Can I Use Any Of This Ram?

My computer is a ThinkCentre M75e 5042 A7U (64-bit). It's got 4GB of RAM. It needs more.

HERE cnet shows these specs for RAM:

Technology: DDR3 SDRAM
Memory Speed: 1066 MHz
Memory Specification Compliance: PC3-10600
Features: unbuffered
Configuration Features: 1 x 1 GB + 1 x 2 GB
Installed Size: 3 GB

I'm seeing some RAM boards with DDR3 SDRAM technology and PC3-10600 Memory Specification Compliance but faster than described above (1333 MHz).

Plus, "Configuration Features" is given as 1 x 1 GB + 1 x 2 GB. I guess this just refers to the RAM that the machine came from the factory with; since this machine has 4 GB of RAM, my brother must have simply installed another 1 GB board.

Anyway, I don't know if this machine can use faster memory, or in what increments I can add memory. (I see some 4 GB boards that I'd like to use if possible.)

So could you guys tell me if I can use any of THESE boards?

 

You can't trust reviews to find your hardware specs.

Use the Crucial configurator tool to find out what they recommend.

 

The Crucial configurator tool recommended

Crucial Ballistix Sport 2GB DDR3-1600 UDIMM

and

Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB Kit (4GBx2) DDR3-1600 UDIMM LP

I see a DDR3 SDRAM Mini-UDIMM advertised elsewhere, so I guess I can take it on faith that UDIMM is compatible with DDR3 SDRAM...

BUT it seems that the "Crucial" in "Crucial configurator tool" is the brand of the products they're suggesting I buy.

Comments?

 

Micron/Crucial make the memory, yes, is that a problem for you?

If you're stuck for cash, $36 gets you 8GB of 'normal' 1.5v
or 8GB of DDR3L 1.35V: here.

For lower latency, better response times, there's also a choice, 'normal' at £42 or DDR3L (that you linked above).

Which you choose and how you set it up depends on the memory timing/voltage settings you can change in the BIOS - they should all work fine but perhaps the BIOS won't allow optimum settings.

BTW, whichever you go for, I'd pull the current sticks as they'll slow down the new RAM and reduce the bandwidth.

 

No, certainly not if it's good, and if you think it is, that's good enough for me.

No, I'm certainly not stuck for $45.99...

If you think the Crucial Ballistix Sport is better, I'll get that, but just in the interest of trying to learn as much as I can, I have to tell you that I don't know what "normal 1.5v" or "DDR3L 1.35V" is (although I do know that DDR3 is double data rate type three synchronous dynamic RAM).

I don't know what "latency" means in this sense.

I don't know enough to understand this choice, just letting you know, you can react to that as you see fit...

I could go into the BIOS and look at the memory timing/voltage settings, but I wouldn't know what to do with that information, but as long as you think it'll work fine regardless, maybe I should just leave it alone.

Because the old ones have degraded due to heat? Is it likely that would be significant? Is there a way to measure how much it would slow things down? Isn't the speed and the bandwidth the same thing, call it "data flux"?

I'm not trying to play devil's advocate here, I'm asking these things because I don't know (obviously).

 

Crucial/Micron = good RAM, esp. when checked/bought as compatible, I've been buying it for ~16 years, mostly for OEM brand upgrades.

As I said, much depends on what memory timings/voltages you can access in your BIOS. Lower latency memory = faster access times, 9.9.9.24 beats 11.11.11.32, etc. Higher Mhz is obviously faster (esp. with CPU/APU graphics) - if your BIOS can use it at the recommended speed - if not, try to reduce the latency timings so the CPU can access the memory quicker. Low voltage DDR3L (1.25 - 1.35v) can usually be run fine at up to 1.5 - 1.65v (this is often done when 'overclocking' RAM, from say 1600Mhz to 2000Mhz+).

If you buy 1600Mhz 9-9-9-24 memory but your BIOS only allows 1333Mhz max., you might be able to lower the latency to 8.9.8.24 or a little lower (dropping too far might result in a failure to boot so a quick reset of the BIOS followed by a more subtle change of settings would be the order of the day).

