RAM for old Laptop

[oldskooladdict]

I almost feel a bit feeble asking this question, however, I want to purchase x2 512mb RAM for an ancient laptop. It's an IBM ThinkPad T23 - so yeah about 9 years old. For my niece (6) it's an ideal bit of kit for her to practice typing on and get used to a PC - that's it's purpose.

Going to crucial and using their memory database I can see there are two T23 ThinkPads listed:

Type 2677:

Q: What memory goes into my computer, and will a faster speed be backward-compatible?

A: SDRAM memory with support for SDRAM, PC133 speeds.

Because SDR memory is backward-compatible, you can safely upgrade your system with any of the guaranteed-compatible SDR speeds listed below.

which generates crucial info:

Part #: CT325717 • SDRAM, PC133 • CL=2 • Non-parity • 133MHz • 3.3V • 32Meg x 64 •

Type 2648:
As above on the type.

generates crucial info:

Part #: CT321842 • SDRAM, PC133 • CL=3 • Non-parity • 133MHz • 3.3V • 64Meg x 64
•

or

Part #: CT253598 • SDRAM, PC133 • CL=2 • Non-parity • 133MHz • 3.3V • 32Meg x 64

So I can see what Crucial recommend, now, since I don't want to spend much on an ancient system I looked to eBay, but the descriptions are often limited, so is there a way I can work out which would work and which would not? - Take this description for example:

U R BIDDING ON 2 X 512 LAPTOP MEMORY = 1 GB IN TOTAL

BOTH MEMORY IS ........HYNIX 512MB 2RX16 PC2-4200S-444-12

(Yes, it really does have 'u r' in the listing!). I'm guessing it's too new and wouldn't fit the bill.

This link is bound to not work, but searching for 512 on Laptop -- Memory Upgrade and limiting it to £5 and uk only generates about 40-50 results:
http://computers.shop.ebay.co.uk/Mem...4&_sop=1&_sc=1

Any help?! (Or if any of you lot have some lying around you wanna shift?!)

[Rob_B]

Bog standard PC133 SDRAM, search for 'PC133 SODIMM'. The ebay listing you quote isn't compatible.

Have you asked in the wanted forum? I might have 256 somewhere, although then again I might have just binned it :-/

[scaryjim]

That ebay listing is DDR2 @ 533MHz, so you're right in thinking it's too new. You can tell by the fact that it has PC2-4200 in the naming. SDR memory uses the clock speed for the PC number (i.e. PC133), whereas DDR (and DDR2 / DDR3) uses the bitrate (e.g. PC-2100 for DDR 266, PC2-4200 for DDR2 533).

Try an ebay search for "PC133 laptop" which should give you a better idea. Expect to pay through the nose for laptop SDR memory though - it's now sufficiently rare / retro to push the prices up...

[KidChameleon]

I have an old Pentium 4 laptop which I'm pretty sure was PC133. I bought two 512MB sticks for it a couple of years ago for £6-8 each from Play. The power button stopped working, so the laptop isn't much use now. I need to use a paperclip to short across the pins going into the switch.

I'll see if I can find them. I might have moved one of the sticks into another laptop.



Edit: It's actually PC2700, DDR 333. I think that's the next speed up from what you're after, so it may or may not work, depending on the laptop.

[scaryjim]

Edit: It's actually PC2700, DDR 333. I think that's the next speed up from what you're after, so it may or may not work, depending on the laptop.

AFAIK SDR sodimms have a different number of pins and different notching to DDR sodimms, so they're unlikely to fit, let alone work

[duc]

You can find your ThinkPad T23 model number (ie 2647-XXX, or 2648-XXX) from the base of the machine or within the BIOS info screen.

[oldskooladdict]

Thanks for the info guys. Firsty I can confirm the model when I get home now, that's a start.

I'd not banked on it being expensive tbh, I thought it would be pretty low demand - I didn't think it was *that* old to demand retro (I class that as BBC, Spectrum etc!)

[scaryjim]

I'd not banked on it being expensive tbh, I thought it would be pretty low demand ...

Demand is low, but supply is even lower! Particularly for the larger modules, which weren't necessary when SDR was prevalent - frankly 1GB of memory was the domain of extreme enthusiast desktops back then, let alone laptops! By the time 512MB modules became mainstream it was all DDR, so a 512MB SDR sodimm was a bit of a specialist item back then, let alone now (£30 new for an ebuyer extra value module)...

[KidChameleon]

AFAIK SDR sodimms have a different number of pins and different notching to DDR sodimms, so they're unlikely to fit, let alone work

Didn't think about that. Oh well, at least I tried.

[oldskooladdict]

Having tried to use this laptop this evening it's become even more essential! - Windows XP SP3 running 256mb of RAM, crikey, slow is not the word!

[g8ina]

Check older for sale posts, mine is still listed, but closed, but I didnt skip my SODIMMS yet....

Ahhhh, here it is :
http://forums.hexus.net/classifieds-...ttery-etc.html