sdphost

I just bought an Acer aspire 5100-3019 with 512 RAM, and I want to upgrade to 1 gig, I don't know enough about laptop ram, can I just use any "notebook ram" or does it have to be specific? how would I know if it has to?
and around what would be the best price I could get it for? Vista is doesn't run too bad with 512 IMO for what I'm using it so I can wait a few months if it means getting a cheaper price.


Second question is about battery life, I used to have a Toshiba laptop that I left on for a long time and would just put it on standby/hibernate. I heard if you left it plugged in all the time it killed the batterylife so whenever it reached 100% charged I would unplug it and so on. after 6/7 months it had horrible battery life, like 10 minutes. are all laptops like that or is there a better way to take care of the battery life?

thanks in advance.

TheMatt

Hi,

That laptop takes DDR2-533 MHz RAM. You should istall the DIMMs in pairs for best performance. Take a look at these RAM pairs:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231117
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146516

Both are good quality.

Take a look at this guide for laptop RAM selection. http://www.techsupportforum.com/827494-post5.html

sdphost

out of those two both would be as good or is the more expensive one a little better?

how easy is it to install?

TheMatt

Both are good quality, I don't expect you will have trouble with either.

RAM is very easy to install. Since I also have an acer, I can give you pretty close instructions for installation.

1. If you look on the bottom, you should see many compartments. On mine, its the one in the center. Look on your owners manual to find out which it is.

2. Before you open anything, discharge static by touching something metal. It is also recomended that you get antistatic wristbands.

3. Completely shutdown the laptop, unplug it, and remove the battery.

4. Open up the memory compartment. You will need a screwdriver, one thats not magnetic. There will be two or more small screws. They might not actually come out of the memory door when you loosen them, even if the door opens. Inside you will see the memory parallel to the motherboard. the two slots will either be stacked or opposite each other. They are stacked on mine.

5. To install the memory, make sure its facing the right way. You will know this by the noch in the RAM. Insert it at a 45 degree angle, and once the pins are in the slot, push down toward the motherboard. It should snap into place. Once the RAM is secure, you can replace everything and boot up.

6. If you need to access the slot under the first module in a stacked setup, you will have to remove the first module. To do this, release the clips by pushing them away from the RAM. Then, lift the RAM at the end where its not conected away from the motherboard until its at a 45 degree angle. Now you can pull it out.

Remember to only hold the RAM by its sides, do not touch the pins. If you have 2 x 256, then I would keep the other sticks for troubleshooting purposes.

sdphost

thanks, how do you know which type of RAM each notebook uses?

I also have a Toshiba Satellite L30/L35 series that i'd like to upgrade to 1 Gig. would those two you linked work as well?

TheMatt

You can almost always tell what RAM a laptop takes by its processor. Take a look at the guide I wrote: http://www.techsupportforum.com/827494-post5.html

The Satellite L30/L35 takes the same RAM I posted above.