4GB RAM upgrade for Inspiron 1520

I want to upgrade my current ram (2 x 1GB sticks at 667MHz) to 4 GB (2 x 2GB) at 800 MHz. Will I be able to get two RAMs running at 800 MHz?

Will it improve in performance? Vista is currently indicating that it's using 56% of the 2GB available. Do I really need more?

Also, is it worth paying $60 (2 x $30) for two 2GB RAMs?

Thanks.

 

No your ram will downlclock if you buy 800mhz as the chipset only supports up to 667mhz.

You will notice a slight difference but vista 32 bit usually recognizes 3-3.2 gb of the ram if your lucky 3.5 so if you would like to save some cash just buy a single 2gb stick and make it 3gb.

 

The DDR2-800 ram will downclock to DDR2-667..!!
You could install identical modules in dual-channel mode....(if going for 2x2GB)
You would need a 64-bit OS to utilize the full 4GB ram, but if you want to stick to 32-bit, get one 2GB module, and install 2+1=3GB....It may bring the current ram utilization down to about 40%....
Which brand are you getting for $60..?? Does it have a lifetime warranty..??

 

I did it (replaced 2x1 with the same brand 2x2 instead of just buying 1 - 2gb stick) because it was on sale. Paid $64 for 2-2gb Crucial sticks because I like all the same brand. Probably wasted $40 bucks on the second stick because I am not going to 64-bit anytime soon and the FZ on recognizes 3.1gb. Just do one stick and if you have problems, buy the other.

 

I thought the T7300 supported 800MHz RAMs.. ok, I'll buy one 2 GB RAM at 667 I guess. But How are 64-bit OSs different? And also, If I got 4 GBs, would I not need it for video editing and gaming and stuff? Or "vista will only recognize 3.2" means it will only use what it recognizes for everything?

Thanks

 

Well, in short, you will see an overall performance increase if you upgrade to 64-bit, and x64 works best with 4GB ram or more..!!
If you stick to 32-bit, your notebook will only recognise ~3GB and the rest 1GB will be unusable, wasted, in the dark....nothing will be able to use it..!!
So, if you are not going to upgrade to 64-bit, stick to 3GB ram....
And video-editing mainly depends upon the CPU....

 

Thanks very much,

Now when you say "vista is going to recognize 3 GBs only" what do you mean by "vista" - do you mean the computer running vista will only use 3 gigs no matter what you run on it, like games, etc?

 

A 32 bit operating system (not just vista) can only use around 3.3 gbs of ram max. A 64 bit operating system can handle much more than 4gb.

 

I just installed 4 gigs and checked the memory info in bios and in vista and both say 4 GB available.

But anyways, If it's using 3.3 then I will keep 4 GBs, if it's only using 3, then I will sell one 2GB stick along with the old 1 GB one,

What do you think I should do?
Thanks very much again

 

Just keep it. its using somewhere over 3 but its worth it in the long run incase you ever go X64 and you can always say I have 4gb of ram XD

 

The bios will say 4GB because that is how much memory is in there physically. With SP1 Vista shows the physical amount of ram too. In the task manager you should be able to see the exact amount of ram that is going to be utilized.

Generally you see a lot more people buying 4GB over 3GB because the price differential is so small and its generally the max the laptop can handle so there won't be any upgrading it later.

 

So, I guess whoever said it only uses 3 or 3.3 was wrong, I believe it uses 3.5 as the task manager indicated that it's using 3.5 and the hibernation file, which is designed to keep everything that's in the ram in a single file, is 3.5 gigs



I guess I'm keeping it, thanks a lot guys

 

What if you go to task management, performance. How much physical memory does it say there?

 

3581 MB