*Upgrading Laptop RAM so expensive- revert to desktop?*

condra

Hey I would really appreciate some advice here on this one.

Ive a couple of quid and was considering doubling my RAM in my Dell Inspiron [p4 3.2ghz]. It has 512 RAM but for my multi media purposes, 1gb would be more ideal.

I checked online and Dell sell 512 RAM for 190 euro. "Ok" I thought, until I opened my laptop to discover that my RAM is 2x256.. rather than 1x512.

So to get my gig of RAM would mean replacing both of my 256 with 512, ultimatly costing me a whopping 380 euro!!

So here is my dilema.
Is it worth my while spending that money when I could sell the laptop and buy a more powerfull desktop solution?

Another question. Is it possible for me to add 512 in one of the slots and operate with 768mb of RAM?? or do they have to be the same?
If I can add 512 now and another later, I may go for that, but otherwise I would be seriously inclined NOT to splash out 390 euros, just to double my RAM.

I reckon getting cheap RAM from somewhere other than Dell would be a bad idea.

Portability isnt a huge issue. The laptop has never left the house and only occassionally left the boxroom studio. I dont want to go to the trouble of selling it and buying a desktop, but I feel it may be the sensible thing to do.

Any thoughts or advice here would be appreciated.

KdjaCL

Buy the 512 NOT from DELL get it from www.crucial.com or the irish memeory shop then sell the 256 here on boards for €30

Go to crucial and use the memory selector to see its real price, it will work.


kdjac

condra

Thanks dude.

Have you bought off them before? Are they reliable? Their Dell RAM is so fcuking cheap!! It would seem I can upgrade to 2gigs of RAM for 265 euro! wow!

tanx

KdjaCL

Yeah everyone uses crucial they very good to deal with, btw selling your old ram i give you €20 for one stick

kdjac

condra

gimme a couple of days ill probably go with crucial.

tanx dudes

sceptre

Aye, www.crucial.com/uk or www.shop4memory.com

Bought from both, good service from both. Both have this memory configuratoror thingie so you just tell it what you have and it offers you what you need.

To answer your other question, yes, you can mix and match. It's not "Dell" RAM btw, though given that there are so few actual memory manufacturers these days (as opposed to companies that put the things on a silicon stick and pretend it's theirs) that it might well have come from one of the same places the companies Dell buy theirs from got their memory components initially. Crucial bought is probably Micron memory, shop4memory bought is probably Kingston.

condra

yes, you can mix and match

THanks also for that- very interesting.

Now that I know I dont have to pay an arm and a leg to Dell, Im actually considering going all-out and getting myself 2x1gigs RAM. I suspect that would increase performance quite noticeably.

The Muppet

womoma wrote:

THanks also for that- very interesting.

Now that I know I dont have to pay an arm and a leg to Dell, Im actually considering going all-out and getting myself 2x1gigs RAM. I suspect that would increase performance quite noticeably.

Check that your Inspiron can take 2 gigs first.It should tell you in the manaual. I would think one with those specs would but older ones may not.

aaf

What's your Dell Inspiron model number? I have 2 x 512mb DDR2 here that I might be willing to sell but your laptop would have to support DDR2.

condra

Its inspiron 5160.
appearantly it can go up to 2gigs.


here is the ram crucial are selling for it:

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp?model=Inspiron+5160&tabid=AM

that ddr2?

aaf

womoma wrote:

Its inspiron 5160.
appearantly it can go up to 2gigs.


here is the ram crucial are selling for it:

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp?model=Inspiron+5160&tabid=AM

that ddr2?

Nah, it's just DDR that you need. Well, best of luck in your search for some mem. You might want to post a thread in the Wanted computer hardware and try to get a good deal on some ram.

condra

ill probably just buy off crucial. cheers.

gandalf

Gah cause of you lot I have just ordered a gig for my Toshiba P30-133. Ah well I was planning on doing it anyway !!

condra

Hey

I ordered from crucial.- roped my brother in too- he ordered ram for his powerbook.

ANyone know how long it usually takes to ship? Im hoping under 10 days?

aphex™

womoma wrote:

Hey

I ordered from crucial.- roped my brother in too- he ordered ram for his powerbook.

ANyone know how long it usually takes to ship? Im hoping under 10 days?

I ordered Sunday and got the ram on Wednesday. Good service.

gandalf

LOL got my memory from shop4 on Tuesday. Lappy is going like the clappers now

condra

Yeah the ram arrived and has improved performance big time.
Im delighted. Thanks for the reccomendation.

KdjaC PM me if u want u can have that 256 ram for 20 quid.