RAM Upgrade required?

KathysBoy

I once bought some cheap RAM, and ended up throwing it away because it wouldn't work. At least with Crucial you know it will definitely work. Funnily enough I've just upgraded my E 520 to 6 gb (4gb new from crucial)' but I am running Windows 8 64 bit.

You should consider upgrading to Windows 8, whilst its still on offer for £25

prowla

lordra wrote: »

Get the 4gb. While the OS will not use it, the hardware certainly will.

Baloney - how will the hardware use the memory unbeknownst to the OS?

macman

polybear wrote: »

Sorry! Typo - it should have read "2x256MB" (now corrected).
I'll take a look at the 2x512MB option also; the Crucial memory scanner is recommending 2 x 2GB cards, but then it would, as they're after flogging me the maximum possible amount of RAM possible!! It would also mean not being able to use the existing 2 x 256MB cards, as it would then exceed the maximum 4GB.
Many thanks.

Brian

UPDATE: 2 x 1GB Memory from Crucial costs £25-19, whereas 2 x 512MB costs £21-59. So the extra £4-40 for double the RAM amount seems to be a no-brainer.
Unless anyone out there knows where else I can look for similar quality RAM for cheaper please? Thanks!

Unless you are running a 32 bit OS, XP will only recognise 3.5GB of RAM anwyay. So an additional 2 x2GB is a complete waste.

NiftyDigits

polybear wrote: »

Hi All,
Many thanks for the replies.
I've just checked the invoice paperwork and the processor is a Celeron 346 (3.06Ghz, 533MHz FSB, 256K cache). It's currently fitted with 2x256MB 533MHz DDR2 RAM.

The DELL website says:
"Your computer supports a maximum of 4 GB of memory when you use four 1-GB DIMMs. Current 32-bit operating systems, such as Microsoft® Windows® XP, can use a maximum of 4 GB of address space; however, the amount of memory available to the operating system is less than that installed. Certain components within the computer require address space in the 4-GB range. Any address space reserved for these components cannot be used by computer memory."

The E520 has four memory slots; DELL also says:
"DDR2 memory modules should be installed in pairs of matched memory size, speed, and technology. If the DDR2 memory modules are not installed in matched pairs, the computer will continue to operate, but with a slight reduction in performance. "

Also:
"NOTE: Always install DDR2 memory modules in the order indicated on the system board. The recommended memory configurations are:

A pair of matched memory modules installed in DIMM connectors 1 and 2, or:
A pair of matched memory modules installed in DIMM connectors 1 and 2 and another matched pair installed in DIMM connectors 3 and 4"

And finally:
"NOTICE: If you remove your original memory modules from the computer during a memory upgrade, keep them separate from any new modules that you may have, even if you purchased the new modules from Dell. If possible, do not pair an original memory module with a new memory module. Otherwise, your computer may not start properly. You should install your original memory modules in pairs either in DIMM connectors 1 and 2 or DIMM connectors 3 and 4."

- I read this that putting a pair of new 1GB RAM Cards in DIMM connectors 1 and 2 (i.e. closest to the Processor), and refitting the original pair of 256 GB Cards in slots 3 and 4 should be ok, giving a total of 2.512GB of RAM.

I've not run a Highjack this log for some years, and never on this pc. Can anyone post a link to the best site which explains how to do it please, as I've long forgotten! It may be some time before I get a chance to run one though.

Many thanks!
Brian

Check the diagrams on the DELL Support website before proceeding. The numbered slots aren't always next to each other.

See page 70

KathysBoy

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Check the diagrams on the DELL Support website before proceeding. The numbered slots aren't always next to each other.

See page 70

They're not on the E520' they're alternate. On my motherboard the pairs are coloured white and black, so you can tell easily. Also, if you already have a pair It will be obvious.

closed

hijackthis log instructions are in the speedup sticky, along with 100's of threads.

NiftyDigits

KathysBoy wrote: »

I once bought some cheap RAM, and ended up throwing it away because it wouldn't work. At least with Crucial you know it will definitely work. Funnily enough I've just upgraded my E 520 to 6 gb (4gb new from crucial)' but I am running Windows 8 64 bit.

You should consider upgrading to Windows 8, whilst its still on offer for £25

If the 'cheap RAM' doesn't work you can return it. Perhaps you bought it from a place where you could not return it.

Crucial are for people who can't be bothered to do a little research of their own. The Crucial Tool sometimes gets it wrong.
I most certainly would not depend on their tool, nor pay a premium for their modules.

Norman_Castle

I've recently doubled the ram on a laptop using XP from 512 to 1 gig. Its made a noticeable difference. Used memory for older pc's can be very cheap on ebay. Mine was £2.50 delivered.

From memory the Crucial site wrongly stated 4gb max on my pc. The makers site and others stated 2gb max.

polybear

Hi All,

Many thanks for the replies. I was in Scan Computers today and purchased some Corsair RAM (2x1GB) - I wanted 667MHz but they only had 800MHz; they've assured me this will work with my existing 512Mb of (533MHz) RAM, but the new RAM will run at the slower speed and not at 800MHz (I'm not sure if the E520 MobO would run at 800MHz at any rate? The Processor is a Celeron 346 - 3.06Ghz, 533MHz FSB, 256K cache, if that's any clue?).
Hopefully the guy in Scan is correct - he seemed to know his stuff at any rate. I did consider s/h RAM etc. but since this isn't my pc I didn't go there, as the grief on my ears from the oh if it doesn't work just isn't worth a tenner saved :rotfl:
I plan to install it tomorrow, so I'll let you know how I get on...

Brian

polybear

Hi All,

An Update:

The new RAM is in, along with the existing RAM (so now 2.5Gb). The result? Amazing difference. For example, Firefox used to take an age just to open, as did Outlook (maybe over a minute on a bad day?). Firefox now opens up (after PC power on) in 12 seconds; subsequent Firefox openings take 6 seconds. Outlook opens up in about 3 seconds. I've still to run some overall PC tests, memory tests etc. but it looks like 25 quid well spent :j:j

Brian