RAM upgrade for my Dell Inspiron 1501

Toxica

I ordered this for my Inspiron 1501:

Kingston ValueRAM Laptop RAM
Kingston 1GB PC6400 (800MHz) DDR2 Laptop ValueRAM (SO DIMM)

Will this work in it?

jpl888

According to their configurator http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/config/partsinfo.asp?ktcpartno=KTD-INSP6000A%2F1G is what you are looking for which is only 533Mhz.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

ricman

see here,http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&sku=A0913192#Overview
it should work,it can use pc2-6400, 800mhz memory speed sodimm 200pin ddr2.
its faster than the original sodimm ram.use antistatic wristband, or use a glove, don,t touch the memory directly, hold the edges.You can earth yourself too, touch a metal tap.

Toxica

ricman wrote: »

see here,http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&sku=A0913192#Overview
it should work,it can use pc2-6400, 800mhz memory speed sodimm 200pin ddr2.
its faster than the original sodimm ram.

Thats what I thought...but everywhere suggests the 533Mhz one so I'm confused!

Does the Mhz matter that much?

ricman

the dell site says it will work, its an official dell website.IF THERES TWO DIMMS chips,in a pc,the pc os / memory will run at the lowest speed , ie,chip sodimm 1, 533mhz,even if you install 800mhz chip sodimm in slot 2.
go ahead,install it, be care ,re static precautions.
older laptops can only run ram at x speed, 800mhz is ok for the dell 1501.
the original ram is 533, but 800 mhz is compatible .

Toxica

ricman wrote: »

the dell site says it will work, its an official dell website.IF THERES TWO DIMMS chips,in a pc,the pc os will run at the lowest speed , ie,chip sodimm 1, 533mhz,even if you install 800mhz chip sodimm in slot 2.
go ahead,install it, be care ,re static precautions.
older laptops can only run ram at x speed, 800mhz is ok for the dell 1501.

What if I install 2 x 1gb 800mhz? That will still be ok? Sorry, I am clueless!

ricman

yeah,install 2sodimms, 2x 1gig, both run at 800mhz,thats ideal.
2 slots are full, no problem.
its like i have a tenx cdrom, if i want i can install a 24x cdrom drive in my pc.
it will still work perfect , it should just perform faster,ie its FULLY compatible WITH my pc,
if you can afford it get 2 1gig sodimms 800mhz memory speed,buy em, and install em..

Toxica

ricman wrote: »

yeah,install 2sodimms, 2x 1gig, both run at 800mhz,thats ideal.
2 slots are full, no problem.
its like i have a tenx cdrom, if i want i can install a 24x cdrom drive in my pc.
it will still work perfect , it should just perform faster,ie its FULLY compatible WITH my pc,
if you can afford it get 2 1gig sodimms 800mhz memory speed,buy em, and install em..

Oh, great, thanks for your help! I ordered 2 x 1gb PC6400 (800MHz) DDR2 Laptop ValueRAM (SO DIMM) and I'm expecting it to arrive today but then I got worried that it wouldn't be compatible. My friend is studying computer science and he led me to believe that the "PC6400 (800MHz)" bit didn't matter. I just installed a new 500gb HD too so I'm hoping it will all be ok.

Thanks again!

jpl888

Well the clock speed doesn't matter that much but other things in the memory do.

Unless the Dell website said that that make and model of memory specifically will work you could be out of luck. Hopefully you will be in luck but be aware if it doesn't work some places won't take the RAM back if it's been opened.

That is why I would be inclined to trust the Kingston configurator only.

jpl888

For instance is the memory you have ordered

CL=5 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC 1.8V • 128Meg x 64

Because it probably won't work unless it is.

jpl888

KVR800D2S5/1G

Looks like the closest match to me but it doesn't say if it's unbuffered or not.

