Need memory for Inspiron E1705 (2 GB)

Hi there everyone. Long time lurker finally coming out and posting here. I've found you guys to be very helpful in the past. I'm hoping you can help me out now. I just picked up an Inspiron E1705 and here are the specs.

Core™ Duo Processor T2400 (1.83GHz/667MHz FSB),
Memory 512MB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz
Video Card 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7900 GS
Hard Drive 100GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive

This is my second big 'ol Dell. I have an Inspiron 9300 with 2.0 GHz Centrino, 2 GB of Transcend RAM, NVIDIA Geforce Go 6800, and an 80 GB 7200 RPM Drive. Well, that laptop definately rocks but my wife was in need of a better computer than she currently has. She is going to end up getting my "old" computer (not even 6 months old ) and the E1705 will be my new one. As you can see, I'm hoping to do the same thing as I did in my last one, namely upgrading the RAM to 2 GB for about half of what Dell wants.

It looks like there are two kinds of 667MHz RAM out there. DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) and DDR2 667 (PC2 5400). Looking on New Egg, there are more options for the 5300 but the price for the 5400 is just about the same. What is the difference? Here is the link to the PC2 5400 RAM on NewEgg http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?N=2010170381+1309221137&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=381

Here is the link to the PC2 5300 RAM on NewEgg http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?N=2010170381+1309221136+130911434&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=381

Can you please suggest which one I should go with? I have used Transcend in my previous laptop and it has never had a problem. There are quite a few options and the prices only differer about $15 or less between them (excluding Crucial and Kingston of course). Anything jump out at you as a must buy, or a must avoid? Thanks for your help!

 

Ive read in another forum that the 5400 ram may not be compatible with the e1705, no-one would buy and try it as of yet.

 

There was a similar difference between PC2-4200 and PC2-4300 at one point, I don't recall the exact difference, but in truth there was none, it was an error with the numbers/specifications of the RAM - some people round differently than others apparently.

Regardless, go for the PC2-5300 RAM since it is most likely to be compatible with your system. Out of the selection on Newegg, I like the Corsair the best:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145012

Chaz

 

I know that ram is 90$ any other suggestions for cheaper ram? Maybe the transcend? or the gigaram?

 

G,skill is a good company.

 

I have a similar question- I just got an e1705 also, and was wondering if it is worth the difference in price for a 667mhz vs the 533mhz chip- I know the CAS latency is lower (and therfore faster) on the 533mhz one. I have heard others say that the difference is negligible.

Also, do I need to buy memory in the "dual channel kit" to run it dual channel?

THANKS!

 

i'd like to know that if i put in 2 gig of 533mhz ram will it lower my clock speed as cpuz reports that its a 166fsb chip quad pumped to give it 666mhz(667mhz) which is what my ram is! anyone know?

 

The FSB speed increase beats a lower CAS latency. Is it worth the cash? That's entirely up to you. For optimal performance, you should match your processor and RAM speeds. In order to enable dual channel, you need two identical sticks of RAM.