Author Topic: RAM question? (Read 5432 times)

F.O.Bean · « **on:** December 20, 2004, 08:15:24 PM »

ok, so i have a dell inspiron w/ a RAM capacity of 64 MB

i would like to buy this 256MB ram, maybe even a 512 if i can find it

anyway, my question is, there are 2 bays for RAM, do i buy 2 RAM cards or does this include RAM for both bays

http://www.upgradememory.com/configurator_3.cfm

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2004, 08:16:33 PM »

alright, think i answered myopwn question, BUT, where the hell is the HD in this thing

bhtoque · « **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2004, 08:24:40 PM »

Check your manual, or online support.

Some boards have pita requirements about what you put and where. You may have to match each slot w the same chip (2x256=512) or you might be able to drop 256 into the second slot giving you 320

Also depending on how old the pc is, you may just want to upgrade because adding ram onto 5400rmp ata 66 drives won't give you a noticeable improvement.

64megs of ram sucks, but make sure it is the weakest link first, or you won't be happy with the results.

JAson

heath · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2004, 08:27:28 PM »

Quote from: bhtoque on December 20, 2004, 08:24:40 PM

64megs of ram sucks, but make sure it is the weakest link first, or you won't be happy with the results.

qft

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2004, 08:28:32 PM »

thanks jason, i guess i really dont NED the ram, i just thought it may pick the speed up a bit, i only use it for the occassional surfing since i have my PC, but i would like it a bit faster

mainly its to burn discs for my buds at moedown and the like

jb3>lappy>external burner

Ed. · « **Reply #5 on:** December 20, 2004, 08:36:36 PM »

64mbs of RAM

dood, i have like over 700 and i'm thinking in need more. actually i'm thinking its time for the all new motherboard/cpu/ram purchase...but i keep telling myself i don't need it.

BJ · « **Reply #6 on:** December 20, 2004, 09:00:51 PM »

you shouldnt have to worry about matching the ram....that was the old ram...im betting, if you started with one stick of 64mb..that you are sdram..and are free from the double stick requirment. Also, its easy to see if you need just one or two...open the ram panel..and see if the existing 64 is atached permatnly..if not...you can go to 512mb(256x2)...i dont know if you can find 512x2 but you might.....and YES>...512mb ram vs 64mb will feel like a new comp. You can upgrade the hd too if you wanted....i went (on an old laptop) from 3.5 gb to 40 gb harddrive for 90$...its up to you to see if you wanna pay the money...but its a sure way to backup the jb3 in the feild....portable too...

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #7 on:** December 20, 2004, 09:03:46 PM »

thats exactly what i want it for, and i got the lappy for free off of my cousin so i can afford to build it up for sure

so heres the deal, there are 2 bays for the RAM, like you said i could go 256x2, but one side of the RAm is wider than the other side, so theyre 2 diff sizes, i checked em out and they both say 64MB SDRAM

BJ · « **Reply #8 on:** December 20, 2004, 09:11:22 PM »

Quote from: Bean on December 20, 2004, 09:03:46 PM

thats exactly what i want it for, and i got the lappy for free off of my cousin so i can afford to build it up for sure

so heres the deal, there are 2 bays for the RAM, like you said i could go 256x2, but one side of the RAm is wider than the other side, so theyre 2 diff sizes, i checked em out and they both say 64MB SDRAM

you have 2 different 64 mb chips right now?? and they are different sizes? weird...very weird...it COULD be an optical illusion tho...i would take both out..lay one on top of the other..and see if everything lines up...should be a half-circle on both sides..... if this lines up your golden..if not..look for part numbers...but they SHOULD be the same....

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #9 on:** December 20, 2004, 09:19:02 PM »

pics coming

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #10 on:** December 20, 2004, 09:23:56 PM »

see how one side is skinnier than the other, one has 4 IC's the opther has two

BJ · « **Reply #11 on:** December 20, 2004, 09:25:26 PM »

you forgot to attach the pics or a link

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #12 on:** December 20, 2004, 09:38:18 PM »

i was having trouble shrinking my pics, so i just will attach a link for one of em

http://www2.freepichosting.com/Images/421464925/44.jpg

Ed. · « **Reply #13 on:** December 21, 2004, 12:30:19 AM »

is it possible that one is ddr and the is sdram? i know my pc has 4 slots. 2 slots for each and you can only use one or the other. also, there are limitations of how much ram you can put in. i just worked on my sisters computer and put more ram in and on her puter she can't exceed 512mbs with the max capacity of each slot being 256mb.

nic · « **Reply #14 on:** December 21, 2004, 08:32:05 AM »

laptops dont require to have ram installed in pairs. that was only the case with old SIMMS, and I never came upon a laptop that used SIMMS(even old 486 pos').
what operating system is the laptop running? as far as hard-drive speed, I'm 99.9% positive its a 4200 as the 5400 laptop drives didnt come out till about 1 year ago.

goto crucial.com to see how much ram your laptop can take. that way you wont buy something you cant use.
odds are your laptop will use SODIMM PC100.

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #15 on:** December 21, 2004, 05:21:13 PM »

Quote from: luvean on December 21, 2004, 08:32:05 AM

laptops dont require to have ram installed in pairs. that was only the case with old SIMMS, and I never came upon a laptop that used SIMMS(even old 486 pos').
what operating system is the laptop running? as far as hard-drive speed, I'm 99.9% positive its a 4200 as the 5400 laptop drives didnt come out till about 1 year ago.

goto crucial.com to see how much ram your laptop can take. that way you wont buy something you cant use.
odds are your laptop will use SODIMM PC100.

running xp pro, its alright, id just like it a touch faster

i know the max it can take is 512MB, so would that be 256x2

nic · « **Reply #16 on:** December 21, 2004, 07:04:01 PM »

you could do 1x 512...laptop ram doesnt need to be installed in pairs.

I'm honestly surprised XP even installed with only 64!

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #17 on:** December 21, 2004, 07:23:42 PM »

i know, me too

i really need it upgraded anyway to use it w/ my new external dvd burner

heres the deal luvean, i cant seem to find ONE 512MB for it, only 256MB ones, and there are 2 bays, but one bay is bigger, even tho there are 2x64MB in there now, im really confused still kinda

the thing is, check out my pix, one bay has 4 IC's in it and the other has 2 IC's

nic · « **Reply #18 on:** December 21, 2004, 07:48:03 PM »

the number of ics on the ram is irrelevant; as ram density increases, the fewer ics are needed for the same amount of storage.
also, most laptops that have 2 bays, usually has 1 that is slightly bigger than the other...they still use the same type of ram though

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #19 on:** December 21, 2004, 07:52:30 PM »

so if i bought 2x256MB rams, they would both fit in the 2 bays

thanks man

nic · « **Reply #20 on:** December 21, 2004, 07:54:49 PM »

Quote from: Bean on December 21, 2004, 07:52:30 PM

so if i bought 2x256MB rams, they would both fit in the 2 bays

thanks man

as long as the ram you bought is rated for that model laptop, then yes

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #21 on:** December 21, 2004, 08:05:48 PM »

thats what confuses me, theyre 2 diff size bays/chips

nic · « **Reply #22 on:** December 21, 2004, 08:18:51 PM »

what laptop do you have?
in the pic on page 1, I'm assuming a Dell Inspiron 1000.

if above is true, I have found a discrepency between kingston and crucial as to how many bays are available
kingston says 2, crucial says 1 with 256 built in

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #23 on:** December 21, 2004, 09:22:13 PM »

its a dell inspiron 8000