| I am a computer enthusiast and have been for the | | | | does not lie within the memory technology. PC2100 |
| past 21 years. Through this time I have had | | | | DDR memory in laptop computers is just the same |
| numerous computer related experiences, many of | | | | as PC2100 DDR memory in desktop computers, and |
| which have taught me what it takes to successfully | | | | the same holds true for PC2-5300 DDR2 laptop and |
| upgrade your computer. Given my long standing | | | | PC2-5300 DDR2 desktop memory etc. The |
| experience with computers I thought I would share | | | | difference is actually in the memory module itself. If |
| some insight into why it is not possible to use | | | | you recall from above, very old laptops used |
| desktop memory in your laptop, notebook, | | | | memory that came on 30/72pin SIMM's, just as |
| sub-notebook or netbook (as these all apply here) | | | | desktops did back in the day. Modern laptop |
| and vice versa. | | | | computer memory comes on DIMM's, otherwise |
| For those that seek the short answer | | | | known as Dual-Inline-Memory-Modules. This is not |
| Unfortunately except in very finite cases, desktop | | | | however the main difference, to find this we must |
| computer memory cannot be used it laptops just as | | | | introduce SO-DIMM's, which are the laptop variety of |
| laptop computer memory cannot be used in desktop | | | | DIMM's. |
| computers. There are a few reasons behind this and | | | | SO-DIMM's are mini versions of DIMM's. Depending on |
| to find out why I recommend you read the longer | | | | the memory technology they carry onboard (have |
| answer below. Should you be struck for time | | | | soldered onto their PCB - Printed Circuit Board) they |
| however, just remember, laptop memory upgrades | | | | will somewhat vary in size and the number of pins |
| cannot be used as desktop memory upgrades and | | | | they feature. For this reason it is not only easy to tell |
| vice versa because they vary in size. | | | | apart laptop memory upgrades from desktop |
| For those that desire a longer answer | | | | memory upgrades just by looking at them, but also |
| (recommended) | | | | appreciate why they cannot be used in desktop |
| To appreciate why it is not possible to use laptop | | | | computers. Because SO-DIMM's have fewer pins, for |
| computer memory in desktop computers and vice | | | | example 144pins Vs 168pins in the case of laptop |
| versa, we first of all have to remove the single facet | | | | desktop SDRAM memory, they are smaller and thus |
| that breaks this rule. In the very old days when | | | | better suited to laptops. Incidentally because laptops |
| laptops were only just appearing they used memory | | | | have limited space inside, this explains why |
| that came on SIMM's, otherwise known as | | | | SO-DIMM's were devised and even goes as far as |
| Single-Inline-Memory-Modules. These were indeed the | | | | clarifying why some laptops today can be so thin and |
| same used in desktop computers at the time, either | | | | yet so powerful. |
| in 30pin or 72pin configurations. As laptops entered | | | | In summary |
| mainstream and so became less of a brick and more | | | | I hope the above has been useful and you may now |
| of a mobile tool did this facet change. | | | | explain this to your friends and colleagues should they |
| Ever since laptops became mainstream they have | | | | ever be in doubt. In closing let's have a quick recap. |
| used a variation of the same computer memory used | | | | Only very old laptops used the same memory as |
| in desktop computers. For this reason it is common | | | | desktop computers. This was because they were big |
| for you to stumble upon model names such as | | | | and heavy and space considerations inside laptops |
| PC2100, PC2700, PC3200, PC2-3200, PC2-5300, and | | | | were not really an issue. As laptops became |
| even more recently PC3-8500 etc. that you also find | | | | mainstream, and thus space did become an issue |
| in desktop computer memory. The reason behind the | | | | were computer designers forced to invent |
| all important "why" is that laptops are simply a subset | | | | SO-DIMM's. These are considerably smaller than |
| of personal computers. They are designed around the | | | | desktop DIMM's as well as now ancient SIMM's and |
| same principles thus make use of a series of the | | | | feature fewer pins. Despite these differences, the |
| same technologies. The "why" behind why they | | | | memory technology they employ is identical to that |
| make use of a wide range of joint technologies is a | | | | of desktop computers. If you compact all the above |
| topic on its own, but for now the best way for you | | | | together to come up with a shorthand answer it |
| to think of this is that as a result of these, they are | | | | would simply be this - laptop memory upgrades |
| made compatible and thus can run the same | | | | cannot work in desktop computers because they are |
| software and use very similar hardware. | | | | smaller, and as a result of this, will not fit inside the |
| So what are the differences you may ask? From the | | | | larger memory slots. |
| above we already know that the key differentiator | | | | |