Help please - XPSM1730 RAM upgade, which manufacturer?

Hi all

I've got an XPS1730 currently with 2x1GB ram and the 2.2 processor and it's a bit laggy on CS:S and now BF2, I think the RAM is the main choke, so I'd like to upgrade to 2x2GB. Ths would cost:

Dell £130.00
Kingston £90.00
Crucial £60

I'd appreciate any comments, as I readlly don't know which one to get. I must admit that I've not been overly impressed with the machine, it struggles with BF2 now for some reason, but I'd like to make Bad Company playable.

Thanks in advance!

 

The Crucial RAM looks good. Generally upgrades from Dell aren't worth it, they are marked up like crazy, and they use OEM RAM.

 

Thanks for the quick response, that's very helpful.

 

wow 2GB ram 800MHz still cost that much? For the cost I could get an 8GB (4GBx2) 1333MHz

 

Hi - Thanks, where would that be, is it uk?

 

Your bottleneck isnt the ram, althought raising it to 4gb will help a bit.

The core duo 2,1ghz will be not enough for those and newer games expecially with TF2.
Also, you should tell us what kind of GPU you have. I suppose its a 8700m Sli? If thats the case, another bottleneck is the gpu. 512mb is achieved with both cards working in sli, while in single they are 256mb, hardly enough.

anyway back on topic, 4gb are a standard upgrade, but dont go further as its not needed. Crucial can give you 2x2gb @ 800mhz, but note that the xps will downclock to DDR2 667mhz due to his chipset (which runs the fsb at 266mhz).

Just grab a quality ram and let the laptop do the rest. If you want to be more future proof, look for a cpu/gpu upgrade. A t9300 will be fine, or an x9000, but it depends on how many money youll be likely to spend.

Gpu upgrade is pricey but its worth it, at least 8800m GTX, or that beast of 9800m GTX.

 

Thanks, it's got the dual 256mb cards, you're correct. I'll go with the RAM for a fairly cheap improvement.