Help picking ram for an old VAIO system

[horrorific]

Since my laptop crashed I'm back to using an old sony VAIO, and as reliable as it is...it's got less than 500mb of ram. So I'm looking to upgrade it, but have absolutely no clue of what type of ram will work with the system.

This is my system model PCV-RX850, support page http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=PCVRX850

Any recommendations on ram type or where to buy inexpensive ram would be greatly appreciated.
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One other thing I was curious about, overclocking. The cpu is 2.4ghz and I've been curious about how to overclock it (if its at all possible).

 

[dallasjoh]

Did you look in the manual? It tell's you all you need to know. Your system will support DDR-266 / PC-2100 memory up to 1.5GB. As for overclocking the system, most branded computers have the BIOS locked and you can't change the FSB or mutiplier.

http://www.docs.sony.com/release/specs/PCVRX850_mksp.pdf

 

[Shadow703793]

^+1. The easiest way to check what RAM you need is to run CPUZ and look under "Memory" then under "Type".

 

[horrorific]

I'm fairly new to separate hardware parts shopping, so I've never really dealt with compatibility.

ps; CPUZ tells me I've got DDR and the max bandwidth is PC2300. So, am I supposed to get pc-2100 or pc-2300?

edit: just looking through amazon, would these two work with my system?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000068IL1/sr=1-1/qid=1228090784/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1228090784&sr=1-1&seller=

http://www.amazon.com/Generic-GB-PC2100-DDR-Memory/dp/B000068IL2/ref=dp_return_2?ie=UTF8&n=172282&s=electronics

 

[bc4]

The maximum memory module you can get is 512MB. You have three memory slots. Open up you computer and see what you have in there. You may have 2 x 256mb or 1 x 512mb.

just to be clear, your second choice will not work. 3 of the top one would be the max but just open up and see how many sticks of ram are in you PC and then decide if you want to just by 1, 2, or 3 sticks of 512mb

edit: cpuz will tell you if you have 1 dimm or 2 in there now

 

[horrorific]

I have one, it says it in the manual as well. Although in the manual and in cpuz it tells me I have 512mb, in reality my system only reads 480mb and my processor reads 2.3ghz (of 2.4).

So the 512mb one I found will work and the 1gb one won't?

ps. this is my system; http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=454016

ediit: ok, newb question, what does the pc-2100 mean?

 

[Shadow703793]

^ You only see 480MB because the rest is being reserved for integrated graphics. [strike]You can ger a single 1GB DDR SO DIMM and it should work.Be careful DO NOT get the regular DDR[/strike]

 

[tcsenter]

You can ger a single 1GB DDR SO DIMM and it should work. Be careful DO NOT get the regular DDR

This is a VAIO desktop, not a laptop. I would not recommend 1GB modules unless the reseller offers a return policy with no restocking fee, which is pretty rare. The latest BIOS for this model is 2002, about two years before 1GB modules became common in the market. The odds that this board was ever tested with modules in excess of 512MB are slim to none.

As for the 'generic' modules on Amazon, I would again not recommend those because they are most likely high density or newer DRAM technology. OEM computer companies, and ASUS in particular, rarely support high density modules in their BIOS, even where the chipset can technically handle it.

High density in this case would include the following:

■ 4-bit wide DRAM IC (e.g. 32Mx4, 64Mx4, 128Mx4)
■ 512Mbit DRAM IC
■ more than 512MB per DIMM rank (logical side)

I recommend looking for unbuffered non-ECC 512MB modules with the following characteristics:

PC2700 or PC2100 (184-pin)
DIMM ranks: two (double sided)
DRAM IC technology: 256Mbit
DRAM IC organization: 32Mx8

 

[horrorific]

Thanks for the advice, it took a while but I finally found it

 

[nowchinatown]

sorry if i'm not posting this right but i also have a sony vaio, but a laptop, pcg-k23, crucial.com say it'll max at 1gig. i got 2-512 pc2700 333mhz patriots, installed but 'my computer'- properties still says same as with old 2-256 2700 sticks, which oddly states 448mb ram.

