

In my own personal use, Adobe Lightroom....there is basically zero difference between a Samsung 860 EVO (SATA III) and an Intel 660p (NVMe). Yes, the Intel is 'slow' in the NVMe world, but still benchmarks 3x that of a SATA III drive.

Or gaming, for instance:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3AMz-xZ2VM

 

[USAFRet]

how do i mark the question as answered, btw? cant find the option anywhere.

The Trophy icon, next to the reply that was most helpful.

 

[js0478759]

The M.2 socket does not have a speed.
However it is built and connects to has a speed.

Up until very recently, there was a significant price difference between SATA III and NVMe drives, no matter how they connect.
Only in maybe the last few months are they approaching parity.


And in actual user facing performance, there is not necessarily a huge difference between NVMe and SATA III drives.

In my own personal use, Adobe Lightroom....there is basically zero difference between a Samsung 860 EVO (SATA III) and an Intel 660p (NVMe). Yes, the Intel is 'slow' in the NVMe world, but still benchmarks 3x that of a SATA III drive.

Or gaming, for instance:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3AMz-xZ2VM

ok, let me rephrase that. why would someone go with a stick sata instead of regular hdd sata? i mean, hdd sata is built into every computer anyways, they dont really come without it, do they? stick sata is still the same slow speed as regular sata, right?

 

[USAFRet]

ok, let me rephrase that. why would someone go with a stick sata instead of regular hdd sata? i mean, hdd sata is built into every computer anyways, they dont really come without it, do they? stick sata is still the same slow speed as regular sata, right?

Space, no cables, clean look.

 

[js0478759]

The Trophy icon, next to the reply that was most helpful.

evidently ive trained myself to ignore pictograms so well i missed the chalice altogether. it wont let me mark two answers as correct, is that supposed to work like that?

like in this case: technically darkbreeze has a better answer to the alternative question while yours foregoes the issue of alternatives altogether. theyre both right.

 

[js0478759]

Space, no cables, clean look.

thanks, got it.

 

[USAFRet]

Correct...one and only one Solution.

 

[USAFRet]

evidently ive trained myself to ignore pictograms so well i missed the chalice altogether. it wont let me mark two answers as correct, is that supposed to work like that?

like in this case: technically darkbreeze has a better answer to the alternative question while yours foregoes the issue of alternatives altogether. theyre both right.

Trust me...both of us are far beyond the point of worrying about who got the BA.
As long as you, the member, gets a suitable answer.

 

[js0478759]

Trust me...both of us are far beyond the point of worrying about who got the BA.
As long as you, the member, gets a suitable answer.

thanks, this made me actually laugh out loud.

i was thinking more of posterity. if someone else has the same issue your solution might not work for them if they
a) dont live in a country served by the german amazon, or
b) the italian guy runs out of the two modules hes got in his roman basement (one after my order).

it worked well for me given my particular circumstance, but that isnt particularly indicative of universal appeal.