Difference between these 2 sticks of RAM?

Charlie Haughy

Ive got Thinkpad SL510 laptop. It has 2gb ddr3 ram installed in one slot. Im looking to upgrade to 4gb, by adding another 2gb.

Specs of laptop off crucial:

Memory:

DDR3 PC3-8500, DDR3 PC3-10600Memory Type: DDR3 PC3-8500, DDR3 PC3-10600, DDR3 (non-ECC)
Maximum Memory: 8GB
Slots: 2
Each memory slot can hold DDR3 PC3-8500, DDR3 PC3-10600 with a maximum of 4GB per slot.*
*Not to exceed manufacturer supported memory.

There is 2 types of 2gb ram to buy for same price, but what is the difference between them and which is better for me? Thanks

• Module Size: 2GB
• Package: 204-pin SODIMM
• Feature: DDR3 PC3-8500
• Specs: DDR3 PC3-8500 • CL=7 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1066 • 1.5V • 256Meg x 64 •

and

• Module Size: 2GB
• Package: 204-pin SODIMM
• Feature: DDR3 PC3-10600
• Specs: DDR3 PC3-10600 • CL=9 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1333 • 1.5V • 256Meg x 64 •

cherryghost

The second one has a higher clock speed on the RAM stick, which leave more headroom for overclocking if you're thinking of doing that.

Either way, performancewise there isnt much of a difference. You can mix and match them too, so whatever you have in there currently is compatible with the new RAM too.

deconduo

You should try and find out exactly what type of RAM you have right now, and pick a stick with the same specs. Putting in sticks with mismatched speeds and timings can cause problems.

You can use the scanner from the crucial site to find out what you already have installed:
http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/

Deano12345

deconduo wrote: »

You should try and find out exactly what type of RAM you have right now, and pick a stick with the same specs. Putting in sticks with mismatched speeds and timings can cause problems.

You can use the scanner from the crucial site to find out what you already have installed:
http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/

Definitely match your speeds and timings to whatever you have in there, I've seen all sorts of problems in laptops with mismatched timings (most 1066 sticks tend to be CL7, while 1333 tend to be CL9 )

Charlie Haughy

Deano12345 wrote: »

Definitely match your speeds and timings to whatever you have in there, I've seen all sorts of problems in laptops with mismatched timings (most 1066 sticks tend to be CL7, while 1333 tend to be CL9 )

Unfortunatly I ordered the second module, while the one installed already is the first!

What types of problems can arise now?

deconduo

If you can set the timings manually from the BIOS you will be fine. However as its a laptop I would assume the BIOS is locked.

Theres no harm in just trying to module you have to see if it works though.

Charlie Haughy

I did the scan on crucial and both those 2GB sticks came up for compatible RAM sticks though!
Says over them: Guaranteed-compatible memory upgrades for your ThinkPad SL510 Series

cherryghost

I don't think there'll be an issue back in sodimm DDR and DDR2 days it might have been an issue, DDR3 is fine. Been working with laptops and DDR3 since the day it came out, never had problems