More RAM

barrowboy_3

I have a Dell Dimension 8250. When I bought it from the Dell outlet over 4 years ago it was quite a hi spec machine with dvd burner and video capture card. It only had 256MB ram but the price was so good I thought, so what I can add more ram later if needed.
My mistake was not realising expensive RIMM modules were fitted and over time they have not got much cheaper.
To add 256MB will cost well over £100, 1GB is extortionate. For £350 I can buy a brand new Dell running Vista. The RIMM modules don't seem a good investment in the long term after all the 8250 is getting long in the tooth.
Somewhere I read that Vista allows you to use usb memory sticks to increase available memory. Does anyone know if this is possible in xp. Alternatively any ideas or cheap sources of RIMM modules besides ebay as I am wary of secondhand ram.

superscaper

barrowboy wrote: »

Does anyone know if this is possible in xp. .

Speedboost and Readyboost are features specifically written into Vista and as far as I'm aware nothing like it exists for XP. Even in Vista they're not really that impressive and are only seen as a temporary solution and not a good substitute for more RAM.

penrhyn

Have you tried Crucial? 256m was £72, I might have got the wrong model though.

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/listparts.aspx?model=Dimension+8250+%28400MHz+FSB%29

Idiophreak

tbh if you've made do for 4 years, I'd be tempted just to save the cash towards a new one - as you say, you can get some good machines for £350-400 now...Laptops (or any computers, for that matter) don't last forever, it would be good to have some savings inplace for when yours grinds to a halt..