Solved RAM upgrade on DELL laptop

[dreamer]

Hi guys,

Got a DELL laptop.I currently have 3 GB RAM installed.

Was wondering if i could upgrade RAM to at least 4 GB.I contacted DELL and they were charging a bit too high for RAM upgrade considering RAM's are so cheaper these days.

I want your valuable suggestions as to can i upgrade my RAM if i buy RAM stick's from any retail computer shop??

Secondly can i insert newly purchased RAM into my laptop myself or do i have to bring laptop to some trained technician??

My current RAM configuration is (1x1 GB,1x2 GB) as checked using speccy.

Thanks in advance

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Hi guys,

Got a DELL laptop.I currently have 3 GB RAM installed.

Was wondering if i could upgrade RAM to at least 4 GB.I contacted DELL and they were charging a bit too high for RAM upgrade considering RAM's are so cheaper these days.

I want your valuable suggestions as to can i upgrade my RAM if i buy RAM stick's from any retail computer shop??

Secondly can i insert newly purchased RAM into my laptop myself or do i have to bring laptop to some trained technician??

My current RAM configuration is (1x1 GB,1x2 GB) as checked using speccy.

Thanks in advance

Go to Crucial.com.

Let it "sniff" your PC to find out what RAM it needs. Or you can manually enter the make and model number into their configurator.

It will show you the compatible RAM.

Then find a local dealer for that same part number of Crucial RAM.

If you note the complete specifications on the Crucial RAM, you could probably buy another brand that worked just as well if it matches all the specifications.

You can replace it yourself.

 

[dreamer]

My RAM specifications are as follows:

Type DDR3
Size 1024 MBytes
Manufacturer Samsung
Max Bandwidth PC3-10700 (667 MHz)

Type DDR3
Size 2048 MBytes
Manufacturer Nanya Technology
Max Bandwidth PC3-10700 (667 MHz)


TIA

Any video tutorial how to replace RAM on laptop???

 

[Anak]

Yes, you can install the memory yourself, but you must be careful while you are doing it.
To help you, do a search for How to install memory, and you will find YouTube videos, and sites that can explain it in detail.

There are several ways to do it, but I would take the memory page information that speccy provided to your local shop, and see if they have a match.

In order to raise the amount of ram to 4GB you would have to take, and replace the 1x1 with a 1x2 that would match the 1x2 that you currently have installed.


Hi ignatz, I see you beat me to it.

 

[seavixen32]

 

[dreamer]

In order to raise the amount of ram to 4GB you would have to take, and replace the 1x1 with a 1x2 that would match the 1x2 that you currently have installed.

One question though is it necessary that 2 slots should match in configuration say like 1x2 and 1x2 should be 2 GB each for total of 4 GB or i can have say 1x4GB (replaced) and 1x2GB (original) for grand total of 6 GB memory.

Thanks for the reply guys.Love this forum to bits

 

[ignatzatsonic]

One question though is it necessary that 2 slots should match in configuration say like 1x2 and 1x2 should be 2 GB each for total of 4 GB or i can have say 1x4GB (replaced) and 1x2GB (original) for grand total of 6 GB memory.

Well, you currently have a 1 gig stick and a 2 gig stick.

So it appears they don't have to match in size.

How much RAM you can use is unknown since it's only you that knows what Dell model you have.

Or you could go to Crucial.com.

 

[dreamer]

Well, you currently have a 1 gig stick and a 2 gig stick.

So it appears they don't have to match in size.

How much RAM you can use is unknown since it's only you that knows what Dell model you have.

Or you could go to Crucial.com.

According to crucial.com each slot can have maximum 8 GB RAM.

Anyway looking at my current configuration should have given me answer to my own question regarding matching RAM's.

This night is slow for working of my brain

Thanks again and marking this thread as solved.

 

[whs]

It is easy to do but not really worth it. Especially if you have a 32bit OS - then you will not be able to use more than 3.25GBs of RAM.

I have 3GB and 4GB systems (all running Win7) and I notice no real difference.

 

[dreamer]

It is easy to do but not really worth it. Especially if you have a 32bit OS - then you will not be able to use more than 3.25GBs of RAM.

I have 3GB and 4GB systems (all running Win7) and I notice no real difference.

I have one application which takes a fair bit of RAM so upgrading even by 1 GB will make my other software's to run a bit faster.

I have 64 bit OS Windows 7

 

[Anak]

In order to raise the amount of ram to 4GB you would have to take, and replace the 1x1 with a 1x2 that would match the 1x2 that you currently have installed.

One question though is it necessary that 2 slots should match in configuration say like 1x2 and 1x2 should be 2 GB each for total of 4 GB or i can have say 1x4GB (replaced) and 1x2GB (original) for grand total of 6 GB memory.

Thanks for the reply guys.Love this forum to bits

One question though is it necessary that 2 slots should match in configuration say like 1x2 and 1x2 should be 2 GB each for total of 4 GB or i can have say 1x4GB (replaced) and 1x2GB (original) for grand total of 6 GB memory.

Well, you currently have a 1 gig stick and a 2 gig stick.

So it appears they don't have to match in size.

How much RAM you can use is unknown since it's only you that knows what Dell model you have.

Or you could go to Crucial.com.

