Will Another 1GB of RAM Help?

[Justin]

In article <i1reps$5h8$1@news.eternal-september.org>,
Paul <nospam@needed.com> wrote:

> Paul wrote:
> > Seth wrote:
> >>
> >> "Paul" <nospam@needed.com> wrote in message
> >> news:i1r5mm$5ie$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> >>> Justin wrote:
> >>>> In article <4C406C67.6080900@invalid.invalid>,
> >>>> LouB <Lou@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> Helroy wrote:
> >>>>>> "Justin" <justin@nobecauseihatespam.org> wrote in message
> >>>>>> news:justin-2F1501.00243816072010@62-183-169-81.bb.dnainternet.fi...
> >>>>>>> Hi folks, I have a Dell D430 with 1GB or RAM.
> >>>>>>> When I installed WIndows 7 - this thing is redefining slow.
> >>>>>>> Would another gig of ram help?
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> http://www.imagebam.com/image/a8870888787396
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I would run Windows7 upgrade advisor before installing.
> >>>>>> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx
> >>>>>>
> >>>>> Already has win 7 so more ram is the way to go.
> >>>>> 3 rather than 2 would be even better.
> >>>>
> >>>> The Dell D430 can only support 2GB of ram.
> >>>
> >>> I wouldn't be too sure about that. It has 1GB soldered
> >>> in and one SODIMM slot. The 945GM datasheet seems to be indicating
> >>> that SODIMM could be a 2GB module. The total max might be 1+2=3GB.
> >>> (If the original memory wasn't soldered in, it could have been upgraded
> >>> as well.) For performance reasons, a better combo would be 1+1 (dual
> >>> channel
> >>> symmetric mode). It all depends on whether the OS caching habits
> >>> with 3GB total, exceed the benefits of running 1+1 dual channel
> >>> symmetric
> >>> and getting slightly more memory bandwidth.
> >>>
> >>> http://www.memoryx.net/dellbuo.html
> >>>
> >>> http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-Latitude-D430-Subnotebook.7900.0.
> >>> html
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> "The reviewed notebook was equipped with one Gigabyte soldered
> >>> DDR2 RAM.
> >>> Nevertheless, the RAM capacity can still be easily enhanced to up
> >>> to 3 GB,
> >>> because there is a free memory slot hidden beneath a maintenance
> >>> opening.
> >>> Considering the current RAM costs, this is surely a good idea. But,
> >>> Windows XP ran also smoothly with only one GB RAM."
> >>>
> >>> See Table 22 and Figure 15, starting on PDF page 339. This is the
> >>> info for the 945GM, which should be the chipset of that computer.
> >>>
> >>> http://www.intel.com/Assets/PDF/datasheet/309219.pdf
> >>>
> >>> You can verify the chipset present, with something like CPUZ. Some
> >>> chipsets are hard to tell apart, so the utilities identify the
> >>> chipset as a member of a "family", rather than stating it is one
> >>> exact chipset. Using the no-install version of this utility,
> >>> means you can just run the executable without needing to
> >>> mess around.
> >>
> >> According to both Dell and www.crucial.com it only supports 2G max.
> >> the 1G on-board and 1 additional. While the Intel chipset may support
> >> a 2G expansion, the Dell design doesn't.
> >>
>
> It gets even weirder here. Compare D420 to D430. Both use the same
> chipset, and the capabilities on the RAM front are different.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_Latitude
>
> D420 512MB soldered + 2GB SODIMM (945GMS single channel)
> D430 1GB soldered + 1GB SODIMM (945GMS single channel)
>
> Why there is a difference, doesn't make a lot of sense. At
> least, if the chipsets really are the same, as stated there.
>
> Paul

Interesting... if only I had a 2GB SODIMM laying around I could test
and see if it worked.
The D430 was marketed as a budget portable - "almost netbook" type deal.

I originally bought it to use in places where I didn't want to take my
Macbook Pro.
Unfortunately I think this machine is a bit too underpowered.

I have licenses for Windows XP both 32 and 64 - but the D430 didn't come
with an optical drive. So I have to install an OS via the USB drive. I
followed some instructions for making a Windows 7 boot installer USB
drive and it worked perfectly. Same with Ubuntu.
Windows XP on the other hand is supposedly harder - especially now that
I don't have access to a Windows machine at all.

 

[Thip]

"Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
news:jhu146l438cuvc6env5t9kj1biut7f96cd@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:00:47 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:

> Not my experience at all. I've found readyboost to be useless, except
> for those well under 2gB.

Not the case here at all. I have one machine with 2 GB and ReadyBoost has
made a dramatic difference.

