Memory requirements, both in capacity and performance, have increased as operating systems become more and more demanding. The arrival of Windows VISTA has had a huge impact on the memory industry with many users looking towards a memory upgrade in order to satisfy the memory demands of Windows VISTA and improve their system's overall performance. Laptop users have seen the recent 2GB SO-DIMMs appear on the market. With an Intel 945G based laptop, you can use either a single or a pair of 2GB SO-DIMMs and boost overall system performance. This is what we are going to be looking at in this roundup. First, let's meet the contenders.

- Crucial PC2-5300 DDR2 2GB SO-DIMM

Crucial offers the PC2-5300 DDR2 SO-DIMM memory in 1GB and 2GB modules. The memory specs are typical for this category:

• 667MHz DDR2
• CL 5-5-5-15
• Unbuffered
• 1.8 Volts
• Lifetime Warranty
• 200 Pin DIMM

Crucial memory modules comes well packaged in anti-static plastic bags to keep them secure from any static discharge.

Each package includes only one module and can be bought directly from Crucial at the retail price of US$308.99:

A label on the package has all the information you need to make your choice:

Crucial, a division of Micron, uses Micron memory modules. Each memory module has eight memory chips (4 on each side), of 256M capacity each:

Above, the Crucial logo with product details, and below on the reverse side, the Micron logo with memory details:

Under Windows, we can see more information:

- SuperTalent PC2-5300 DDR2 SO-DIMM

SuperTalent offers PC2-534020 DDR2 SO-DIMM memory modules in 512MB, 1GB and 2GB capacities. The memory specs are exactly the same as with the Crucial PC2-5300 memory:

• 667MHz DDR2
• CL 5-5-5-12
• Unbuffered
• 1.8 Volts
• Lifetime Warranty
• 200 Pin DIMM

The retail kit arrived in a plastic case. with a retail price as found at several online stores, around US$240:

SuperTalent also uses Micron SO-DIMM modules (128MB x 16) in order to reach 2GB capacity. The code is T667SB2G/M and more information can be found in this pdf file.

Under Windows, we can see more on the features of the SuperTalent PC2-5300 2GB SO-DIMM modules:

While System properties shows us that the total memory size is indeed 2GB: