Conclusion:

In day to day usage, having 4GB of the Kingston HyperX PC2-6400 (800MHz) memory installed in my laptop makes a big difference. Previously the system had been running 2GB of somewhat generic 667MHz memory, and the upgrade was easily noticeable. Whether I looked at the time required to start up, switch applications, edit photos, or whatever else, the extra memory with the extra speed made a difference. Too bad the benchmarks didn't agree, as they painted the picture that capacity and/or speed really didn't boost performance.

The kit has decent specifications, and it is backed by Kingston's reputation for quality as well as their limited lifetime warranty. Kingston has offered laptop memory for years, but the introduction of SODIMMs to their HyperX line up is a great fit with the surging popularity of gaming notebooks, especially the do-it-yourself barebones kits. With the price of system memory being so low, it is definitely worth considering upgrading any system that is running with well less than the maximum supported.

Searching around finds the 2GB, 3GB, and 4GB kits of Kingston HyperX PC2-6400 SODIMMs available at a variety of stores. At Newegg.com you can buy the 3GB kit for $40.49 (US), while the 4GB kit will set you back $53.49. Focusing in on the 4GB kit, the more practical choice for most users, $53.49 is a bit on the high side. Other manufacturers offer nearly identical kits for up to $10 less. You can get a 4GB kit of 800MHz modules at 5-5-5-15 (or 18) that also have lifetime warranties from brands such as Mushkin, PQI, and OCZ Technology.

The bottom line is that the Kingston HyperX PC2-6400 SODIMM memory kit will make a great high performance upgrade for any compatible system, but the price is just a bit too high to compete with a bunch of other options.

Pros:

» Decent performance
» Solid specifications and timings
» Lifetime warranty

Cons:

» Premium price
» Testing didn't show much difference between capacities or speeds