Sony Vaio VGN-FS550 Supports 2GB RAM

bpdski · TweakNOOB Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 3

This is an information post for anyone that might be searching for an answer to this question.

I have a Sony Vaio FS550 laptop which Sony claims will support 1GB of main memory. However, this laptop uses the Intel 915GMS/910GML chipset which Intel claims will support up to 2GB of DDR RAM. So I think, "hmmm, I wonder if I can put more memory in this computer." Sure enough, I am sending this post from my FS550 with 2GB RAM.

Since I wasn't able to find this anywhere on the web, I wanted to post the information for anyone else wondering the same thing.

Also, the Sony FS550 takes standard DDR (not DDR2) RAM and I am using 2 PQI 1GB DDR400 SO-DIMMs. I always have a dozen or more apps open including memory hogs like DevStudio 2005 and MS Office, so I have noticed a significant performance improvement.

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ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

Cool thanks!!! The googlers will be thankful!!

Welcome to TN!
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[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

This will help a lot of people.

But, with 1gb, you shouldn't have any problem if you watch out for the programs you don't need starting up with windows.
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ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

Could be doing graphics work Nate. Thats his call....;D
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[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

bpdski · TweakNOOB Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 3

I've now upgraded to a new Sony AR-250G laptop which came with 2GB of RAM. The reason I post this here is that I notice Sony has done the same thing with this product. They claim this notebook supports up to 2GB of RAM, however, the i945 chipset it is using supports up to 4GB of RAM. I'll post back in the future once I figure out if you can actually put 4GB in this.

I also notice that this computer has 2 HD bays and is supposed to support a RAID configuration, but I don't see any options for RAID in the BIOS. If anyone has any idea how to enable this, I'd love to know!

Also, I am a developer and run several instances of VS2003 & VS2005, so I use lots of RAM :)

Thanks,
Brian

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

Welcome back Brian....yes...jam 4gigs in there and see what happens!

Im beginning to wonder why Sony would advertise its products for lower than capability....like...wouldnt being 4gb capable be an advantageous advert?
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bpdski · TweakNOOB Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 3

I agree, I can't understand it either. The same goes for this RAID setup. The chipset supports it and there are two drive bays in this machine. So why disable it in the BIOS for this one, but not another model within the same AR line?

We have bought a lot of Sony's at our company in the past, but limiting what the machine is natively capable of doing will quickly drive us to other manufacturers that don't cripple built in features. Of course, I could just be missing something obvious. I would try flashing a BIOS from another model, but don't want to risk a dead machine.

If anyone out there has a Sony AR machine with the RAID setup, I'd love to hear from you! I probably need to post this separately.

- Brian