What's the difference (RAM question)

[Carlos E.R.]

Hi,

Looking at some Lenovo laptops, configurable, and I get these options
for RAM:

32 GB DDR4 at 3200 Mhz +10€

32 GB DDR4 (2 * 16 GB) at 3200 Mhz +110€


Why is the second option more expensive, does it has advantages?


It is a ThinkPad L14 Gen 3

If you want to see the page, it is this, in Spanish:

<https://www.lenovo.com/es/es/laptops/thinkpad/l-series/ThinkPad-L14-Gen-3-14''-AMD/p/21C5CTO1WWESES2/customize?>


It also mentions a "Graphics Dongle". What is that?

It can be none, USB-C to VGA, HDMI to VGA , USB-C to DP (+20€ any of them)

[Marco Moock]

Post by Carlos E.R.
Hi,
Looking at some Lenovo laptops, configurable, and I get these options
32 GB DDR4 at 3200 Mhz +10€
32 GB DDR4 (2 * 16 GB) at 3200 Mhz +110€

Maybe, they use other capacities per module, like 4x4 GiB or 1x32 for
the first option.

Post by Carlos E.R.
Why is the second option more expensive, does it has advantages?

Maybe because the module prices are different, maybe because someone
needs to manually mount them.

Post by Carlos E.R.
It also mentions a "Graphics Dongle". What is that?
It can be none, USB-C to VGA, HDMI to VGA , USB-C to DP (+20€ any of them)

Maybe a converter to connect the laptop to VGA/DP screens.

[Bit Twister]

Post by Carlos E.R.
Hi,
Looking at some Lenovo laptops, configurable, and I get these options
32 GB DDR4 at 3200 Mhz +10€
32 GB DDR4 (2 * 16 GB) at 3200 Mhz +110€
Why is the second option more expensive,

Check the cost of a 16 GB ram and times two to see if vendor is boosting
the cost.

Post by Carlos E.R.
does it has advantages?

If ram chip fails on first option, you may have a laptop doorstop.
In the second option you pop out the failed ram and continue to run on the
other chip.

[Henrik Carlqvist]

Post by Bit Twister

Post by Carlos E.R.
32 GB DDR4 at 3200 Mhz +10€
32 GB DDR4 (2 * 16 GB) at 3200 Mhz +110€
Why is the second option more expensive,
does it has advantages?

If ram chip fails on first option, you may have a laptop doorstop.
In the second option you pop out the failed ram and continue to run on
the other chip.

Also, some CPU/chipsets can give twice the memory bandwidth if memory
modules are installed as pairs. For some CPU/chipsets it is not even
optimal to install memory modules as pairs, but as groups of 3.

regards Henrik

[Marco Moock]

Post by Henrik Carlqvist
Also, some CPU/chipsets can give twice the memory bandwidth if memory
modules are installed as pairs. For some CPU/chipsets it is not even
optimal to install memory modules as pairs, but as groups of 3.

That is called DualChannel/TripleChannel.

[Carlos E.R.]

Post by Marco Moock

Post by Henrik Carlqvist
Also, some CPU/chipsets can give twice the memory bandwidth if memory
modules are installed as pairs. For some CPU/chipsets it is not even
optimal to install memory modules as pairs, but as groups of 3.

That is called DualChannel/TripleChannel.

Yes, this is a possibility, but in that case they should mention it.

However, why would two 16G modules be 100 euros more expensive than a
single 32G module?

That's a large difference. If it is "better", they should say something
about it to get buyers. Or it would be something very well known.

[Marco Moock]

Post by Carlos E.R.
However, why would two 16G modules be 100 euros more expensive than a
single 32G module?

I don't know why, maybe because these are custom orders and somebody
needs to open the case to exchange the modules.

[Carlos E.R.]

Post by Marco Moock

Post by Carlos E.R.
However, why would two 16G modules be 100 euros more expensive than a
single 32G module?

