UMPCs with 2 GB of RAM: an update on the updates
Devices that have successfully recognized the 2 GB SODIMM include the 900 MHz Celeron Samsung Q1, the 1 GHz Pentium Samsung Q1P and the 900 MHz Celeron Asus R2H. We should note that folks are only seeing 2 GB on the Asus, which also has 256 MB of RAM on board; while one would hope for 2.25 GB in the Asus, it looks like that's not a possibility at the moment. Also: each of these devices has the most currently available BIOS, something to keep in mind if you plan an upgrade.
So what's not working? Unfortunately, none of the VIA-based first-generation UMPCs are recognizing the RAM. Dan double-checked with the AMTEK folks and was told that it's not supported due to a hardware limitation. That means no luck for the Samsung Q1B, the Tablet Kiosk eo v7110 or any similar derivatives. While unfortunate, I don't think the OEMs should catch too much flak for this. Remember the original Origami concept: the device is meant to be a companion PC. While some of us have pushed the limits and use our UMPCs as full-time computing devices, we are using these devices for uses greater than what they were intended for.
I want to see someone try to upgrade the Q1 Ultra. I suspect it will work just fine though considering it's Intel based. Frankly, that one should come with 2GB since they're foisting Vista on people buying it. Well, aside from the one XP model...
Posted by: cr0ft | May 23, 2007 at 05:16 PM
Any battery life specs yet? Do you notice your battery being chewed up faster?!
Posted by: Mike Cane | May 24, 2007 at 08:55 AM
Mike, why would the battery be chewed up faster? Put a different way: if I swap a 40 GB hard drive with a 60 GB hard drive and the drives had the exact same power requirements, read/write speeds, etc....would you expect a hit on battery life when all you've done is changed the capacity?
The power difference should be negligible or non-existent. I could be very wrong about that, but logically, I don't expect any tangible difference which is why the test is low on my priority list....
Posted by: Kevin C. Tofel | May 24, 2007 at 09:02 AM
HD is not RAM. RAM needs electrons all the time or it loses data! HD only needs juice to spin up/down, r/w. Your RAM is *D* RAM, not Flash, right?
Posted by: Mike Cane | May 24, 2007 at 12:46 PM
Clarify: When you put in that 2GB, did you take out the original 1GB? I thought there was a second slot?
Posted by: Mike Cane | May 24, 2007 at 12:48 PM
Mike, none of the UMPCs that I know of have a second slot. All RAM swaps have been the removal of a SODIMM and the replacement of another SODIMM. The only minor exception is with the Asus R2H which has 256 MB of RAM soldered on the board to complement its single RAM slot.
You're correct that RAM needs power all of the time and that's my point. It's not a variable amount of power like a HDD would use as it spins up, seeks, etc.... The same amount of power is supplied to the RAM when the machine is in use. It shouldn't matter what the storage capacity of the RAM is from what I know; it's always using the same amount of power, i.e.: no effect on battery.
Posted by: Kevin C. Tofel | May 24, 2007 at 01:11 PM
Which 2GB RAM product(s) have been tested with the R2H? Does it matter?
Has anyone attempted a 1.8 100GB HDD upgrade?
Posted by: Ben McGhee | October 26, 2007 at 07:42 AM