Dell Memory Upgrade

[kaidran]

Hi,

I just wanted to ask about upgrading my Dell 4700, probably with 2 x 512 Mb sticks. I was looking online and some companies offer matching services to assure compatability with Dell. Otherwise you can just pick out the memory that fits the stats you want.

I read that picking cheaper memory runs the risk of causing problems, particularly with Dells. I have been at a few sites, however, that guarentee compatability with Intel chipsets (915, 925 - mine is 915G I think) and sell the memory cheaper than if you go through the process of finding the ram through the make and model. The screen I have up at the moment is www.buyaib.com looking at two 512Mb blocks of Ramses ram. They have the codes 51253302-94 (basic) and 51253302-D4700 (dell specific) and cost $44 and $63 respectivey. Is this just a scam, or is there something inherently magical about Dell computers that needs the more exensive ram? The crucial site gives me the same ram if I go through the Dell selection process or direct to the type with no mention of system.

Thanks

[Bill in SD, CA]

Welcome To TechIMO!1

I don't know about Dell but I throw in whatever memory in my HP with no problems.

I somehow don't think that memory is proprietary.

My guess is memory is memory.


Bill in SD, CA

[kaidran]

Thanks for the welcome!

I have not had any problems with generic memory in the past ( I am not a particularly intensive gamer) but this is my first Dell. Obviously I would rather spend $88 than $126.

[JPMiller]

$88?
Where are you, that you have to spend that much?
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16820156006
And you can get a free optical mouse thrown in the deal...
--------------
sorry... re-read your post...
BUT... I would reconsider buying through that company, ...
http://www.resellerratings.com/seller2870.html
pretty low rating...
NewEgg would be a more reliable vendor...
I havent had problems with any Dell upgrades lately , concerning ram...
--------------
Why are you buying 2 sticks?
What type and amount of ram do you have now?

[Theophylact]

According to Crucial, the Dell Dimension 4700 series takes unbuffered, non-ECC 240-pin DDR2 DIMMs, PC2 3200 or higher. And they have to be installed in pairs. That's not what the Newegg link has.

Are you sure that's what you want?

[John Prophet]

As Theo said, crucial.com is sort of a good compromise between price and quality etc...and they make it easy since they have the wizard to show you the exact memory you need.

It is worth a few extra $$$ to get good ram.

JP

[kaidran]

I did not consider upgrading the initial ram, it was a 256Mb block that came with the computer. I figured it would be too difficult to match it. The codes on the side of the block are:

Samsung e 256Mb 1Rx16 PC2-3200U 333-10-C1
KRH M378T3354B70-CCC 0507

I did some quick searching but nothing came up that looked vaguely similar.

The resellerrating.com looks like a good site. buyaib.com certainly does not look good there. When I was looking for samsung memory I saw the reseller memorygiant.com. They actually claim that Dell computers need special chips in the memory, I will paste the paragraph below:

" Your Dell Dimension 4700 only supports modules made with a specific type of chip. Should you find what seems to be the exact same memory elsewhere for a lower price, it is very possible that the cheaper memory will not work in your computer. By using the Memory Giant "Memory Finder" your selected memory modules are
Guaranteed To Work or your money back!"

What does everyone make of this?

[John Prophet]

Its always hard to say with RAM....but if you have a "dual channel" motherboard then you have to get matched pairs of ram....

what you need to do is look at the motherboard and see how many ram slots you have

or just go to dells site and look up your computer by the system tag number on the side of it.....it will tell you more or less what RAM type you have etc

if you have 4 ram slots and 2 are already filled...my guess is that you can buy another matched pair for the other 2 slots and be ok with all 4 sticks running...I wouldnt think you would HAVE to match the exact samsung brand etc

[John Prophet]

yours is DDR2 it is "second generation DDR"

I think that is what the 'PC2' is telling you in the samsung part number

[kaidran]

I have 4 slots, one is filled, that is why I wanted to match the memory. If I was not going to match the existing block I would probably buy two blocks of 512 running at 4200 and take the initial memory out. I just wanted to know how best to do this on a budget and when sites are telling me that Dell computers need a special chip in the memory to work, I am not sure what to make of it.

[John Prophet]

well I would take some of that with a grain of salt....any of us here on this board have mix and matched memory plenty of times....some of that is just to try to get you to buy from them, lol

your board may have several different "modes".....like a "dual channel" mode and then a single channel mode

if you have only one stick in now, then if I were you I might take a chance on just buying one more stick...for instance you could buy the stick from crucial.com....try it with your old stick....if worse comes to worse and it doesnt work you could always just buy a second stick to match it

if you had to buy 2 new sticks to get it to work, you could always sell the old stick here at techimo or an www.anandtech.com sales forum...there are probably plenty of people with that Dell who would like to have your old stick since it will be a match for them etc

JP

[kaidran]

Sounds like a good plan.

How do I check the mode that my board is working under?