 

[Ken Blake]

On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:22:46 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:


> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
> news:jhu146l438cuvc6env5t9kj1biut7f96cd@4ax.com...
> > On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:00:47 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>
> > Not my experience at all. I've found readyboost to be useless, except
> > for those well under 2gB.
>
> Not the case here at all. I have one machine with 2 GB and ReadyBoost has
> made a dramatic difference.


How large is your readyboost thumb drive? What brand and model is it?

 

[Thip]

"Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
news:rrf346p4ii87t364k6pnht28lq0qtaueqc@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:22:46 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>
>
>> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
>> news:jhu146l438cuvc6env5t9kj1biut7f96cd@4ax.com...
>> > On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:00:47 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>>
>> > Not my experience at all. I've found readyboost to be useless, except
>> > for those well under 2gB.
>>
>> Not the case here at all. I have one machine with 2 GB and ReadyBoost
>> has
>> made a dramatic difference.
>
>
> How large is your readyboost thumb drive? What brand and model is it?

4GB Super Talent, no idea what the model is or where I even got the thing.

 

[Ken Blake]

On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:16:24 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:

> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
> news:rrf346p4ii87t364k6pnht28lq0qtaueqc@4ax.com...
> > On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:22:46 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> >> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
> >> news:jhu146l438cuvc6env5t9kj1biut7f96cd@4ax.com...
> >> > On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:00:47 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> > Not my experience at all. I've found readyboost to be useless, except
> >> > for those well under 2gB.
> >>
> >> Not the case here at all. I have one machine with 2 GB and ReadyBoost
> >> has
> >> made a dramatic difference.
> >
> >
> > How large is your readyboost thumb drive? What brand and model is it?
>
> 4GB Super Talent, no idea what the model is or where I even got the thing.



Thanks. I'm still skeptical, but perhaps I'll try it again on my
wife's machine, which is 2GB.

 

[LouB]

Ken Blake wrote:
> On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:16:24 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>
>> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
>> news:rrf346p4ii87t364k6pnht28lq0qtaueqc@4ax.com...
>>> On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:22:46 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:jhu146l438cuvc6env5t9kj1biut7f96cd@4ax.com...
>>>>> On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:00:47 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>>>>> Not my experience at all. I've found readyboost to be useless, except
>>>>> for those well under 2gB.
>>>> Not the case here at all. I have one machine with 2 GB and ReadyBoost
>>>> has
>>>> made a dramatic difference.
>>>
>>> How large is your readyboost thumb drive? What brand and model is it?
>> 4GB Super Talent, no idea what the model is or where I even got the thing.
>
>
>
> Thanks. I'm still skeptical, but perhaps I'll try it again on my
> wife's machine, which is 2GB.
>
>
Gee now that I realize what readyboost is and have USB drives lying
around the question is... Will it work and help my 1gig Acer Netbook
with Win7 Starter?

TIA

Lou

 

[Ken Blake]

On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:528 -0400, LouB <Lou@invalid.invalid> wrote:

> Ken Blake wrote:
> > On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:16:24 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
> >
> >> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
> >> news:rrf346p4ii87t364k6pnht28lq0qtaueqc@4ax.com...
> >>> On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:22:46 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
> >>>> news:jhu146l438cuvc6env5t9kj1biut7f96cd@4ax.com...
> >>>>> On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:00:47 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
> >>>>> Not my experience at all. I've found readyboost to be useless, except
> >>>>> for those well under 2gB.
> >>>> Not the case here at all. I have one machine with 2 GB and ReadyBoost
> >>>> has
> >>>> made a dramatic difference.
> >>>
> >>> How large is your readyboost thumb drive? What brand and model is it?
> >> 4GB Super Talent, no idea what the model is or where I even got the thing.
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks. I'm still skeptical, but perhaps I'll try it again on my
> > wife's machine, which is 2GB.
> >
> >
> Gee now that I realize what readyboost is and have USB drives lying
> around the question is... Will it work and help my 1gig Acer Netbook
> with Win7 Starter?


I think there's a good chance that with 1GB it will. However,
regardless of what I or anyone else here tells you, find out for
yourself simply by trying it.

