Best RAM upgrade for netbook?

[Skiz]

I have a brand new Dell Mini 10v. It's capable of running 2GB of RAM but Dell only offers a max of 1GB.

I found a tutorial for opening the laptop and installing the RAM which recommends this RAM -

G.SKILL 2GB 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Laptop Memory Model F2-4200CL4S-2GBSK (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231163)

but I went to crucial and the following appears to be a better stick of RAM for only $2 more so I'll likely go with this one.

Crucial - 2GB, 200-pin SODIMM, DDR2 PC2-6400 memory module (http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=E4D7CB13A5CA7304)

Are there any better options than what I've found or no?

[Snee]

Ihe following appears to be a better stick of RAM for only $2 more so I'll likely go with this one.

Crucial - 2GB, 200-pin SODIMM, DDR2 PC2-6400 memory module (http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=E4D7CB13A5CA7304)

I think I've got some Crucial RAM in my old Asus EEE. Works just fine. Decent budget brand.

Two things to consider though:

1. Assuming it'll boot with either kind, I doubt the performance difference'd be very noticable what with neetbooks being what they are. Having said that, if I were you I'd still go with the Crucial. But I'd do it after checking that the Dell can use RAM of that speed and voltage.

When I've gotten ram for laptops lately I've gone to a local store to get it, and I've made them promise me I could bring it back if it didn't work with my hardware, since I first asked them and they said it would.

2. If you plan to use hibernation, that's 2 gigs of space reserved for that, instead of 1.

EDit:

Also:

Crucial's site says it's compatible. (http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Inspiron%20Mini%2010v%20%281011%29)

And furthermore, I think Corsair offers a comparable stick. I'm a big fan of corsair RAM.

[Skiz]

Thanks for the input. Pardon my lack of RAM knowledge but, could you explain this a bit further -


2. If you plan to use hibernation, that's 2 gigs of space reserved for that, instead of 1.

I only got a 16GB SSD in the netbook, so.... :unsure:

[Snee]

Welp. Hibernation, assuming you get it to work on that ubuntu (:dabs:) you ordered, dumps the contents of your ram to disc. That way you can continue later on with what you were doing, even though you actually turned your computer off, rather than just putting it to sleep like stand-by mode does.

So you pretty much need to have 2gigs of disc space free for that, if you plan on using it.

I really don't know if there's much point in using it, though, since that ssd should halp you boot hella fast, and it's not THAT hard to reopen your browser or save what you're working on so you can load it up later.

[Skiz]

Ah, yes... the swap drive.

My brain was in Windows mode when I was typing that out, but I'm with you now. The SSD has it booting pretty quick. I timed it the other day at 6 sec shutdown and 27 sec complete boot up. I'll just leave the swap partition at 1GB I guess and see how that goes. I'm not installing a bunch of stuff on it (just FF and open office) so I think it'll be fine.

[lynx]

Actually, it's not the swap drive. That's used for virtual memory (like windows page file) while the system is up and running.

The hibernation file is used for an image of the physical memory while the system is physically switched off. Effectively the system is put into "pseudo" standby mode, then a copy of the memory is dumped to this file and the system is switched off.

If you've ever had problems with devices recovering from standby, expect much more of the same with hibernation.

[Snee]

What Lynx said, sort of.

Ubuntu uses the swap partition or file for hibernation, though, afaik.

If you aren't using that, leaving it at 1 gig should be fine, I think.

You could also see if you can't get rid of the swapping altogether, might let your ssd last longer, I dunno.

A couple of the tweaked distros set up especially for netbooks have it turned off by default iirc.

Ubuntu says... (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwapFaq)

[lynx]

I don't agree with the option of removing the swap file.

The golden rule always used to say make a swap file 1 to 2 times the size of your physical memory, but monitor it's use for a while. If it is used more than a minimal amount then you are short of memory, so either add more or stop using it for other purposes such as cache buffers. AFAIK the tuning of buffers is done automatically to minimise the use of swap space. We used to have to do it manually!

