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    After Market Memory?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by UltimateGaida, Jul 14, 2006.

  1. UltimateGaida

    UltimateGaida Notebook Enthusiast

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    I just ordered an E1705 from dell, word on the street says that they charge too much for RAM, im gonna need 2GB for gaming, im looking on newegg for some ram, but all dell tells me is that i need 'Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM'

    So i go to newegg and go to Dual Channel So-Dimm and they give me all of these choices, DDR2 400 (PC2 3200), DDR2 533 (PC2 4200), DDR2 533 (PC2 4300), DDR2 667 (PC2 5300), DDR2 667 (PC2 5400)

    im guessing from the fsb on the e1705 im gonna want the 667, but i dont exactly know what PC2 5300 and 5400 mean,

    can anyone throw a noob a bone?

    thanks
     
    UltimateGaida, Jul 14, 2006
    #1
  2. vespoli

    vespoli 402 NBR Reviewer

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    As far as I understand they are exactly the same speeds. As long as the CAS latency is the same, i'd simply go with the cheaper memory. Also, just FYI all ddr2 is dual channel as long as you install matching pairs. Same speed/size.
    AFAIK...

    edit: I think it's simply a difference in naming conventions.

    But i'm not an expert wait for some of the brigher users to come along :)
     
    vespoli, Jul 14, 2006
    #2
  3. Lil Mayz

    Lil Mayz Notebook Deity

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    Dual Channel basically means you have two stick of RAM instead of one stick of RAM.

    What I would suggest is this. Sell your 512MB already in your system and then buy 2 x 1Gb sticks.

    Buy these:

    http://www.crucial.com/store/MPartspecs.Asp?mtbpoid=243E1029A5CA7304&WSMD=Inspiron+E1705&WSPN=CT498913

    OR

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820144183
    The difference in CAS latency is quite minimal and in some cases I don't think that minor increase in performance is enough to justify the steeper price tag.
     
    Lil Mayz, Jul 14, 2006
    #3
  4. UltimateGaida

    UltimateGaida Notebook Enthusiast

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    thanks for the straight foreward help

    thats just what i'll do!
     
    UltimateGaida, Jul 14, 2006
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  5. mZimm

    mZimm Notebook Evangelist

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    The latency won't matter in a Dell because no matter what the latency of the RAM is the latency is set in the BIOS, so it won't run at any better speed than the BIOS will allow. I'd just get the cheapest RAM you can find, at least 533mhz. If the price difference is really minimal, I'd get the 667mhz RAM, but you won't really notice a difference with a Core Duo. If you plan on upgrading to Merom, it's probably worth the difference in price as the 64 bit processor will be able to use the extra bandwidth.
     
    mZimm, Jul 14, 2006
    #5