Getting new Ram for Laptop

[Cruiseshipfan]

I have felt the need to upgrade the Ram in my laptop for 4GB to 8GB. However I was wondering if its alright to mix and match dimms. Trying to get the same dimms as I have currently installed is a major pain and quite costly. So I was looking at getting a single 4GB Corsair Vengence dimm. It seems to have the same stats as the one currently installed. I heard somewhere that you should keep them the same, but I wasn't sure what the case is when the stats are the same.  

[Elbstrand]

Whats keeping you from getting 2x4GB ?

[Elbstrand]

Before you install ram, are you sure you're using 100% of the 4GB at times? If not then you will not benifit from adding more ram.

 

Press Ctrl + Alt + Del and click Task Manager then Performance and view the percentage of ram that you are using when you think you're doing a task that would benifit from more ram.

 

You are aware, that programms (including windows itself) are using more ram, if more ram is available?

[Elbstrand]

Yes, but if he is only using 50% of his ram, they could be using more ram and they are not.

 

Okay, yes i'll give you that. @Cruiseshipfan can you post some specs of your laptop?

[Cruiseshipfan]

Before you install ram, are you sure you're using 100% of the 4GB at times? If not then you will not benifit from adding more ram.

 

Press Ctrl + Alt + Del and click Task Manager then Performance and view the percentage of ram that you are using when you think you're doing a task that would benifit from more ram.

 

Yes I am using all the ram. At times I do not even need to check task manager as it warns me that its almost full, then every now and then dumps what I was doing, to save the computers functions (at least I think that's why programs close by themselves not long after the message). But yes I have also checked task manager and it also tells me that the memory is full. 

 

The majority of the time it hovers around the 50% mark, but then at least once a week I start doing some more heavy work, it fills up.

 

As for not getting 2x4GB, well I want to save cost by buying a second 4GB dimm. I am spending too much money right now, even though it may not be much, it is a lot for me when I am a Uni student. 

 

And the laptop itself. http://www.samsung.com/au/consumer/pc-peripherals/notebook-pc/everyday/NP550P5C-S07AU-spec

[Elbstrand]

Yes I am using all the ram. At times I do not even need to check task manager as it warns me that its almost full, then every now and then dumps what I was doing, to save the computers functions (at least I think that's why programs close by themselves not long after the message). But yes I have also checked task manager and it also tells me that the memory is full. 

 

The majority of the time it hovers around the 50% mark, but then at least once a week I start doing some more heavy work, it fills up.

 

As for not getting 2x4GB, well I want to save cost by buying a second 4GB dimm. I am spending too much money right now, even though it may not be much, it is a lot for me when I am a Uni student. 

 

And the laptop itself. http://www.samsung.com/au/consumer/pc-peripherals/notebook-pc/everyday/NP550P5C-S07AU-spec

 

Just get a second 1600 mhz dimm, doesn't matter. The cheapest you can find. Remember that you need SO-DIMM (the small kind)

[Cruiseshipfan]

Just get a second 1600 mhz dimm, doesn't matter. The cheapest you can find. Remember that you need SO-DIMM (the small kind)

Ok thanks, I just wasn't sure as I had heard before that you should keep them all the same dimms. I wasn't sure if there was anything else to do with it that cannot be seen from stats. 

 

This is what I am look at getting. http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/35485-getting-new-ram-for-laptop/#entry454511

[Elbstrand]

Ok thanks, I just wasn't sure as I had heard before that you should keep them all the same dimms. I wasn't sure if there was anything else to do with it that cannot be seen from stats. 

 

This is what I am look at getting. http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/35485-getting-new-ram-for-laptop/#entry454511

 

Well if you get the same DIMMS the can run in dual channel mode. But since you got only 1 dimm to begin with, you wont get any difference in performance anyway. Also performance from dual channel mode is not required in most cases.