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Help with RAM for my Dell Dimension 4700? confused!

Forum Motherboards & Memory : Memory - Help with RAM for my Dell Dimension 4700? confused!

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jonvertron   02-09-2009 at 07:57:16 PM

Hi All - apologies if a similar question has been posted, but I couldn't find anything. I'm also pretty novice when it comes to this.

I have a Dell Dimension 4700, with 512 MB of RAM. I'm looking to add more - most likely 2X1 GB.

I am having a hard time determining exactly what memory will work. Various online resources are telling me different things. The main difference specifically is whether DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) will work. From my research, this is faster.

Basically, if I search for memory on dell.com for this machine, the only choice I'm given is PC2 5300, which is slower.

If I use the memory search tool on corsair.com, their "max-it-out recommendation" memory is PC2 5300, but it gives the faster PC2 6400 as an option as well (why would the slower, cheaper memory be the "max-it-out recommendation?" ).

On newegg.com, using their system-specific tool, it says that this PC2 6400 memory is ok for my system:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820134117
("Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail" )

But this is not: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820134488
("Kingston 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail" )

What's the difference? Can only some PC2 6400 memory work in certain computers?


Thanks for bearing with me so far - this is horribly confusing to me....any advice would be much appreciated.

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o1die   02-09-2009 at 09:38:26 PM
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I recommend you try the crucial 2x1gb ddr2 667 memory kit for $21.99 with free shipping at newegg.com. Your board may run the faster pc6400 memory, but will default to 533 speed due to the older 915 chipset on the motherboard. If you have 4 memory slots, you can fill all 4 slots with 1 gb sticks, but windows 32 bit xp or vista will only recognize about 3 gb of the memory, due to the operating system limitations. 64 bit windows vista will recognize all 4 gb, but you won't notice that much difference in speed. However, if your current motherboard is the atx format, and want to change it out to a newer chipset such as the g31, then the faster memory would be preferred. If you want to keep your old motherboard, then use what I recommended. I looked at one picture of your board, and couldn't tell whether it was atx or btx format. They are not interchangable.

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jonvertron   02-09-2009 at 09:56:33 PM
- 0 +

Ah - I had no idea that the speed that the RAM would run at depended on the motherboard. By searching for specs on the 915 chipset, it does seem that the fastest it can handle is 533 speed. And since this machine is 4 years gold, I doubt I will upgrade the motherboard or anything.

But just so I understand it correctly: you recommend DDR2 667 memory. This will still default to 533 speed, correct?

So if both DDR2 800 an DDR2 667 default to be the same speed as DDR2 533, why not get the 800? They seem to be just about the same price, and there's a chance I could use the 800 (at 800 speed) on my next machine, right?

Thanks for the help so far.

Reply to jonvertron
o1die   02-09-2009 at 11:06:41 PM
- 0 +

You can try. If it doesn't work, newegg will gladly exchange it for a 15% restocking fee. The crucial memory configurator will tell you the exact crucial memory that is guaranteed to work with your motherboard. The configurator is on crucial's website. If you purchase the memory from them, it's guaranteed to work. I don't think they will charge you anything to return it.


Message edited by o1die on 02-10-2009 at 01:16:58 AM
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