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2245

4 RAM slots on laptops

2245 points posted to Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops by theblackcat 02/19/07

Currently most desktop PCs come with 4 slots to insert RAM. This is extremely useful since it is often much more expensive in total to buy 1 DIMM then it is to buy 2 DIMMs that are each half as large. However, DELL laptops only come with 2 slots for RAM. So if you wanted to get 4 GB of RAM you would need two 2 GB modules, which is extremely expensive (as you can see on the website). However, if the laptops were to have 4 RAM slots instead of 2 then you could have four 1GB modules and save a ton of money (close to $500 on the Latitude D820, for example). At least on the larger laptop models there is plenty of space, the RAM modules are pretty small relative to the size of the laptop and the bottom of the motherboard is mostly empty space from the looks of things. This could also be extremely useful with the move to 64 bit processors, since they can use far more than 4 GB of RAM but currently it is not possible to have more than that simply because of how the laptops are designed.

incase
02/22/07		 Though I agree that four RAM slots on notebooks (at least on the larger models) would be really nice for the reasons mentioned, I'm almost sure that current laptop chipsets don't allow this sort of configuration.
But given the size of Dell's sales, it might be possible for Dell to ask Intel/AMD to provide chipsets which _do_ allow this.
theblackcat
02/23/07		 Yes, I realize that may be a problem. But as you said, if that is the case I am sure DELL can convince the chipset and motherboard manufacturers to rectify this. They will have to do it sooner or later if they expect people to use 64-bit processors on laptops.

There may also be battery life issues if you have 4 RAM modules installed (although I can't see that being a problem if 2 of the slots are empty). But the larger laptops have such huge screens that I can't imagine the RAM using anywhere near the power used by the screen. They are also so big and heavy that portability is difficult anyway. If someone wanted to use less power they could limit the number of RAM modules, but for someone using it as a desktop replacement which needs to be moved around occasionally and will rarely, if ever, be used without a power supply then the additional RAM could be extremely useful.
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