DDR2 to DDR3, Dell M4400

Dell's Precision M4400 is uses the Montevina platform, which will support DDR3. However, the Dell only sells the computer with DDR2 modules. It is my understanding that the pin configurations are different between DDR2 and DDR3, so how would one upgrade the memory from DDR2 to DDR3?

 

If your Dell M4400 only has DDR2 slots, then you cannot install DDR3 modules.

 

You cannot upgrade to DDR3 on the M4400. Even if you could, it would not be worth the extra cost and effort as the performance gains are very very minimal.

 

To put it simply, you can't. The chipset supports DDR3, but the motherboard does not, and never will.

 

I don't know for a fact if it wouldn't be worth the cost as Midnight was saying, but I do know that the DDR3 mem. will not fit into the DDR2 slot. At least for notebooks, due to the difference in the number of pins and position of the notch on the mem. module.

 

It would not be possible, then, to swap out whatever the DDR2 modules plug into for some receivers that would take DDR3?

maybe some soldering required? the kind that voids a warranty?

 

Continuing from what Matershroom was saying...In order to use DDR3 mem. you will need to get a MoBo that supports it. It will not fit on the current MoBo if it was originally made for DDR2. You will either need a new MoBo that not only supports DDR3 but one that would fit the notebook chasis; or just get a new notebook that fully supports DDR3 mem.

 

As previously stated, DDR2 is 200-Pin and DDR3 is 204-pin. The memory is not interchangeable with the two different slot designs. You are stuck with DDR2 memory.

 

You can't solder a DDR3 slot yourself. It requires machine precision and a lot more..

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well gee, you didn't need to quote ortegaluis twice

 

edited; I actually meant to do it twice.

If you already have the M4400, I implore you to stop wasting your time searching for something that does not exist.

I can assure you that an 'upgrade' from DDR2 to DDR3 is not possible, and even if it were possible, there would be no benefit to your computer's user experience.

 

If you're an upgrade freak [no offense intended], go with DDR2 800 as there is no DDR2 1066 laptop memory.

 

to get more in depth here is why it cant fit:

 

i have yet to understand the fascination people have with DDR3 vs. DDR2 memory.

 

There is very little performance difference (if any) at this point in time. Today, DDR2 is much faster than DDR RAM. Some day in the future, DDR3 RAM will be faster than DDR2 RAM by a significant margin...but that isn't today.

DDR3 does have a power consumption advantage though.

As for the actual upgrade, this cannot be done. The RAM physically does not fit, the connector cannot just be changed on the motherboard, the voltage regulation circuitry on the board would have to be completely redesigned to support DDR3 voltages, and there would be other BIOS level or hardware level changes needed to configure the laptop to support DDR3. In short, Dell would have to release an entirely new motherboard design for you to upgrade this laptop to DDR3...and you would then have to pay several hundred dollars to upgrade the motherboard.

 

Technically there is, although I think it's only for desktop memory.

These reference photos are for desktop RAM, not notebooks, but the idea is the same anyway.

 

Okay okay I get it! I'm just a dreamer, and I like fantasizing about what things COULD be. Obviously, this is not one of those things. Thanks for your help in making me understand that. I was only asking to expand my knowledge base, MAYBE to carry it out in a few years future. I think we can close this thread now .

 

You can try though.

Get some wires, solder them to the DDR3 module and attach the other end to the DDR2 slot.

THIS IS A JOKE. DO NOT TRY THIS.

 

The DDR3 power consumption in theory is good but in real life the benefits are negligible.