Question:
4 GB RAM, When?
The new 945 chipset for Yonah allows for 4 GB of RAM in a laptop. Yet, none of the new Yonah lappies offer 4 GB.
Any ideas when/if we'll see 4 GB? Is this likely to wait for 64 bit Vista and 64 bit Merom?
Yes I run apps that can use 4GB. I've stitched large photo arrays into GigaPixel images that were 7.5 GB in Photoshop. Took a $hit load of file swapping to pull that off.
Hermit
Answer:
Re: 4 GB RAM, When?
Are they making 2GB sticks yet? Thats when you'll get 4GB.
Answer:
Re: 4 GB RAM, When?
4GB is pointless.
Correction. 4GB is pointless unless you are doing Photoshop/video editing.
Another correction. 4GB is just pointless on a laptop. If you need more than 2GB in a laptop, you need a real workstation and a seperate mobile laptop. Tough luck, just like how I can't make gold from sand. :rolleyes:
Answer:
Re: 4 GB RAM, When?
When they say "4gb" ram, they really only mean that it has a max capacity of 4gbs. Since most laptops have two sodimm slots, that means you'd need atleast two 2gb sticks, which is attainable today but usually too expensive to justify the cost. 4gb ram won't be coming out for awhile (I'd say a year), considering its taking 2gb ram so long to mature into the marketplace.
The other thing about using the maximum of 4gb's is that unless you have MMIO mapping support, you'll only get around 3.5gb of usefull system memory. The remainder of the space is allocated to the gpu, either for nonlocal textures or vram overruns, and for PCI addressing.
You will have to wait until 64bit comes out and manufacturers start implementing more dimm slots onto their motherboards (4+ for a desktop) to make using more than 4gb of ram realistic. Your best option now, considering you are working with massive picture files (7.5gb at a time!) would be to get all the power you can. The PowerMac G5 quadcore is not only aimed at the prosumer media enthusiast like you, but allows for 16gb of ram to be installed. It costs quite a bit though, ofcourse.
In short, don't expect 4gb+ of ram to appear any time soon; theoretically it will not be on the laptop market until June '06, but realistically (in my eyes) it won't be viable until the holidays next year...and that's wishful thinking.
Answer:
Thanks
When they say "4gb" ram, they really only mean that it has a max capacity of 4gbs. Since most laptops have two sodimm slots, that means you'd need atleast two 2gb sticks, which is attainable today but usually too expensive to justify the cost. 4gb ram won't be coming out for awhile (I'd say a year), considering its taking 2gb ram so long to mature into the marketplace.
The other thing about using the maximum of 4gb's is that unless you have MMIO mapping support, you'll only get around 3.5gb of usefull system memory. The remainder of the space is allocated to the gpu, either for nonlocal textures or vram overruns, and for PCI addressing.
You will have to wait until 64bit comes out and manufacturers start implementing more dimm slots onto their motherboards (4+ for a desktop) to make using more than 4gb of ram realistic. Your best option now, considering you are working with massive picture files (7.5gb at a time!) would be to get all the power you can. The PowerMac G5 quadcore is not only aimed at the prosumer media enthusiast like you, but allows for 16gb of ram to be installed. It costs quite a bit though, ofcourse.
In short, don't expect 4gb+ of ram to appear any time soon; theoretically it will not be on the laptop market until June '06, but realistically (in my eyes) it won't be viable until the holidays next year...and that's wishful thinking.
Thanks LostCause, for the insights. Looks like I'll be running my old jalopy lappy a few more months than planned. :)
Hermit
Answer:
Re: 4 GB RAM, When?
I think Swissbit and crucial sell 2gb sticks, though they are VERY expensive.
Answer:
Re: 4 GB RAM, When?
In a 32-bit operating system, Windows will only recognize 2.8GB. . . I assume you are on 64-bit?
If so, then you can look at the Clevo D900 series (commonly rebranded by Alienware, Voodoo, Sager, etc. - the big huge 17" one ;)). Versions of that can have 64-bit CPU's and 4GB of RAM. It has 4 x SO-DIMM slots.
Answer:
Re: 4 GB RAM, When?
4GB is pointless.
Correction. 4GB is pointless unless you are doing Photoshop/video editing.
Another correction. 4GB is just pointless on a laptop. If you need more than 2GB in a laptop, you need a real workstation and a seperate mobile laptop. Tough luck, just like how I can't make gold from sand. :rolleyes:
I don't agree, there are probably many specialized users that could usefully use that much RAM. I always bring up the example of people doing serious statistics because that is an example I know of.
Answer:
Re: 4 GB RAM, When?
In a 32-bit operating system, Windows will only recognize 2.8GB. . . I assume you are on 64-bit?
I believe I mentioned Vista in my post. As I understand Vista, it can be 32 or 64 bit.
If so, then you can look at the Clevo D900 series (commonly rebranded by Alienware, Voodoo, Sager, etc. - the big huge 17" one ;)). Versions of that can have 64-bit CPU's and 4GB of RAM. It has 4 x SO-DIMM slots.
Thanks ChazMan421,
I found the Sager 9750, which you said was a Clevo D900 rebrand in another thread. Sager's specs state 2GB max. Link Were you thinking of something else? Or perhaps there is a way to do 2GB and 4GB?
In any case, looking at the CPU and chipset, the 9750 would appear to be a desktop hiding in a "notebook" chassis. I truly want a 4GB laptop inasmuch as I currently own a A64 desktop which has room for 2 more 1GB DIMMs. But as you and LostCause pointed out, XP has inherent limitations with max memory. My A64 MB BIOS has a 3+GB RAM limit regardless how many DIMMs are inserted.
Hermit
Answer:
Re: 4 GB RAM, When?
Hermit - true, the 9750 (AKA Clevo D900T) supports up to 2GB of DDR400. Link.
However, in this variant of the D900, the D900K, up to 4GB is supported. Link.
Hope that helps. :)