8 gb ram

[goat]

Hey everybody,

Will this

Patriot Signature 8GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Laptop Memory Model PSD38G13332S

Newegg.com - Patriot Signature 8GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Laptop Memory Model PSD38G13332S

work in the EP121?

Has anyone upgraded to 8GB RAM? Helpful? What is the difference in 9 CAS and 11 CAS?

Also, as I will be replacing the SSD in this machine as well, what tis the specs on the original 64GB SSD in this machine? I can't find them anywhere! Although it seems it might be a Sanddisk mSata 64GB SSD product of some type. I'd like the 'official name / model #' of this SSD.

Thanks.

[CF77]

4g per bank. 11 cas is slower than 9 cas

[goat]

So there are 2 banks? I was under the impression there was only one bank? So then to upgrade I only need to add 4GB Samsung memory of the same type or if price is too high buy 2 new 4GB sticks?

I read in another thread someone using a 4G LTE card in their EP121. Is there a GPS card that will work in the same slot? I wasn't aware of expansion slots. Or are these SDIO cards used in the SD slots?

[goat]

The documentation / tech specs for this machine are aweful. I have asked the Asus member site for help.

Why is there no MB diagrams or anything of that nature?

[goat]

I called Microsoft's Signature Store were I bought the PC and all they did was conference me in with ASUS as they had no technical hardware knowlege the PC. Seemed weird but at least they are supporting what they sell.

a. ASUS said there is only 1 RAM bank and it only supports 4GB.

b. ASUS said the SD Card slots do not support SDIO cards such as GPS and 4G LTE Cellular cards.

I asked if they had a motherboard / system diagrams for this product or whether he was answering the questions based off the same poor documentation made available on the internet. Asus technical support said (thank goodness I suppose) they have a separate set of documents than what is on the internet.


So, for those upgrading:

1. The manufacturer told me their mSata SSD words in the EP121.
2. I will try a 8GB RAM with correct specs
3. I will try a SDIO GPS card.

[goat]

I'll probably be trying one of these GPS SDIO cards or a similar one when they can be found in stock:

SDG-810 2-in-1 SDIO GPS Receiver Card & MicroSD Slot
SDG-810 2-in-1 SDIO GPS Receiver Card & MicroSD Slot SDG-810

[goat]

The i5-470UM itself does support 8GB So I did some research and the memory controller is on a separate 45 nm die that runs at an average of 12.1GB

It's 2 banks so you'd assume 4GB per bank but the EP121 has only one bank. 'Special RAM with builtin autorefresh and all that is bound not to work I think.' I think 8GB will work unless the memory controller chip expressly forbits it. I think it is more likely to work at throttled speeds.

At any rate I'll buy the team or geil 8GB RAM at NewEgg and pay the restocking fee if it doesn't work since I'm going to open the chassis for an SSD upgrade. If this works I can run my other os in a VM and be done with HW updrades for a while.

I do know a 2009/2010 iMac user in the NewEgg Comments said he bought a 8GB Geil and to his surprise it worked and I know those don't use 2nd Gen Sandy Bridge Intel Arch.

Geilmemory.com's website RAM scanner said my RAM was 4096MB at 7-7-7 at 766MHz (all the CPU specs says RAM runs at 800MHz). It couldn't figure out the CPU though which seems it would be the easiest thing for it.

The User Manual is so poor and I don't remember, how many beeps for a memory problem and how many for a video problem?

[CF77]

Has anyone installed a 8GB RAM module yet?

[goat]

Well I ordered the Geil 8GB RAM, it's not likely to work and is not supported but I'll let you know.

For the SSD I ordered, confirmed by Mushkin to work, this:

Newegg.com - Mushkin Enhanced Atlas Series MKNSSDAT240GB-DX mSATA 240GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Unfortunately it costs $399, the price of a new decent laptop, and has only 240GB for that price.

For the SDIO GPS, that'll have to wait. I have a TomTom Bluetooth GPS that works fine.

[goat]

OK, so I got the Geil 8GB RAM and it didn't work. Not a big surprise but until ASUS updates the BIOS to handle 8GB in one bank it is not going to work. I RMAed it back to NewEgg ($7.95 RMA Fee!)

Geil has been very helpful though. They are working with ASUS R&D. ASUS R&D told them we don't have 8GB RAM on hand to test so Geil will send them 8GB RAM to test in the EP121.

With the discontinuation of the EP121 and the almost identical B121 and it's 'business' class a selling point I expect a BIOS update to support 8GB RAM from ASUS, likely when the default warranty has ran out for the EP121 on the discontinuation day.

So there you have it: 3 EP121 users have tried 8GB RAM and none of those 3 brands of RAM have worked.

With Regards to the Mushkin Enhanced Atlas Series 240GB SATA III MLC Internal SSD drive, well besides being surprise at how tiny they are it formats the 240GB to 223GB for those interested.

The return on these is more restrictive than the usual NewEgg items.