I’ve tested some of the new Asus netbooks lately, the 10 inch 1018P and the bigger gaming netbook 1215N.
Both of them came with the maximum amount of memory supported, 2 GB for the 1018P and 4 GB for the 1215N. Plus, all the modules used were Hynix, which is what Asus usually equips their devices with.
However, in real life, there are problems.
The 1018P usually sells with 1 GB DDR3 Hynix 1333 MHz DIMM. Now, a bunch of guys tried upgrading them to 2 GB and bought random types of DDR3 1333 MHz modules. However, once those installed, devices were not able to boot anymore. Details in this thread on EEEUser forum.
Now, the same thing happened to the 1215N with a DDR3 2x2GB Corsair kit. Details in here.
So, what are the explanations. Well, there aren’t many. Asus say it is recommended to get 1066 MHz DDR3 for these devices. However, the ones i tested used 1333 MHz ones and worked just fine. Plus, they already ship their machines equipped with 1333 MHz chips. Of course, the ones shipped and the ones i tested, all use Hynix modules. For the moment, the guys at Asus say they cannot ensure compatibility with every bit of DDR3 module on the market, but since you’re buying something with the same specs as the ones pre-installed, they should work, ay?
However, they don’t. I’ve tried getting more official info from Asus on this matter, no reply yet.
Still, I find it bizarre that only Hynix chips seem to work on these machines. So why not buy a Hynix and solve the problem? Well, that’s easy: because you can’t buy those in stores (or they are harder to find).
Of course, these problems should get fixed with future BIOS updates. But for the moment, buying one of these DDR3 equipped netbooks from Asus might not be the best idea, especially if you plan to upgrade memory on them. Not to mention some still have drivers problems as well (the EEE PC 1215N).
Anyway, I’ll dig more into this situation and let you know as soon as I find anything new. Should get that reply from Asus and will update when I do. For the moment though, all the stories around this subject are confusing, but it seems these new machines are really whimsy when dealing with DDR3 memory modules.
bigp
August 26, 2010 at 2:31 pm
You’re really recommending that people not buy the 1215N because it works fine as stock but you can’t double the RAM? It works fine out of the box and has got to be the best in its class, but don’t buy it. That’s what I’m hearing.
Andrei Girbea
August 26, 2010 at 2:49 pm
I’m just saying you should wait for these problems to get a solution, if you’re planning to upgrade RAM. if you’re fine with it as it is, then by all means, go4it.
zeo
August 28, 2010 at 6:24 am
In the 1018P thread, a second hand Hynix 2GB PC3-10600 (1333 Mhz) HMT125S6TFR8C-H9 was tried and it did not work. The Hynix you tried from the 1215N is a different model HMT325S6BFR8C-H9…
Andrei Girbea
August 28, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Ha, i missed that T/B difference 🙁 I saw that they tried that Hynix , i thought it was the same. This thing gets weirder and weirder and i stil have no official answer on the matter
jIM
September 2, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Update to the latest 1018p bios, 0405, any RAM works 🙂
zeo
September 16, 2010 at 9:09 pm
What RAM have you tried jIM? Did you have the problem before or did your system come with BIOS 0405?
So far no one else has reported the problem being fixed and now a 1015PED user has reported the same problem.
anthony
November 25, 2010 at 6:51 am
Hi I’m quite a noob to this and I need some help. How do I know if a RAM is dual channel? Just bought a 2 gb kingston KVR1333D3S9/2G and realised it doesnt work.
Andrei Girbea
November 25, 2010 at 12:56 pm
In order for memory to work in dual channel, you need 2 identical modules and a computer built on a platform that supports dual channel. You can’t have dual channel memory on a netbook, as it only has one RAM slot in most cases.
Lapo
December 18, 2015 at 9:23 pm
Atom D525 does not support dual channel, anyways.
Brad Fallon
December 19, 2010 at 1:26 pm
The real secret that many people do not know is that the X41 Tablet has an “IPS” lcd panel (same as what Apple uses in their high-end monitors). Its viewable on all angles and the contrast is unbelievably great. Its totally different than the lcd used in the regulat x40 and x41(non-tablet)
Tom McGonegal
December 22, 2010 at 1:28 pm
I just took delivery of a 1215n from Amazon. I also ordered, at the same time, one of the 2GB RAM modules they advertise along with the 1215n. Here is what I bought: Crucial CT25664BC1067 2GB 204-PIN PC3-8500 SODIMM DDR3 Memory Module.
My machine came, to my surprise, with 2 1GB modules. I was expecting it to have a 2GB module and I expected to just drop my Crucial module in and have it work.
Well of course the Crucial module fit in nicely after I removed one of the 1GB modules. And, of course, the machine wouldn’t boot.
So far I am 0 for 3 or thereabouts, and I obviously did not do my homework beforehand, nor did I ever expect anything like the reality contained in your post.
UGH!!!
Okay, it’s December 22. Is there anything new Mike? BIOS update or approved memory modules that will work?
Thanks a lot,
Tom
Tom McGonegal
December 22, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Kingston has this to say:
“Thank you for your interest in Kingston Technology.
Kingston part number KVR1333D3S8S9/2G has been tested and guaranteed to work in your motherboard. “Hynix’ refers to the types of chips that are being used.”
I shall order 2 and see.
Tom
Jorge Forte
December 30, 2010 at 9:31 am
Sorry Tom. I already try the KVR1333D3S8S9/2G and does not work on 1215n.
Jorge
Tom McGonegal
December 31, 2010 at 7:03 am
I received my Kingston parts (see post 2 above) yesterday and installed them this morning. They work. I now have 4.00 GB with 2.74 usable (as expected – a 32 bit system max, I believe).
The first time I booted up I did get a rather strange message. I would normally expect, maybe, a message indicating the amount of system memory has changed.
This message was rather scary. It appeared they wanted to do a system restore. I was given 2 choices: Restore and risk losing my own data, and 2, delete restoration data and proceed to boot menu. I chose the latter (why should I have to restore?), and the boot proceeded smoothly without any further issues or interruptions.
I will also say that this is a brand new 1215n delivered from Amazon on 12/23/2010. Might it have had a BIOS update that enables it to now accept the Kingston RAM?
I am puzzled by Jorge’s post above and that is why I ask.
I will carry my 2 original 1GB RAM parts with me for a while to make sure the new memory behaves!
Tom
Tom McGonegal
January 7, 2011 at 7:20 am
The 4GB of Kingston RAM have performed flawlessly since their installation one week ago.
Tom
mascip
January 14, 2011 at 7:35 am
hello, my Kingston KVR1333D3S9/2G memory didn’t work (black screen, no boot), until i installed the last BIOS “something.605”. Now, it works perfectly on 64bits Linux (i have 4GB RAM), and on windows 32bits i have 2.75GB RAM.
hx38
May 7, 2011 at 8:06 pm
I bought one and tried to upgrade with Crucial 2GB DDR3 but failed to reboot. Is there any solution for this?
sebzh
July 2, 2014 at 12:11 pm
hi hx38, exactly the same problem. 2x 2gb (1333mhz)
why?
Lapo
December 18, 2015 at 9:24 pm
Kingston KVR13S9S6/2 does not seem to work, even with latest BIOS 0902.
carver
October 13, 2020 at 12:19 am
i've bought today hinix 2x2gb 10600s …. but it did not run: asus 1215N
THE same hynix bundle 2x1gb work very well… i don't understand..
a driend of mine put it 6gb hynix 2gb+ 4gb…… i have no words….. 🙁