Important question before adding more memory to my laptop

The 64bit version limits access ONLY so much as it can!!!!!!!!! You have SEVERAL limits!

1. Memory
2. Interface
3. multiplexor
4. Motherboard
5. Bios
6. CPU
7. O/S!

So your O/S is the SEVENTH limiting factor! If the CPU says you get 2GB, you get NO MORE than 2GB! If the BIOS says you get 1GB, you get no more than that. If the interface says you get no more than 64K, GOOD LUCK!

BTW a free memory slot does NOT mean you can add more memory! If the interface can handle 8GB, and the multiplexor can handle 8GB, then you could have up to 8GB in any slot, but 8GB total! HECK, I have a system downstairs. The CPU could handle 4GB(It's an old system), but the board can only handle 16MB. Although nearly EVERY Intel CPU at the time could handle 4GB, nearly NO motherboard manufacturer supported it.

BTW for the 32 bit windows 7, the limit is 4GB. That is ASSUMING everything ELSE handles it! For 64Bit:


Starter: 8GB
Home Basic: 8GB
Home Premium: 16GB
Professional: 192GB
Enterprise: 192GB
Ultimate: 192GB

Steve

BTW if you want REAL help, at least give the model number. They USED to try to make processors better with speed and/or addressing:

8085 64K
8086/8088 1GB
80286 4GB(as I recall)
80386/80486 I believe 4GB
Pentium was like 16GB(or was it 64GB)
etc...

Now they are backtracking!

ARK | Intel® Atom

I actually have one relatively new computer that has a maximum CPU limited addressing capability of 2GB! YEP, 2GB! The earlier generation was limited to 1GB! You see, IT was built for simplicity, economy, and power efficiency.

steve

Go to RAM Memory Upgrade: Dell, Mac, Apple, HP, Compaq. USB drives, SSD at Crucial.com

Let it scan your computer.

It will tell you exactly how much you can upgrade to, and show you which RAM fits your laptop. Then you have the option to purchase them if you want. Or you can try to find them somewhere else.

I'd just purchase it from them tho, shipping time is pretty quick.

WTG,

Nice site. I tried BOTH methods. They both worked fine, but the one having you answer questions, like the model of the computer, was a LOT faster!

I only now checked your screen shot. You obscured the model info, etc... It is possible that it is a 32 bit app, and misled. ALSO, some other piece could be limiting you to 4GB. 4GB IS a lot, and, not too long ago, was ABSOLUTE MAX! Still, usually, if the computer can handle all the memory to the BIOS level, and the O/S DOESN'T handle it, the O/S will use what it can as memory, and the remainder for CACHE, extended memory, and volatile disk space. So you usually don't LOSE anything, you are just LIMITED. AGAIN though, that is ONLY if everything up to the BIOS supports it. If you try 8GB and the system only supports 4GB, the system either won't boot(you can remove the extra 4GB to recover), or it will act like you only have 4GB.

Steve

Ya, thats where I get my RAM from whenever I need to order any.

Selecting the info yourself is a bit faster, but I just prefer to let it scan. I'm lazy like that

lol no problem man, I'm actually surprised by the number of people who don't know about Crucial by now..

Guess you learn something new each day!

Hi,

You cannot just upgrade your memory to a higher capacity. But, you can always try to add 2 gb to your current memory, when it works, change the 2gb into 4 gb. If all this works, try to change the two 4gb memory to two 8gb.

If you forced to upgrade the laptop, there's a possibility that something could go wrong.