Even if the BIOS update is from 2007 like mine.it can be the difference between DDR2-667, and DDR2-800. also PCIe can be updated from 2.0 to 2.1, or 2.3. The biggest issue with Dell memory is the need for low density memory. This means modules with chips on both sides. The newer modules with high density chips on one side didin't exist when the computers were built so the BIOS doesn't recognize them. But yes Dell would prefer you buy a new computer rather than update your old one.