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[Solved] Maximum RAM supported in HP Pavillion dv6450us

Forum Motherboards & Memory : Memory - [Solved] Maximum RAM supported in HP Pavillion dv6450us

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Best answer from rand_79.

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juniortormena   10-23-2009 at 01:21:50 AM

Hello
The problem is at follows:
HP claims that my notebook model, dv6450us, can only handle 2GB of RAM. I never dreamed in confirm that information, but today, by accident, while running Everest, I read that my chipset can support 4GB.
To confirm that it wasn't an error (mine or everest's), I visited my chipset page on Intel

Mobile Intel 945GM Express Chipset:
http://ark.intel.com/chipset.aspx?familyID=22816

just to confirm that it was true, the chipset can handle 4GB of RAM. To be sure, I visited my product page in HP site, and there it was, "max RAM supported = 2GB". Well, to answer this doubt, I enter the support chat,
and the technician said that this could be caused by processor limitation. But it is not, I got a Intel Core 2 Duo T5300 (64-bit, 1.73GHz). So, addressing 4GB of RAM can't be the problem, not for the processor, nor for the chipset...
Am I understanding anything wrongly, or there something really amiss. I know sometimes notebook manufacturers, like HP, downgrade some hardware features to save battery (like in this very model, where the GPU clock, which can go at 400MHz, is set to 250MHz). But there is no point in this.

I hope somebody knows anything about this.

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Best answer from rand_79
at the time the notebook was made, maybe there were no compatible 2GB chips?
the easiest way would be to try it.

 

or to contact HP and ask specifically why.

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tcsenter   10-23-2009 at 05:27:15 AM

The chipset can indeed support 4GB MAX, but you'll never get that due to 32-bit architecture limitations. ~ 3.25GB is the max you could expect to actually utilize.

Since HP says 2GB is the MAX, that may be an 'artificial' marketing limit or possibly even imposed by the BIOS. Memory is cheap enough, you could order a 4GB kit (2 x 2GB) and give it a try with the latest BIOS version available from HP.

Reply to tcsenter
rand_79   10-23-2009 at 06:12:47 AM
Best answer

at the time the notebook was made, maybe there were no compatible 2GB chips?
the easiest way would be to try it.

 

or to contact HP and ask specifically why.


Message edited by rand_79 on 10-23-2009 at 06:18:26 AM
Reply to rand_79
juniortormena   10-26-2009 at 04:37:00 AM

Thanks guys, I was already thinking in giving it a try.
I could use some RAM sticks from a friend or something, just to avoid unecessary expenses. RAM is very cheap in the US, but here in Brazil, it's severely overtaxed.

Thanks

Reply to juniortormena
juniortormena   10-27-2009 at 01:14:16 PM

Just for feedback

Thank you guys for the help. I just tested it with 2x2GB sticks from a friend of mine.
It works (Damn HP, misinformed and misinforming)!!!
I'm pretty sure this should be truth for other HP models based on Intel 945 chipset,
so, if anyone wants to boost your laptop, go for it, despite HP claims.

Now I have to save some money for the upgrade... hopefully, I'll get it til Christmas...

Reply to juniortormena
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