RAM questions

A good place to start is Crucial.com. Plug in your exact laptop, it'll tell you what type of memory it takes.

The 8600 takes 200 Pin SODIMMs PC2700 DDR333 RAM. I bought this exact piece for mine and it works great:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...155-109&depa=0

Hope this helps! If you have other questions, just post em!

Tim

1) What kind of RAM comes with the 8600? It says DDR SDRAM, but what does this mean? Also, NewEgg lists DDR and SDRAM separately, saying one is 168pin, and the other is 184 pin. What does this mean?

DDR ram is a specific type of SDRAM. DDR means double data rate, it's a type of ram that's able to do 2 transfers per clock cycle as opposed to regular SDram's 1 per clock cycle. It's confusing, but just think of DDR and SD as two different types of ram, since they're not interchangable. Like almost all consumer computers today, the 8600 comes with DDR ram.

2) What is PC2100 or PC2700? Also, how does this compare to DDR333 or DDR400? (Again, I am looking at NewEgg's site to see the different types)

PC2100 = DDR 266
PC2700 = DDR 333
It's just another way of telling apart the difference in speed of various rams.
DDR is 2x the speed of your front side bus. So if you have ddr333, then your FSB is 166. That is assuming you're running your ram at 1:1 ratio. The higher the number, the better, so pc2700 > pc2100.

3) Do you have to have a specific type/shape/size of RAM for notebooks? NewEgg lists "system" and "notebook" memory separate from each other. I have a friend who is well versed in computer tech, and he mentioned a difference between desktop and notebook memory, saying that notebook memory is about 3 to 4 times as expensive. Is this true?

notebooks use a different type of ram compared to desktops, main difference being they're much smaller in size. notebook memory isn't nearly 3 times more expensive than desktop ram, but it is more expensive. The real difference between them is more like 10-20%, give or take depending on the brand.

4) If I was to purchase an 8600 with 256MB of RAM, I would want to start by adding 1 512MB stick. How much is this going to cost me? Can anyone provide a link(s) to a specific stick that I could install?

The Kingmax and Crucial 512mb rams has been confirmed to be compatible with the 8600. They're both available on newegg for around 110, under the notebook memory section. Installation is a snap, literally, and only takes a minute or two. I got two sticks of 512mb kingmax for my 8600 and it works great.

Thanks in advance for the help. I know I am asking a lot
You're welcome

if NewEgg is out of the 512 Kingmax ram sticks for the 8600, is there another kingmax source you'd recommend?

I'd just google something like "Kingmax 512MB 333MHz 200-pin SODIMM" and see what you find.
stu

after finding only shady suppliers through froogle, guess what?

Kingmax came back in stock after 3 day outage...

Well thar blows some good news matey's
stu