The thing is if you run out of memory (including swap space) then things are going to start falling over, and that may include the kernel. Far better to have it there but unused except for emergencies.

Remember, this isn't Windoze, so swap space is only used when necessary.

[j2k4]

Skiz-

What'd you pay for yours?

I'm poking around, thinking about a netbook; something reasonably durable (field-work) without opting for a ToughBook or summat.

HP is having a clearance, and I optioned one out at, like, 560 USD (wireless pkg w/Bluetooth, 32G SS "cartridge", big batt, etc., Win XP); want to do some mapping/topo work with occasional interweb/email usage...

[Skiz]

I think it was $416 after all was said and done.

Intel Atom N270 1.6 GHz
1 GB DDR2 RAM
10.1 inch screen
16 GB solid state. I figured with as much as I'll be carrying this around, I wanted the SSD. I'll be ghosting that and upgrading eventually but, waiting for pricing to become somewhat reasonable.
802.11n internal mini wireless card
6-cell battery (the biggest one). Gives like 6 hours of usage.

The keyboard is great. I tested out several netbooks and I liked the keyboard on this one the best.

I've even put Mac OS X on it too. :)

[Snee]

HP is having a clearance, and I optioned one out at, like, 560 USD (wireless pkg w/Bluetooth, 32G SS "cartridge", big batt, etc., Win XP); want to do some mapping/topo work with occasional interweb/email usage...
Which model is that?

You probably want to stay away from ones with Via-processors as their track record hasn't been great. Those are good for saving power, but otherwise less than stellar when running Windows (the models I've seen even shipped with Vista, which was just fabulous), or using anything that needs at least a little bit of oumph.

32GB ssd sounds like something you can't get with a a via-model, but telling you just just in case.

[j2k4]

'Twas the HP Mini 110 (XP Version), with the Atom Processor N280 (1.66GHz, 512KB L2, 667Mhz FSB).

[Skiz]

That's the same processor I have and one of two that you'll find in nearly every netbook.

If you're going to spend almost $600, why not get a full on laptop and get more bang for your buck?

[j2k4]

'Cuz I want to be carting it around in the woods - an over-hill-and-dale thing.

[j2k4]

Think I'm gonna get this:

http://www.amazon.com/Mini-5101-FM956UT-10-1-Inch-Netbook/dp/tech-data/B002JUECYE/ref=de_a_smtd

If you have input, you'd better hustle - I'll probably pull the trigger Thursday.

[Snee]

Looks aight to me. Do consider that that has a regular hd though, an ssd might be better if you plan on really mistreating it. The battery life isn't awesome, but I assume there are better ones to buy for a spare, if you decide you need it.

For myself I'd also go for 3g, like I've stated before, but I don't even know if that's an option where you live.

But like I started off with, it looks all right.

[j2k4]

Thanks for the feedback, Snee...I won't be choosing a service until spring, as I won't have time to do the mapping bit until then - too busy chasing poachers and trespassers for that, and then the snows will come.

I thought about the SSD as well, but I want to get the other software on-board first to see what I'll have to have for map/topo storage, and also if I can find an affordable/larger SSD by then to handle it otherwise.

I want to try Win7 on it, too; if it starts to croak the RAM, the SSD should help, I would think.

[j2k4]

Update:

Just saved myself some cash - I'm ordering a different version ($150 cheaper) with 1G of RAM (the only difference, apart from XP rather than Vista Business), also ordering a 2G RAM module from Crucial, and, using a $50 coupon from HP, purchasing the 6v battery, which brings the usable time up to over 9 hrs.

This thing oughta be a little monster, even without the SSD - the 160G installed HDD is 7200 rpm, so.

Win7 oughta run sweet, I think.

[j2k4]

Got it in hand - neat little machine, but I'm still waiting on the extra RAM for some reason.

Maybe tomorrow...