Also something to consider....

It is usually best if you try to match the manufacturer of the ram.

 

[whs]

I would first check how much RAM this one application really uses. When it is running, open Resource Monitor > Memory tab. The colored band will tell you the story.

 

[dreamer]

@ Anak one of my memory slots is made my Samsung so i might buy from the same manufacturer whatever combination i decide upon.

@ vhs i already checked and this particular application takes more than 1 GB of RAM & only 500-600 MB is left free depending upon how many applications are open at that time.

So in my opinion upgrading even by 1 or 2 GB will make my system smoother and better responsive.Also i need additional memory for Virtualization.

 

[Anak]

@ Anak one of my memory slots is made my Samsung so i might buy from the same manufacturer whatever combination i decide upon.

@ vhs i already checked and this particular application takes more than 1 GB of RAM & only 500-600 MB is left free depending upon how many applications are open at that time.

So in my opinion upgrading even by 1 or 2 GB will make my system smoother and better responsive.Also i need additional memory for Virtualization.

Do you mean to say memory sticks, instead of slots?
There is a difference.

There is an old saying:
"Buy as much ram as your machine can hold, and you can afford."

So, if your machine is designed to run 16GB, and you can afford it, go for it.
You will never be sorry.

 

[dreamer]

Do you mean to say memory sticks, instead of slots?
There is a difference.

There is an old saying:
"Buy as much ram as your machine can hold, and you can afford."

So, if your machine is designed to run 16GB, and you can afford it, go for it.
You will never be sorry.

Oops sorry i meant memory sticks manufacturer was listed as Samsung.

 

[dreamer]

Update guys:

Purchased Kingston 4 GB RAM stick for 1300 rupees (approx 25 $) and laptop is working like a charm.
Compare this to DELL who were charging 3000 rupees (aprrox 60 $) for 2 GB RAM stick:sarc:

 

[seavixen32]

Sounds like you got a good deal there.

Dell are like other major computer manufacturers in that their profit margins on computer sales are very small, so they try and claw some back by bumping up the price of spares.

 

[jimbo45]

In order to raise the amount of ram to 4GB you would have to take, and replace the 1x1 with a 1x2 that would match the 1x2 that you currently have installed.

One question though is it necessary that 2 slots should match in configuration say like 1x2 and 1x2 should be 2 GB each for total of 4 GB or i can have say 1x4GB (replaced) and 1x2GB (original) for grand total of 6 GB memory.

Thanks for the reply guys.Love this forum to bits

One question though is it necessary that 2 slots should match in configuration say like 1x2 and 1x2 should be 2 GB each for total of 4 GB or i can have say 1x4GB (replaced) and 1x2GB (original) for grand total of 6 GB memory.

Well, you currently have a 1 gig stick and a 2 gig stick.

So it appears they don't have to match in size.

How much RAM you can use is unknown since it's only you that knows what Dell model you have.

Or you could go to Crucial.com.

Also something to consider....

It is usually best if you try to match the manufacturer of the ram.

Hi

NOT TRUE. Max size can be either 8GB or 4GB depending on nr of slots for memory and whether it's DDR2 or DDR3 laptop memory type.

(NOT interchangeable - Pin arrangement is different between the DDR2 and DDR3 modules. Don't worry about the speed of the memory as they will ALL work regardless).

Just "toss" the old 1 / 2GB modules and get 2 * 4 GB = 8 GB if the laptop has 2 X DDR3 slots. Price is CHEAP.

What you need to do is open the laptop up -- very easy usually - and see if it has the following

1) ONE or TWO slots for memory modules.

2) Check whether these are DDR2 or DDR3. Newer laptops will have DDR3 -- max size is currently 4GB per module so you can install 8GB . I haven't yet seen a laptop where this hasn't worked whatever it says in the Manufacturers spec.

I've even got 4GB installed in an ASUS ASPIRE-ONE netbook --works fine. Manufacturers spec says max RAM is 2GB - well it's running W7 x-64 with 4GB very nicely thankyou !!!. Modern Bioses always support more RAM than you probably can physically install anyway !!.

I've also got 8GB installed in a Sony Vaio i5 cpu laptop --that works absolutely great.

If the laptop only has DDR2 memory slots then you will only be able to get 4GB (Max) if has 2 slots or 2 GB if only one slot is available since 4GB DDR2 laptop memory modules seem to be non existent.

For a laptop almost ANY generic memory modules (of the right type of course DDR2 or DDR3 ) will work and are CHEAP currently.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Anak]

Update guys:

Purchased Kingston 4 GB RAM stick for 1300 rupees (approx 25 $) and laptop is working like a charm.
Compare this to DELL who were charging 3000 rupees (aprrox 60 $) for 2 GB RAM stick:sarc:

That is great dreamer! Thank you for the update!

For a laptop almost ANY generic memory modules (of the right type of course DDR2 or DDR3 ) will work and are CHEAP currently.

Cheers
jimbo

Thank you for the clarification jimbo!

 

[dreamer]

To add to what jimbo said,DDR3 RAM's are really cheap right now.Mine supports 8 GB in single slot and i have 2 slots means i can add upto 16 GB.

And i may add having 6 GB really speeds up things.

Thanks for everything guys.