MSI Wind U120 tops out at 1GB of RAM

msi-wind-u120-dissected

The MSI Wind U120 is a lot like the original  MSI Wind U100. It ships with Windows XP, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, and 1GB of RAM. But while the Wind U100 accepts up to 2GB of RAM, it turns out there’s no easy way to upgrade the RAM in the newer model.

I’ve seen several different sets of photos of the MSI Wind U120 netbook with its top off. But somehow I didn’t notice the lack of a memory slot until jkOnTheRun’s Kevin Tofel pointed it out the other day. Apparently MSI decided to do away with the memory slot in order to make room for the integrated 3G card and the optional SSD. That means that you get 1GB of non-removable memory with the MSI Wind U120 and no way to upgrade it, even though the computer could theoretically support up to 2GB of RAM just like its predecessor.

This probably isn’t a big deal for some users. I’ve never bothered upgrading the RAM on my Eee PC 1000H, and it runs Windows XP, Windows 7, and a wide variety of Linux distributions just fine with 1GB of RAM. If you’re a hard core multitasker or gamer, you might want more memory. But you’ll also probably want a faster computer.


Posted on Sunday, January 25th, 2009, 7:45 am by Brad
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  • Dan
    This has more to do with Microsoft's 1gb memory limit on windows XP for netbooks. Inorder for XP to be bundled with the computer, the memory cannot exceed 1gb from MSI.

    http://apcmag.com/microsoft_hobbles_xp_mininote...
  • angryearthling
    so i use 3g a lot. mostly on my nokia e71. it's browser opera mini and gmail app handle 99% of my mobile needs. i've only once plugged it into my netbook to the a full firefox browser so somebody could look up something while in a meeting.

    but i don't want it in my netbook! i don't want another sim and paying for another service. i don't want another radio transmitter draining my battery when i'm not using it.

    far better that the netbook have bluetooth and use my nokia as the modem.

    1gb is fine for netbooks, for now. i'd much rather have the option to expand. was just thinking this week of getting a price to upgrade my acer aspire one.
  • Linc (MonkeyKing)
    I hate to say it but I don't care about 3G...it seems like such a waste of money. And, to take the memory slot out to include 3G isn't the best way to raise my opinion.

    Then again where I live there are TONS of coffee shops, libraries, and community centers with free & legal wi-fi. When I travel the airports and boats have free wi-fi too. My family friends have wi-fi as well, so on the road I always have a connection when I need it.

    I guess I'm lucky but Massachusetts is one of those places where free wi-fi is pretty well established.
  • DougC3
    I agree that it's hugely over-priced. I don't have a 3G PC yet, and I'm looking into ways to tether my wife's ppc phone, which has a more reasonable data plan. There aren't as many hotspots in Alabama, where I live, and it seems that I'm always having to wait somewhere where there's no access. While I'm dreaming of nice 3G netbooks, part of that dream is a drastic drop in 3G price :)
  • DougC3
    I'm sure some would look for Microsoft's thumbprint on that, but, since Windows 7 seems to do great with 1GB of RAM, it doesn't seem to make much sense.

    It's probably just another case of a manufacturer regarding hardware hackers as insignificant in the broad scheme of things.
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