 

[LouB]

Ken Blake wrote:
> On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:528 -0400, LouB <Lou@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
>> Ken Blake wrote:
>>> On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:16:24 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:rrf346p4ii87t364k6pnht28lq0qtaueqc@4ax.com...
>>>>> On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:22:46 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:jhu146l438cuvc6env5t9kj1biut7f96cd@4ax.com...
>>>>>>> On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:00:47 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>>>>>>> Not my experience at all. I've found readyboost to be useless, except
>>>>>>> for those well under 2gB.
>>>>>> Not the case here at all. I have one machine with 2 GB and ReadyBoost
>>>>>> has
>>>>>> made a dramatic difference.
>>>>> How large is your readyboost thumb drive? What brand and model is it?
>>>> 4GB Super Talent, no idea what the model is or where I even got the thing.
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks. I'm still skeptical, but perhaps I'll try it again on my
>>> wife's machine, which is 2GB.
>>>
>>>
>> Gee now that I realize what readyboost is and have USB drives lying
>> around the question is... Will it work and help my 1gig Acer Netbook
>> with Win7 Starter?
>
>
> I think there's a good chance that with 1GB it will. However,
> regardless of what I or anyone else here tells you, find out for
> yourself simply by trying it.
>
Will post back

 

[Justin]

On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 129:21 -0700, Ken Blake wrote:

> On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:528 -0400, LouB <Lou@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
>> Ken Blake wrote:
>> > On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:16:24 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>> >
>> >> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:rrf346p4ii87t364k6pnht28lq0qtaueqc@4ax.com...
>> >>> On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:22:46 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
>> >>>> news:jhu146l438cuvc6env5t9kj1biut7f96cd@4ax.com...
>> >>>>> On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:00:47 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net>
>> >>>>> wrote: Not my experience at all. I've found readyboost to be
>> >>>>> useless, except for those well under 2gB.
>> >>>> Not the case here at all. I have one machine with 2 GB and
>> >>>> ReadyBoost has
>> >>>> made a dramatic difference.
>> >>>
>> >>> How large is your readyboost thumb drive? What brand and model is
>> >>> it?
>> >> 4GB Super Talent, no idea what the model is or where I even got the
>> >> thing.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Thanks. I'm still skeptical, but perhaps I'll try it again on my
>> > wife's machine, which is 2GB.
>> >
>> >
>> Gee now that I realize what readyboost is and have USB drives lying
>> around the question is... Will it work and help my 1gig Acer Netbook
>> with Win7 Starter?
>
>
> I think there's a good chance that with 1GB it will. However, regardless
> of what I or anyone else here tells you, find out for yourself simply by
> trying it.

As soon as the RAM stick arrives I will post my results.

 

[Thip]

"Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
news:2mt34653dhrhpcr18j5o6er66bqsph7fmg@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:16:24 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:

> Thanks. I'm still skeptical, but perhaps I'll try it again on my
> wife's machine, which is 2GB.
>
It was a case of "What do I have to lose?" and a pleasant surprise when it
worked so well.

 

[Justin]

On Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:559 -0400, Thip wrote:

> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
> news:2mt34653dhrhpcr18j5o6er66bqsph7fmg@4ax.com...
>> On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:16:24 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>
>> Thanks. I'm still skeptical, but perhaps I'll try it again on my wife's
>> machine, which is 2GB.
>>
> It was a case of "What do I have to lose?" and a pleasant surprise when
> it worked so well.


Makes sense.
I have another 1GB on order for a whole $10.

 

[Stefan Patric]

On Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:08:15 +0000, Justin wrote:

> On Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:559 -0400, Thip wrote:
>
>> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
>> news:2mt34653dhrhpcr18j5o6er66bqsph7fmg@4ax.com...
>>> On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:16:24 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks. I'm still skeptical, but perhaps I'll try it again on my
>>> wife's machine, which is 2GB.
>>>
>> It was a case of "What do I have to lose?" and a pleasant surprise when
>> it worked so well.
>
>
> Makes sense.
> I have another 1GB on order for a whole $10.

The additional 1GB of RAM will improve speed, but by the time you add
apps, additional drivers, anti-virus, and other background stuff, you'll
be back where you started--marginal performance. Your attempts with W7
on an old system while laudable are ultimately an exercise in futility.
The notebook just doesn't have the specs. Better that you put XP on it.
With 2 GB of RAM, it will be a excellent performer. And since it's an XP
era machine, all the hardware is supported.

