Memory Installation

Question for you all:

I ordered an Inspiron 9300 and went for the bare minimum in RAM, 256 MB, choosing to buy the 1 gig stick from alienware. I have two questions for you about this:

1: I read that you need one of the DIMM slots has priority over the other and you have to install the bigger RAM stick in a specific slot. Is this true? If so how will I know which one, and is RAM easy to remove?

2: If I get my RAM before my laptop, would you say it is better for me to power up the laptop when i get it and set it up before installing the RAM, or better to install the RAM beforehand, or does it make no difference?

Thanks in advance.

 

1. No, not true. Just install your 1 GB in the external slot.
2. Doesn't really matter, but I think windows will manage your ram better if you install it before hand .

 

Like vagitus said, I don't think it matters which slot you put it in, but the slots are labeled. Once you remove the old sticks, you'll see the slots labeled A & B. The ram is easy to remove, and Dell even has instructions on their website.

 

in the section that describes how to install more RAM one of the notes (in the dell handbook) says

NOTE: To get maximum performance/dual-channel memory bandwidth capability, both memory module connectors must contain memory modules and the modules must be of the same size and configuration.

Let me see if I understand this.... I am thinking of buying a 9300 from dell but I don't want to pay for the overpriced ram and so I am getting 256MB and then installing 1GB myself... If I have a 1gb Ram in one module and 256mb in the other will this minimize the capability of the computer (as they are modules of different size), as it seems the note above is saying? or am I missing something?

 

If your notebook is PC2700 (333Mhz) and you put a Memory at PC3200 (400Mhz), it will run at 333Mhz not the faster 400Mhz.