I don't know why, maybe because these are custom orders and somebody
needs to open the case to exchange the modules.

No, because other options are only 10€ more.

[Bobbie Sellers]

Post by Marco Moock

Post by Carlos E.R.
However, why would two 16G modules be 100 euros more expensive than a
single 32G module?

I don't know why, maybe because these are custom orders and somebody
needs to open the case to exchange the modules.

Because someone wants it enough to pay for it. How about 2 32 GB modules?

bliss

[Carlos E.R.]

Post by Marco Moock

Post by Carlos E.R.
However, why would two 16G modules be 100 euros more expensive than a
single 32G module?

I don't know why, maybe because these are custom orders and somebody
needs to open the case to exchange the modules.

    Because someone wants it enough to pay for it.  How about 2 32 GB
modules?

Firefox died, and on restart, the prices seem to be different.

The default or included is 2*16G.

8G -160€
2*8 -110€
16G -110
32G -100€
2*16 0
2*32 +70€ (was +220€)

There is not an option of a single 64G module.


Another funny thing is that by default it has no WiFi, only ethernet.
Ie, optional WiFi, and adding it means a delay for up to three weeks.


<https://www.lenovo.com/es/es/laptops/thinkpad/l-series/ThinkPad-L14-Gen-3-14''-AMD/p/21C5CTO1WWESES2/customize?>

(You can probably read it in English using google translate)

[Bobbie Sellers]

Post by Carlos E.R.

Post by Marco Moock

Post by Carlos E.R.
However, why would two 16G modules be 100 euros more expensive than a
single 32G module?

I don't know why, maybe because these are custom orders and somebody
needs to open the case to exchange the modules.

     Because someone wants it enough to pay for it.  How about 2 32 GB
modules?

Firefox died, and on restart, the prices seem to be different.
The default or included is 2*16G.
8G   -160€
2*8  -110€
16G  -110
32G  -100€
2*16 0
2*32 +70€ (was +220€)
There is not an option of a single 64G module.
Another funny thing is that by default it has no WiFi, only ethernet.
Ie, optional WiFi, and adding it means a delay for up to three weeks.
<https://www.lenovo.com/es/es/laptops/thinkpad/l-series/ThinkPad-L14-Gen-3-14''-AMD/p/21C5CTO1WWESES2/customize?>
(You can probably read it in English using google translate)

Look around a bit more.
Check out possible refurbished machinces.
I prefer Dell myself and got this used for 240 USD.from an previous
user who needed money.
That was in April 2020.

bliss - on the ever-faithful Dell Latitude E7450, PCLinuxOS 2022
KDE Plasma 5.26.5 Kernel: 6.1.5-pclos1 (64-bit)
KDE Frameworks 5.102.0 - Qt Version: 5.15.6
Graphics : X11 - Mesa Intel® HD Graphics 5500
15.5 GiB of RAM - CPU 4 × Intel® Core™ i7-5600U CPU @ 2.60GHz
Actually 2 real cores and 2 virtual cores.

[Carlos E.R.]

Post by Carlos E.R.

Post by Marco Moock

Post by Carlos E.R.
However, why would two 16G modules be 100 euros more expensive than a
single 32G module?

I don't know why, maybe because these are custom orders and somebody
needs to open the case to exchange the modules.

     Because someone wants it enough to pay for it.  How about 2 32
GB modules?

Firefox died, and on restart, the prices seem to be different.
The default or included is 2*16G.
8G   -160€
2*8  -110€
16G  -110
32G  -100€
2*16 0
2*32 +70€ (was +220€)
There is not an option of a single 64G module.
Another funny thing is that by default it has no WiFi, only ethernet.
Ie, optional WiFi, and adding it means a delay for up to three weeks.
<https://www.lenovo.com/es/es/laptops/thinkpad/l-series/ThinkPad-L14-Gen-3-14''-AMD/p/21C5CTO1WWESES2/customize?>
(You can probably read it in English using google translate)

    Look around a bit more.
    Check out possible refurbished machinces.
    I prefer Dell myself and got this used for 240 USD.from an previous
user who needed money.
    That was in April 2020.

