4. Memory Upgrades

Upgradeable 512 MB memory modules installed in Eurocom's F-Bomb gaming notebook

Perhaps the easiest and most beneficial notebook upgrade is to double existing memory capacity. Such an upgrade does not actually make a notebook faster but can, in many cases, give the illusion of faster performance because of improvements to application response at run-time. A memory upgrade is subject to a few key restrictions: expansion slots available, slot type and maximum memory capacity supported. Notebook memory also goes by a slightly different nomenclature than desktop memory. It's called SODIMM (small outline dual-inline memory module). You won't need to know this, except that you should ask for SODIMM memory from your favorite retailer or memory vendor (most of them will require you to use compatibility tools that will look up your notebook's specific needs and match them explicitly and exactly).

Vendors generally publish other key information about your notebook's memory characteristics. In planning an upgrade, one key question to answer must be: "How much memory can your notebook support?" Even if you can afford another 512 MB module, will your notebook recognize all, part or none of that capacity? It's best to establish beforehand what kind of parts you can use, so as to get the most bang for your buck.

SODIMM socket on a Sony notebook

Two other things to keep in mind where notebook memory is concerned include soldered-in versus slotted memory, and what must be replaced to achieve maximum benefit from a boost in capacity. Some notebooks include only one memory slot along with a memory module that's soldered directly to the motherboard. On such units, you can only boost the capacity of the drop-in module - you're quite literally stuck with the other one (or at least it's stuck to your motherboard). Those units that include two or more memory slots may require you to remove and replace one or more existing module with new ones to achieve the most beneficial possible upgrade. This was the case with the Dell Latitude mentioned near the beginning of this story, which required one of our authors to remove a 128 MB module to make room for one of two 256 MB modules. The end result, though, was that Windows XP Professional had an entirely workable 512 MB of RAM to run within.