Upgrading Eee PC RAM
Well, I have used the Eee PC now for around 3 days and so far so good. I have not found any issues with the Xandros Linux distro in terms of unreliability (or crashing) but I have read about an alarming “remote root” security issue which should be patched by everyone who decides to continue to run the Xandros Linux build supplied with the Eee PC. For more details regarding this issue, please see http://risesecurity.org/blog/entry/6/. But, as I will be installing Windows XP on my Eee PC in a few days, I’m going to skip applying this patch myself.
Anyway, onto the task at hand – upgrading the RAM. Previously, ASUS did not “approve” of someone upgrading the RAM in the Eee PC, which is something I personally find a bit bizarre. The Eee PC ships with a yellow sticker stating the warranty will be void if the sticker is broken or removed.
Thankfully, after much fanfare, ASUS released a statement to the public saying they were retracting this and that owners of the Eee PC were free to upgrade the RAM if they wished. However, ASUS states that they will not be held “responsible for the damage caused by improper hardware change.” The terms of the warranty were also change to reflect this. Please see the press release here: http://usa.asus.com/news_show.aspx?id=9223
OK. To replace the existing RAM, I purchased a Corsair “ValueSelect” 2GB SO-DIMM DDR2 667 200-pin RAM module. There are some articles out there stating that 1GB is the “sweetspot” and that 2GB is wasted. In my opinion, if I was only going to run Xandros or another Linux distro, 1GB would suit just nicely. However, as I plan to run Windows XP on the Eee PC, and remembering that the video card uses Shared Memory, I feel that the 2GB module is a far smarter option, and is only $20 more expensive for me at my local retailer.
Installing the RAM is quite simple. With the Eee PC turned off, unscrew the screws holding the access panel in place and pop out the existing RAM module by pulling the side clips apart. Then, ensuring the pins are the correct way, push in the new RAM module and slightly push down until the side clips click and then rescrew in the access panel. Turn on your Eee PC and enter the BIOS by pressing F2 on startup. Your system should now report 2GB RAM if it has been installed correctly. If your system does not boot, your will need to check that you have correctly inserted the RAM module.
Have fun upgrading your Eee!