Lexar vs Crucial for RAM expansion

Framework Laptop 13 Linux
1

Hi all!

After 3 years running my Framework 13 3rd Gen (13th Gen Intel Core i5 1340P) with Windows I decided to move to Linux.

I installed Fedora 43 with a dual boot configuration and, besides a recurring and very annoying but apparently unsolvable keyring password request at each boot, I’m very happy with it. So much so that I would like to wipe my laptop and install only Fedora.

Since I work (and also watch Netflix and play with Nvidia GeForce NOW) with my computer I still need to use Windows at times, but I installed it with Boxes and is working fine. So I’m planning to use it only via VM (didn’t test Netflix and GeForce Now yet with that though).

I currently have only 16Gb (x2 8gb) of RAM, the same that came with the laptop when I bought it.

I was looking to upgrade to 32Gb to run the Virtual Machine without problems, but RAM prices are very high right now. Then I found on amazon this Lexar SODIMM DDR4 RAM 32GB Kit (2x16GB), 3200 MHz DRAM, that costs half of the same specs Corsair.

I have never heard of this brand, so I was wondering if it is worth buying or the drop in performance/reliability will match the drop in price compared to the Corsair?

Does anyone have experience with their products?

Thank you all!

2

I’ve heard of Lexar products before. I’ve mainly seen them in USB sticks and SD cards. To be honest, Lexar DRAM should* be good as any other DRAM considering there are only 3 manufacturers of the actual memory modules—SK Hynix, Crucial, and Samsung.

3

One thing to consider, is that on a laptop like the Framework, you will not be running posted speeds of a RAM kit unless those are the native JEDEC timing for that kit. You will not be able to set an XMP profile (Which a lot of kits rely upon). The price difference here may stem from that, and running lower speed RAM will dig into the iGPU’s performance most noticeably.

Question though, why do you ‘need’ windows for Netflix, does it not run on a browser so long as a DRM scheme like widevine is active?

4

Corsair’s reputation got hit after they cancelled user’s orders and hiked the price so I recommend against it. Lexar is a newcomer in RAM, which isn’t necessarily less reliable but I would rather wait for a while for more customer reviews but you can give it a try if in a rush.

3200MT/s (actually running at 1600MHz) is a standard DDR4 speed. According to the description, it runs at 1.2V with CL22, likely non-XMP

5

Thank you all for the feedbacks!

For the records, this is the RAM I was looking to purchase.

I didn’t know that. Then it really makes me wonder why the price difference so stiff.

Thank you very much for poiting this out, I didn’t consider that. I checked and as Charlie_6 suggested it is luckily JEDEC standard.

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This is my working laptop, so I need to be able to work smoothly with any software my company is using. I’m running Slack on Linux but sometimes I have problems during calls (sharing screen) or I can’t connect yet my bluetooth earplugs. I occasionally need Figma (not the browser version). Maybe there will be other cases in the future.
99% of the time I’m fine with Fedora, but I want to be able to jump in windows if I need.
Consider that I’m the literally only person in the company who picked a Framework when he had to choose what computer to buy. Everyone else got a macbook. If I’m starting to be the only one slowing down the others because I cannot properly join a call I will be ostracized even more :sweat_smile:

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