If you kept your current RAM as well, it would run only as fast as the slowest module and you would not gain the extra bandwidth from using dual channel mode.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/ever...iple-and-quad-channel-memory-architectures/2/

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/dual-channel-memory-make-difference-integrated-video-performance/

 

No it is not.

The Crucial System Scanner provides a report (at the far left side of the result) of what specific type of RAM is supported on the system scan, so it identifies exactly what type of RAM is needed.
Of course, on the right if the report it is going to recommend its own brand of RAM - it's a manufacturer so it would be odd if they didn't.
But a user is free to buy the ram specification they need from any manufacturer/supplier.

 

The IBM/Lenovo part number for 4GB memory modules is 89Y9224 ( https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/documents/pd005910 ).
Google that or Ebay search for compatible memory. Ram is 10+ times faster than a traditional hard disk drive so nitpicking over latency is kind of silly. If its a gaming PC with a high end video card, maybe......

 

Actually, searching the exact RAM stick specification: PC3-10600 (1333MHz) DDR3 UDIMM
on any online store will get the exact answers on price and size needed.
But it is necessary to know (should show on the scanner report) what the maximum amount of supportable RAM is.

 

the link to the Lenovo specifications for this model is https://support.lenovo.com/gb/en/documents/pd000678

The detailed spec says that your computer will support 1GB, 2GB and 4GB modules "in any combination" (HMM); it has 4 slots, giving a maximum of 16GB RAM capacity.
I expect that slower RAM - eg PC3-8500 would work, but also that it would slow your memory access times down; also, higher speed RAM would probably work e.g. PC3-12800 but there would be no speed advantage speed gained over PC3-10600, as the RAM cold not go faster than the dictates. You may not notice any speed advantage/disadvantage anyway.
On the webpage given look in the hardware maintenance manual (p.148 et seq, I think) for the Lenovo replacement p/n - it should be the one given by Max.

Use http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Lenovo/thinkcentre-m75e-%28type-4163%2C-5042%2C-5046%2C-5052%2C-5054%2C-5056%2C-5057%2C-5058%2C-5062%2C-5064%2C-5060%2C-5066%29 this page to do from the part numbers listed by the Advisor tool (guaranteed to work in your machine) to get at the same generic part number (use the Crucial part number search) or for some other manufacturers enter their p/n in the box below and it will return with the equivalent Crucial p/ns. If there is a match between two numbers that memory is very likely to be compatible

Be careful what you buy on ebay. There is no technical support. (but you can always sell it on if you buy the wrong thing)
eg from your list
291713490449 - incompatible (for laptops & 8GB modules)
272183875312 - compatible ? (Crucial have no info on these as discontinued)
182066533113 - compatible (Crucial have no info on these as discontinued)
301888182791 - incompatible (I believe that this is server RAM)
111939495260 - compatible (2 x 4GB modules)
etc

This involves a lot of cross checking across websites, becoming familiar with the crucial generic p/ns that are equivalent to the one spec'd by the advisor tool, and using your judgement ! I don't think you have to worry about low density and high density modules as you have an AMD chipset.
Also look for PC3-12800 (1600MHz) modules as Crucial make only these now and the (Crucial) compatible modules made now are all that speed; your m/b will automatically downclock them. Beware of paying more on ebay for some parts that are the same price or less new. Corsair, Kingston and others have memory advisor tools, but their RAM is not sold as often on ebay. If you get confident you might try Hynix, Samsung branded DIMMs, they do not have memory advisors tools but the they have p/n decoding tables if you know how to use them.

Dumb_Question
25.March.2016

 

How much will it slow things down? Enough to merit throwing away 4 GB of memory? I bought 8 GB, but it seems to me 12 GB would be better than 8, especially with memory hogs like Facebook. And yes, of course I can just buy more, but I've already got the new 8 GB, and I'd like to do this tomorrow.

 

If you don't have a dedicated graphics card, increasing the main memory bandwidth and speed is the only way to boost the CPU graphics, which looks like the weakest link. By how much depends on your screen resolution and eyes, if it's borderline now, a boost might make it more snappier/comfortable.