Stef

 

[Justin]

On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 01:24:10 -0400, Paul wrote:

> Paul wrote:
>> Seth wrote:
>>>
>>> "Paul" <nospam@needed.com> wrote in message
>>> news:i1r5mm$5ie$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>> Justin wrote:
>>>>> In article <4C406C67.6080900@invalid.invalid>,
>>>>> LouB <Lou@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Helroy wrote:
>>>>>>> "Justin" <justin@nobecauseihatespam.org> wrote in message
>>>>>>>
news:justin-2F1501.00243816072010@62-183-169-81.bb.dnainternet.fi...
>>>>>>>> Hi folks, I have a Dell D430 with 1GB or RAM. When I installed
>>>>>>>> WIndows 7 - this thing is redefining slow. Would another gig of
>>>>>>>> ram help?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://www.imagebam.com/image/a8870888787396
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I would run Windows7 upgrade advisor before installing.
>>>>>>> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/upgrade-
advisor.aspx
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Already has win 7 so more ram is the way to go. 3 rather than 2
>>>>>> would be even better.
>>>>>
>>>>> The Dell D430 can only support 2GB of ram.
>>>>
>>>> I wouldn't be too sure about that. It has 1GB soldered in and one
>>>> SODIMM slot. The 945GM datasheet seems to be indicating that SODIMM
>>>> could be a 2GB module. The total max might be 1+2=3GB. (If the
>>>> original memory wasn't soldered in, it could have been upgraded as
>>>> well.) For performance reasons, a better combo would be 1+1 (dual
>>>> channel
>>>> symmetric mode). It all depends on whether the OS caching habits with
>>>> 3GB total, exceed the benefits of running 1+1 dual channel symmetric
>>>> and getting slightly more memory bandwidth.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.memoryx.net/dellbuo.html
>>>>
>>>> http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-Latitude-D430-
Subnotebook.7900.0.html
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "The reviewed notebook was equipped with one Gigabyte soldered
>>>> DDR2 RAM.
>>>> Nevertheless, the RAM capacity can still be easily enhanced to up
>>>> to 3 GB,
>>>> because there is a free memory slot hidden beneath a maintenance
>>>> opening.
>>>> Considering the current RAM costs, this is surely a good idea.
>>>> But, Windows XP ran also smoothly with only one GB RAM."
>>>>
>>>> See Table 22 and Figure 15, starting on PDF page 339. This is the
>>>> info for the 945GM, which should be the chipset of that computer.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.intel.com/Assets/PDF/datasheet/309219.pdf
>>>>
>>>> You can verify the chipset present, with something like CPUZ. Some
>>>> chipsets are hard to tell apart, so the utilities identify the
>>>> chipset as a member of a "family", rather than stating it is one
>>>> exact chipset. Using the no-install version of this utility, means
>>>> you can just run the executable without needing to mess around.
>>>
>>> According to both Dell and www.crucial.com it only supports 2G max.
>>> the 1G on-board and 1 additional. While the Intel chipset may support
>>> a 2G expansion, the Dell design doesn't.
>>>
>>>
> It gets even weirder here. Compare D420 to D430. Both use the same
> chipset, and the capabilities on the RAM front are different.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_Latitude
>
> D420 512MB soldered + 2GB SODIMM (945GMS single channel) D430 1GB
> soldered + 1GB SODIMM (945GMS single channel)
>
> Why there is a difference, doesn't make a lot of sense. At least, if the
> chipsets really are the same, as stated there.


I confirmed the Dell D430 can't support more than 2GB or ram. I
installed a 2GB stick to total three - it didn't boot, no POST.
Once I took the 1GB stick out of my iMac and installed it in the Dell -
all was well.
The 2GB stick went into the iMac for a total of 3GB in the iMac. I'm
running memtest86 to make sure there aren't any errors.
The iMac is old....

http://yfrog.com/n7dsc01014resizedj
>
> Paul

 

[Ken Blake]

On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 111:48 -0700, Ken Blake
<kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote:

> On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:16:24 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>
> > "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
> > news:rrf346p4ii87t364k6pnht28lq0qtaueqc@4ax.com...
> > > On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:22:46 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >> "Ken Blake" <kblake@this.is.invalid.com> wrote in message
> > >> news:jhu146l438cuvc6env5t9kj1biut7f96cd@4ax.com...
> > >> > On Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:00:47 -0400, "Thip" <me@privacy.net> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > Not my experience at all. I've found readyboost to be useless, except
> > >> > for those well under 2gB.
> > >>
> > >> Not the case here at all. I have one machine with 2 GB and ReadyBoost
> > >> has
> > >> made a dramatic difference.
> > >
> > >
> > > How large is your readyboost thumb drive? What brand and model is it?
> >
> > 4GB Super Talent, no idea what the model is or where I even got the thing.
>
>
>
> Thanks. I'm still skeptical, but perhaps I'll try it again on my
> wife's machine, which is 2GB.



I've just started readyboost on a thumb drive on my wife's machine.
We'll see what it does.

By the way, I also tried to start readyboost on my machine, but
couldn't. The message I got was that my disk Windows Experience Index
was so high (it's 7.0; I have an SSD) that readyboost would do nothing
for me.