with cpu-z it says slot 1 has 512 and slot 2 512 but says 166mhz and the new sticks are 333mhz so what the heck?

cpu-z does say 1024mb under memory size tab but memory type is blank and there is no performance difference now in comparison to old ram.

also when i first put in the new ram the 'my computer' properties read 192mb ram! so i switched the sticks to opposite slots and it went to 448ram, but again that is the same reading with old 2x256 ram in it (and btw this is my second set of new patriots since i thought it may just be bad sticks...)

how can i really know if it's using 1024, i don't care what the numbers say as long as they're both working and i'm getting max performance.
pls help, thnk you

 

[Shadow703793]

This is a VAIO desktop, not a laptop.

I stand corrected. edited.

 

[tcsenter]

with cpu-z it says slot 1 has 512 and slot 2 512 but says 166mhz and the new sticks are 333mhz so what the heck?

166.6MHz clock frequency = 333MHz (DDR) bus frequency

cpu-z does say 1024mb under memory size tab but memory type is blank and there is no performance difference now in comparison to old ram.

Check under System Information: Start > Run > type msinfo32

What is reported for Total Physical Memory? You have 64MB utilized for shared graphics memory, so it should read around 960MB (1024MB - 64MB). Check that figure against the physical memory reported by Task Manager under the Performance Tab (CTRL + ALT + DEL).

FWIW, I have an HP laptop with the same ATI Radeon IGP 345M Northbridge that shipped with 2 x 256MB modules. HP also states up to 1GB MAX is supported via 2 x 512MB modules. Using the latest BIOS from HP, I have tested two different PC2700 512MB sets and one PC2100 512MB set. None of them are detected correctly, not even in the BIOS. All sets are confirmed working in other laptops using different chipsets.

 

[nowchinatown]

thnx for help, system properties read pentium R 4 cpu 2.80 ghz 2.79 ghz, (don't know why it says both 2.8 and right after that 2.79) 448mb of ram
xp home 2002 service pack 2

sytem info says
smbios 2.3
phoenix technologies R0110x1. 5/19/2004
total physical mem 512
avail physical 26mb
total virtual 2gig
avail virtual 1.96
page file space 1.03

i got this info by
Open Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Information.

task manager says
total mem 457712
avail mem 127628
system cache 191176


as noted above cpu-z says 1024mb under memory size tab but memory type is blank core speed 2791.2
multiplier x21
bus 132.9 mhz
rated FSB 531.7

a newbie question- so like with ur laptop as with mine, is there a way to do some test to see both 512 are working, something that wouldn't work if you only have 512 ram working?

 

[horrorific]

Get cpuz, it'll scan your pc's config and the details of the motherboard/cpu/memory of your pc

 

[tcsenter]

as noted above cpu-z says 1024mb under memory size tab but memory type is blank core

CPU-Z and similar utilities just regurgitate whatever is returned by the module SPD. The SPD has its own circuit and pins on the module which is accessed via a separate interface (SMBus). So the SPD can be functioning even if the rest of the module is not. In this way, these utilities are sort of useless.

 

[nowchinatown]

so is there some test that can be run or even a computing function that requires at least 1 gig of ram to be working and if the laptop can't do it then u know u have less than 1 gig working. it would seem someone can come up with a known ram required function or speed test like moving ur car from point a to point b and if it takes x minutes then u know for sure how fast it must be going. sorry for a simple dumb analogy but...

 

[tcsenter]

Physical memory reported by Task Manager or System Information will be correct.

 

[nowchinatown]

fyi to all, i ordered 512 pc 2100, not 2700 even tho it's supposed to work too,
got it online from staples going into the score and got shipped to house for free, it is edgetech ram and put em in and properties now show 960 mb ram so my 2 512's are working, again sony vaio laptop . patriot ram 2700 did not work, good luck

 

[nowchinatown]

geez, now the ram is in and works but firefox isn't working so i'm wondering is it possible i have to reset anything on any software or anything else in the laptop after putting in new 1 gig ram of another brand and more than the 512 i had b4?
thnx