Is that what you ordered?

jpl888

It seems being buffered or not doesn't effect it that much, it's probably un-buffered anyway so KVR800D2S5/1G would definitely be the one I went for if I had to deviate from the configurator.

ricman

download ,install this,http://www.drivermax.com/
run it, use it to backup drivers,click,backup all drivers, to folder, my drivers, copy folder,burn it to a cdrom.
install windows on new drive, install run, drivermax, use import drivers,from backup,from the cdr, to install drivers for device x,eg video card.
if the windows install doesnt automatically install all the motherboard /device drivers.
be careful,when takeing oout the old drive, i think theres 4 screws, holding the drive in a case, with 2 screws holding the external, edge case cover.
see here http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/p/19251474/19406996.aspx
dell support 1501 has all the device drivers for download too.
see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH3clgG17v8 1501 drive remove info.
so that video shows just 2 screws ,need unscrewing to take out the drive.
see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSrIO51voyU&feature=related,
theres 4 screws that hold the drive to the drive case.
put a sheet under the laptop,when removing the drive,if you lose even 1 of the case screws,
then the chances are the new hd drive will not connect up to the interface,or work properly inside the 1501 laptop.

the_syco

How much did you spend? Was it over €32 ?

jpl888

ricman wrote: »

download ,install this,http://www.drivermax.com/
run it, use it to backup drivers,click,backup all drivers, to folder, my drivers, copy folder,burn it to a cdrom.
install windows on new drive, install run, drivermax, use import drivers,from backup,from the cdr, to install drivers for device x,eg video card.
if the windows install doesnt automatically install all the motherboard /device drivers.
be careful,when takeing oout the old drive, i think theres 4 screws, holding the drive in a case, with 2 screws holding the external, edge case cover.
see here http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/p/19251474/19406996.aspx
dell support 1501 has all the device drivers for download too.

Hey you must've posted to the wrong place by accident?

Toxica

jpl888 wrote: »

For instance is the memory you have ordered

CL=5 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC 1.8V • 128Meg x 64

Because it probably won't work unless it is.

Yeah, this is what I ordered:

Details
Made from the highest quality components, ValueRAM SO-DIMMs are designed to increase productivity and help your notebook work faster. Backed by a lifetime warranty, free technical support and legendary reliability, Kingston ValueRAM is the standard in notebook memory upgrades.

*10 year warranty in France, Germany and Austria
Specification
- 1GB 800MHz DDR2 Non-ECC CL5 SODIMM
- Standard 128M X 64 Non-ECC 800MHz 200-pin Unbuffered SODIMM (SDRAM-DDR2, 1.8V, CL5)

To view Kingston's full datasheet, please click here

Please use our computer memory selector to check compatibility
Warranty
Lifetime*
Tags
PC6400,DDR2
Product Code
KVR800D2S5/1G




I hope it works! I'll keep my fingers crossed! Thanks for your help. I'll let you know how I get on!

jpl888

You're welcome. I will be interested to hear how it works out. I certainly wouldn't have thought to match the memory based on spec alone, but I suppose as long as you've matched the acronyms you can't go wrong.

Toxica

the_syco wrote: »

How much did you spend? Was it over €32 ?

On the RAM? Yeah, worked out about €25 per 1gb so spent about €50 for 2 x 1gb.

ricman

see here free backup program, clone your old drive to an external drive, then use restore command to restore all your data /programs, mp3s to the new drive.
http://www.todo-backup.com/

the_syco

Toxica wrote: »

On the RAM? Yeah, worked out about €25 per 1gb so spent about €50 for 2 x 1gb.

That include shipping and all? Nice. Got a quote of €32 for 1GB from another site.

Toxica

the_syco wrote: »

That include shipping and all? Nice. Got a quote of €32 for 1GB from another site.

Yeah, I got it from http://mymemory.uk.com/

They have free worldwide shipping.

Toxica

jpl888 wrote: »

You're welcome. I will be interested to hear how it works out. I certainly wouldn't have thought to match the memory based on spec alone, but I suppose as long as you've matched the acronyms you can't go wrong.

Well, installed the RAM and it's working grand! Phew!

Thanks for all your help guys!