Notebooks & Netbooks

[Foxy-lucy]

will its a brand new laptop so no files on that belong to me. just some stuff that came free with it from acer.

so yeah i think this would be the best option load a brand new win 8 with Msata.

the only other thing i was think is if its possible to buy the Msata with win8 on it so only have to change the HD and would be good to go, not sure if that would work .

[Foxy-lucy]

Hi chris

could you please check these 4 that i found from what you said, can you tell me which one is the best quality and most or the right size for the R7, if you had to pick of these which on would you go for??

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Corsair-CMSX8GX3M2A1600C9-Vengeance-8GB-2x4GB-DDR3-1600-MHz-PC3-12800-Memory...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Crucial-Ballistix-Sport-8GB-1-x-8GB-240-Pin-DDR3-SDRAM-DDR3-1600-PC3-12800-/...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CORSAIR-Vengeance-LP-8GB-SDRAM-DDR3-1600-PC3-12800-Memory-RAM-Cml8gx3m1a1600...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Kingston-8GB-1600MHz-DDR3-PC3-12800-204-Pin-SODIMM-KTH-X3C-8G-/161078573...

[b9chris]

The first and last ones are best. It really doesn't make much difference, but when investigating RAM I check:

Cas Latency (CL) - lower is better. In these 8 is the lowest you'll find, 9 is good, 11 is poor.

Timings, like 9-9-9-24. Lower is better.

Power usage, which usually requires googling the name plus the words "power usage." The Crucial and the second Corsair had the best timings and lowest power usage.

But the difference in system performance is almost unnoticeable. In reviews the timings have basically no noticeable performance benefit, and between 0 and 7 watts of power usage difference - almost meaningless.

Windows 8 machines are fussy about booting - there's a thing on them called UEFI Secure Boot that can prevent you from booting if you don't preserve the OS that came with the machine. That's part of why you want to just make an Acer Recovery Disk. That dumps your specific copy of Win8 onto the recovery drive. Then you swap in the SSD, boot from recovery and install your copy of Win8 back onto your new SSD drive. Nuisance UEFI issues averted.

[Foxy-lucy]

ok thanks for that reply chris. helped me a lot so as long i use the recovery disk then after i can just install that on new SSD drive then load the new win 8 copy, i presume if i do it this way then i can use a win 8 pro upgrade CD?  no need for the full version right?

also regarding making a recovery disk, how is that done, is it a simple process?

does windows have an option to do that or is it hard?

thanks again lisa.

p.s you could be amazing and put a video of upgrading RAM and SSD on DVD for everyone to see.

i would pay 60$ for it, rather pay you and do it myself then pay someone here that is charging double that and might break my laptop, being in dubai there is no way to control the quality of work being done.

life is hard for a woman that is not good that upgrading laptops :-)

[Foxy-lucy]

your in deep trouble Mr.

i almost bought the ram you suggested to find out after hours of searching its 204 pin that is needed not 240 pin.

the slot is 204 Sodim!!!!!

why didnt you tell me, the normal 240pin stick wont work?

[Foxy-lucy]

hi chris

hope your good.

is the ram for aspire r7 1.35v or 1.5v?

i bought some at 1.5v but see only both 1.35v and 1.5 can you let me know thanks 

[Foxy-lucy]

hi guys little off topic here.

posting here cause i know some of the people here have opened the R7 up.

can someone tell me if its 1.35v ram or 1.5v

im upgrading with 1 x 8b stick to give me 12gb of ram.

someone let me know 

thank you x 

[b9chris]

Yes, you'll need laptop RAM in laptops. DIMMs are for desktops. SO-DIMMs are for laptops.

Either voltage should work as far as I can tell, but this is new so I'm not certain.

DDR3 is the type of RAM the Acer Aspire R7 takes. Its manual is worthless in terms of technical information so no help there. DDR3 is normally 1.5v.

DDR3L is the standard in which RAM can be lower than 1.5v.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/319013-30-what-ddr3l

Intel's IvyBridge chipset is the first one that supports DDR3L. Several reviews say the R7 uses Ivy Bridge:

http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/30/acer-aspire-r7-review/

So either should work.

[TwelveTone]

Confirmed.  I'm also shopping for an R7 memory upgrade.   I opened my R7 and pulled the 2GB chip which is a Kingston PC3L.  The label says: 2GB 1Rx8 PC3L - 12800S - 11 - 11 - B3.

1.35v chips are not always referred to as PC3L.   Often its just PC3, but also DDR3L.  I've also seen "1.35V/1.5V" which implies its rated for either.

I'm going with the Crucial BLS8G3N169ES4 which is a 1.35V with a CL of 9 (9-9-9-24).

[TwelveTone]

I forgot to mention before that my R7 is being returned to Acer for replacement due to a known wifi issue that is supposedly related to RAM.    I contacted support and am expecting a new R7 to replace my current one early next week, at which time I will test the wifi issues and report on that.   I will also be curious to see if my previously mentioned Kingston chip has changed in the new one.  More later...