Re: Advice for upgrading RAM


"nick1218" <jmpc@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1179335075.372084.98670@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Need to increase my RAM from 256 to 1.024
Have a Dell Dimension 8250
4 bays, 2 chips of 128 PC 1066 RD-RAM
Pentium 4 2.40Ghz cpu
Windows XP 5.1.2600

I use a personal consultant, just some guy who freelances. I need to
buy my new chips and have asked him, plus I have asked Dell, and even
my company's IT guy a few questions and I get conflicting answers. So
I thought I might post this

I want to buy 2 chips of 512 to add to the two open bays. Whether I
need to remove the 2 128's I get differing opinions.

Also my consultant-guy insists I find out my clock speed first before
buying and says it should be either PC100 or PC133. I ask Dell and my
company's IT guy this question and they don't seem to know what he
means by PC100 or PC133 being so important to know. Dell just says
your clock speed is 2.4Ghz. My original receipt says my RAM is PC1066
and I ask him if that could be what he needs and he says no.

But my biggest problem is RD-RAM or not RD-RAM. MY pc came with RD-RAM
and I look around and find I have to spend $500 to $800!! I was
completely shocked and am not sure I can do this now. He tells me then
get SDRAM, RDRAM is gold plated and unnecessary. The SDRAM is like ¼
the price and I can do that. But now he says "oh wait you do have to
get RD RAM for a Dell."

Now I don't know what the heck to do. If I have to get RD RAM I am
tempted to buy used RAM.

So my questions are
1- add two 512's, must I remove 128's?
2- what clock speed number must I know to buy RAM?
3- can I use RAM that isn't RD?
4 - is used RAM ok to use?

Thanks in advance


nick:
You're really in a bind and what a shame. Your system uses RAMBUS (RDRAM)
memory and that type of memory has virtually disappeared from the PC RAM
mass-market because of economic considerations. It's a shame in a way
because in our experience RAMBUS was an exceptionally fine RAM in the sense
of its tremendous stability and general high quality. It just never seemed
to fail even if it wasn't "the fastest kid on the block".

AFAIK, there's no practical substitute for RDRAM in your system. You can do
a Google search to see if there are any vendors still peddling that type of
RAM at affordable prices but I wouldn't be too optimistic about it. You
should, of course, check with Dell to determine what's available from that
source. You could try used sticks but just make sure you have refund
privileges with no questions asked - used RAM is a crapshoot at best but
RAMBUS could possibly be an exception in this case.

You add RDRAM in pairs and their speed should match your present memory
modules, i.e., PC-1066.

My guess is that the cost of two 512 MB RDRAM memory modules will be
out-of-proportion for a relatively modest system that you now have and most
likely you really should consider a newer system - especially at today's
relatively inexpensive prices. But give it a shot - do some research and
maybe you'll luck out.
Anna


.

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