I like Lenovo :-)

No, the above machine is probably not the one I'll get, I'm aiming to
800€. We'll see.

[s***@alfter.diespammersdie.us]

Post by Bit Twister

Post by Carlos E.R.
Hi,
Looking at some Lenovo laptops, configurable, and I get these options
32 GB DDR4 at 3200 Mhz +10€
32 GB DDR4 (2 * 16 GB) at 3200 Mhz +110€
does it has advantages?

If ram chip fails on first option, you may have a laptop doorstop.
In the second option you pop out the failed ram and continue to run on the
other chip.

Another possible advantage of 2x16 vs 1x32: dual-channel memory setups can
be a bit faster, with memory accesses spread across two DIMMs.

OTOH, if only two DIMM slots are available (not at all uncommon in
notebooks), upgrading from a 2x16 configuration will require replacing both
DIMMs.

[Carlos E. R.]

Post by s***@alfter.diespammersdie.us

Post by Bit Twister

Post by Carlos E.R.
Hi,
Looking at some Lenovo laptops, configurable, and I get these options
32 GB DDR4 at 3200 Mhz +10€
32 GB DDR4 (2 * 16 GB) at 3200 Mhz +110€
does it has advantages?

If ram chip fails on first option, you may have a laptop doorstop.
In the second option you pop out the failed ram and continue to run on the
other chip.

Another possible advantage of 2x16 vs 1x32: dual-channel memory setups can
be a bit faster, with memory accesses spread across two DIMMs.
OTOH, if only two DIMM slots are available (not at all uncommon in
notebooks), upgrading from a 2x16 configuration will require replacing both
DIMMs.

I don't foresee needing more than 32. My current laptop has 4. There are
some offers with 24, and that would be enough as well, I think.

I use the laptop when moving, not at home. There I have a proper desktop :-)

[Theo]

Post by Carlos E.R.
Hi,
Looking at some Lenovo laptops, configurable, and I get these options
32 GB DDR4 at 3200 Mhz +10€
32 GB DDR4 (2 * 16 GB) at 3200 Mhz +110€
Why is the second option more expensive, does it has advantages?

Ordinarily the first option might be because it has four slots and they're
populating it with 4x 8GB, which means all the slots are filled, whereas 2x
16GB might leave two empty slots.

However this laptop has only two SODIMM slots, so it's either 1x 32 or 2x
16. Normally 2x16 would be cheaper than 1x32, but maybe it isn't for some
reason.

The Ryzen 5875U has two memory channels, so your choices are:
1x32: half the memory bandwidth, expandable to 64GB
2x16: full memory bandwidth, no expandability

Personally I'd either go with the 1x32 or 2x32 (64GB) options - can't really
see the point of paying EUR100 extra for the memory bandwidth where EUR170
will double the RAM.

Or buying the base spec (8GB) model and upgrading the RAM yourself. That
reduces the laptop price by EUR230. Locally, SODIMMs DDR4-3200 2x32GB are
GBP169.

Post by Carlos E.R.
It also mentions a "Graphics Dongle". What is that?
It can be none, USB-C to VGA, HDMI to VGA , USB-C to DP (+20€ any of them)

USB-C can carry video via Displayport, so this is an external adapter to
expose a VGA or Displayport connector. Seems like the laptop also has HDMI,
so there's an adapter for that to VGA as well.

Theo

[Carlos E. R.]

Post by Theo

Post by Carlos E.R.
Hi,
Looking at some Lenovo laptops, configurable, and I get these options
32 GB DDR4 at 3200 Mhz +10€
32 GB DDR4 (2 * 16 GB) at 3200 Mhz +110€
Why is the second option more expensive, does it has advantages?

