Types of Laptop Memory
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Most new laptops have switched to the faster DDR3 memory specification but there are still quite a few budget based laptops that still use DDR2 memory. In addition to the type of memory installed in the laptop, the speed of the memory can also make a difference in the performance. When comparing laptops, be sure to check both of these pieces of information to determine how they may impact performance.
There are two ways that the memory speeds can be designated. The first is
- by the memory type and its clock rating, like DDR3 1066.
The other method is by listing the type along with the bandwidth. In the case the same DDR2 memory would be listed as PC3-8500 memory.
Below is a listing in order of fastest to slowest memory types in both formats:
- DDR3 1600 / PC3-12800
- DDR3 1333 / PC3-10600
- DDR3 1066 / PC3-8500
- DDR2 800 / PC2-6400
- DDR3 800 / PC3-6400
- DDR2 667 / PC2-5300 or PC2-5400
- DDR2 533 / PC2-4200
- DDR2 400 / PC2-3200
Memory Restriction
Laptops generally have two slots available for memory modules compared to four or more in desktop systems. This means that they are more limited in the amount of memory that have available. With current memory module technologies for DDR3, this restriction generally comes to eight gigabytes of RAM in a laptop based on 4GB modules. Older DDR2 memory can go up to 4GB using 2GB modules. Some ultraportable systems are even fixed with one size of memory that cannot be changed at all.
So what is important to know when you look at a laptop?
- Find out what the maximum amount of memory is. This is generally listed by most of the manufacturers. This will let you know what upgrade potential the system has.
Determine how the memory configuration is when you buy the system. For example, a laptop that has 4GB of memory can be configured as either a single 4GB module or two 2GB modules. The single memory module allows for better upgrade potential because by adding another module you are gaining more memory without sacrificing any current memory. Upgrading the two module situation with a 4GB upgrade would result in the loss of one 2GB module and a memory total of 6GB.