Quick question on installing ram on Dell D620.

I recently purchased a Dell D620 with 512 MB ram (512MB, DDR2-533 SDRAM, 1 DIMM). Now if I want to upgrade to a gig of ram, can I just purchase an extra 512 and stick it in there. Reason I'm asking is that I opened up memory slot on the back of the laptop and there wasn't any ram in there (it only has a rubber type thing that says DIMM B and DDR2 only). So I'm assuming that 512 that was included with the laptop is somewhere else in the laptop, and that I only need to buy 512 more instead of having to buy a gig.

 

Yes. I don't know about D620 but my 700m had it's memory under the keyboard. So buy another stick (make sure it's same speed) and stick it in there.

 

Alright, thanks alot.

 

Yes, you can install another stick of 512mb in to your laptop. Just make sure that you install the stick correctly (the Pins match each other), and xp should detect the new stick when you boot up again.

 

Southerngirl,

Can RAM be mixed up between brands or size of memory as long as the clock speed is the same? (ie 512 MB 533 Mhz and 1 GB 533 Mhz).

 

Yep, you can do that. Normally it is recommended to stay at the same speed and size so you'll get the most out of your ram as far as dual channel goes. Although, you can have different sticks (different size or different clock speed) and this will still run dual channel mode. It will just use the lowest of the two clock speeds. I'm not sure how the size would play a factor in it.

I know with the older chipsets, you had to have the same size, same clock speed, etc to run in dual channel. From what I read this isn't the case with the newer chipsets. Right now, I'm running 1gb+256mb and supposedly that is giving me dual channel. I haven't downloaded any software to check that though.

 

I believe u need matching sticks to run dual channel (aka size and speed) So u cant have a 1gb 533 and a 512mb 667 and run dual channel.

 

That is only with the older chipsets. With the new systems, you can have different sizes/clock speed, but you won't get the best results. You'll still be running in dual channel mode though.

For the best results, you need to have the same identical stick - but it isn't required.

 

Oh, I didnt know that the new chipsets dont require identical sticks.

 

LOL, don't worry. I didn't either. It took a few weeks of searching to figure out what all is going on and I'm not even 100% sure that I have right. I'm basing it off of what I've read on kingston and crucial as well as what some other users have stated on here .