Adding memory to laptop.
 

I am buying a new HP Dv series laptop. while configuring it, HP is asking for $100 to go from 2GB RAM to 4GB. Looking around on newegg, i have found 2GB laptop RAM for about $40.00. Could anyone recommend good company for the RAM so it is reliable. Also is it hard to add more ram to a laptop. Done it many times on desktop but never have openned laptop before.
Any suggestions?
thanks

Newegg is a good source for RAM. I'd also check out TigerDirect.com or even HP's refurbished section. I haven't found that the brand of RAM makes much of a difference - 10 years ago it probably did, but these days even a little mom and pop outfit in Taiwan has a billion dollar chip factory. :)

As for how hard it is...depends on your laptop model. Generally, manufacturers make it pretty easy to get to the RAM because they know that's one of the first things people are probably going to want to do when they open up the laptop. On my Thinkpad, for example. I unscrew 2 screws, pop off the little door, and there's the RAM.

Remember that you are likely to have only 2 "slots" for the RAM. If HP sells it to you with 2*1g chips, you can't buy another 2g chip and slide them in, too. If the laptop comes with 2*1g, you would need to buy 2*2g and junk the originals (or donate them to a friend, etc) to get to 4g. If it comes with 1*2g then you probably should be able to just drop in the second. Not sure how it works in laptops these days, but you might want to consider simply getting 2*2g chips anyway (they look to be pretty cheap) so that everything matches (speed etc)


RFTraveler :)

On most laptops replacing RAM is pretty easy. You usually undo a screw or two and either pop off a small plate on the bottom or pop off the keyboard.

So long as you stick with a major brand of RAM, you should be ok. I usually recommend Kingston or Crucial. Patriot, Corsair, Mushkin, OCZ are other good brands. If you're at all uncertain about what to get, I'd go over to http://www.crucial.com/ and use their website to figure out what you need. If you use their "Memory Advisor" tool they'll guarantee compatibility, they have a lifetime warranty on their memory products, and they have free ground shipping and cheap expedited shipping.

All good choices.

Laptop RAM is a 5 minute upgrade. Chances are excellent that you have 2 1GB sticks currently in your laptop. I'd recommend going to newegg.com or frys.com or Fry's Electronics and picking up 2 2GB sticks in a 4GB pack for about $50-60 after mail-in rebates. You can reduce that cost further if you can find someone to buy your old memory. This upgrade is much cheaper than letting the manufacturer put in 4GB and charge you a fortune.

If you are going to upgrade the memory, get the least amount you can since you will probably have to toss (or sell on e-bay) what's in there to upgrade it anyways.

It's real easy, usually remove a screw, pop out the current memory (it usually has two little clips holding it in) and replace it with the new one.

Not all laptop memory is the same, so make sure you get one for your machine and not something that won't fit. If you use the memory configuration tool at any site that sells memory it will tell you what you need by the model.

Come to think of it, I remember that with my old desktop (we're talking 1997 vintage here, so things may have changed) you had to match RAM types - so you needed the same RAM in each slot. Check your owner's manual to see if your laptop requires this.

While most desktops today require matched pairs of DIMMs (memory sticks) I haven't found laptops to be that way recently. Doesn't mean that there aren't some out there, but it is less common.

As for brand to buy, I've often bought Crucial, knowing that I'm paying a bit more but also relatively comfortable with their quality and guarantee.

One little tip I learned when upgrading Laptop memory, is to keep the memory modules that came as original equipment on your laptop.

If you ever have to send the laptop in for warranty repair, throw the original memory modules back in there, and the warranty provider will have one less thing they can point to as causing your problem.

Conversely, if you buy the add'l memory from HP or Dell or Lenovo when you purchase the laptop, it will be included in any warranty they offer, original or extended. Sometimes a laptop manufacturer's warranty will cover third-party memory, but it's hit or miss on that.

As others have said, it's almost always a plate on the bottom.

However, it's unlikely you have more than two slots, going from 2GB to 4GB probably means replacing what's in there. Don't price 2GB, price 4GB. At $100 you're probably not saving much doing it yourself.

I've had Crucial memory fail and was REFUSED a replacement.

I've had Centon memory fail once and their service was the GREATEST in making me satisfied.

Guess which brand I refuse to buy or recommend now?

I usually buy Kingston or Centon for the quality and lifetime warranty now.

FYI, don't get one 4Gb module, you'll be needlessely be spending a few too many dollars. Get two 2Gb modules. The maximum memory a laptop (or current desktop) can see and use is just over 3Gb, two 2Gb modules will cost less than one 4Gb module. So get two 2Gb modules.

Before someone jumps in here on a technicality, Windows Vista Ultimate will access almost 4Gb max.

I've seen the same thing happen with Crucial. Everyone raves about them, but they're tight-fisted if you need a warranty replacement.

Thank you all very much for the help. I will use some memory configuration guide before buying.

I said to price 4GB of memory, not a 4GB module. I don't think the 4GB modules are out yet.

Sorry, I wasn't implying you were.

I recently saw 4Gb laptop memory listed on Crucial's website, and this discussion made me think why would they offer it that way? To make more money off unsuspecting consumers? Upon closer reading, it's listed as a 2x2Gb module, 4Gb total.