Ordinarily the first option might be because it has four slots and they're
populating it with 4x 8GB, which means all the slots are filled, whereas 2x
16GB might leave two empty slots.
However this laptop has only two SODIMM slots, so it's either 1x 32 or 2x
16. Normally 2x16 would be cheaper than 1x32, but maybe it isn't for some
reason.

Someone told me that Lenovo has sometimes weird price policies. Like
sometimes having Ubuntu installed being cheaper than "no os", and
sometimes it is the reverse.

Post by Theo
1x32: half the memory bandwidth, expandable to 64GB
2x16: full memory bandwidth, no expandability
Personally I'd either go with the 1x32 or 2x32 (64GB) options - can't really
see the point of paying EUR100 extra for the memory bandwidth where EUR170
will double the RAM.
Or buying the base spec (8GB) model and upgrading the RAM yourself. That
reduces the laptop price by EUR230. Locally, SODIMMs DDR4-3200 2x32GB are
GBP169.

That's an idea, yes. I'll check.

Post by Theo

Post by Carlos E.R.
It also mentions a "Graphics Dongle". What is that?
It can be none, USB-C to VGA, HDMI to VGA , USB-C to DP (+20€ any of them)

USB-C can carry video via Displayport, so this is an external adapter to
expose a VGA or Displayport connector. Seems like the laptop also has HDMI,
so there's an adapter for that to VGA as well.

Ok, now I understand what it is. I'll stay with the internal HDMI port,
I don't need this dongle.

[Theo]

Post by Carlos E. R.
Someone told me that Lenovo has sometimes weird price policies. Like
sometimes having Ubuntu installed being cheaper than "no os", and
sometimes it is the reverse.

Yes, both Lenovo and Dell have very odd pricing if you aren't a business.
My current Lenovo was launched at $3000 list in the US (and got terrible
reviews for being so expensive) but UK pricing was more like $1500 (+VAT).
Whenever I've asked Dell business for a quote for budgetary purposes, it can
often be half or less from list.

If you aren't a business, look for 'sales' which often reduces prices by 30%
or more and makes them more sensible. Or buy from a reseller, not direct.

Post by Carlos E. R.
That's an idea, yes. I'll check.

Looks fairly straightforward to open:
https://laptopmedia.com/gb/review/lenovo-thinkpad-l14-gen-3/#disassembly-upgrade-options-and-maintenance

Post by Carlos E. R.
Ok, now I understand what it is. I'll stay with the internal HDMI port,
I don't need this dongle.

It's not doing anything that third party USB-C dongles can't do, so you can
always pick one of those up later if needs be. Or use a docking station.

Theo

[Carlos E. R.]

Post by Theo

Post by Carlos E. R.
Someone told me that Lenovo has sometimes weird price policies. Like
sometimes having Ubuntu installed being cheaper than "no os", and
sometimes it is the reverse.

Yes, both Lenovo and Dell have very odd pricing if you aren't a business.
My current Lenovo was launched at $3000 list in the US (and got terrible
reviews for being so expensive) but UK pricing was more like $1500 (+VAT).
Whenever I've asked Dell business for a quote for budgetary purposes, it can
often be half or less from list.
If you aren't a business, look for 'sales' which often reduces prices by 30%
or more and makes them more sensible. Or buy from a reseller, not direct.

But the reseller doesn't do "customization". At least not the one I
typically use.

Post by Theo

Post by Carlos E. R.
That's an idea, yes. I'll check.

https://laptopmedia.com/gb/review/lenovo-thinkpad-l14-gen-3/#disassembly-upgrade-options-and-maintenance

Ah,thanks.

Post by Theo

Post by Carlos E. R.
Ok, now I understand what it is. I'll stay with the internal HDMI port,
I don't need this dongle.

It's not doing anything that third party USB-C dongles can't do, so you can
always pick one of those up later if needs be. Or use a docking station.

Right. I just did not know what they were talking about. They don't seem
to have a button to expand information on the items.