RAM Help...

Well let me start off with saying that I've never made a hardware upgrade to a computer before. I just recently received an Inspiron 1720 with only 1 GB of RAM. I want to upgrade this to 2 GBs or maybe 3-4 GBs depending on the price. On my order form the ram is listed as 1GB, DDR2, 667MHz 2 Dimm.

Sorry for my ignorance, but what exactly do I need to do to replace the RAM in a notebook? If someone could just point me in the right direction I would be very, very appreciative.

I've heard it's an easy upgrade, but for someone with no experience will this be difficult? This is probably a stupid question, but does RAM require a driver? Or is it just kind of plug in and work. What is a good brand of RAM? I'm assuming what Dell gave me is 2x 512MB sticks. If this is the case, do I just take both of those out and replace it with two new 1 GB sticks? Thanks so much in advance.

 

You're correct, 2 DIMM means you have two memory modules. If you take just one 512 MB stick out and put in a 1 GB stick then you'd have 1 1/2 GB of RAM

To be perfectly honest, I'm not 100% familiar with the 1720's case design but normally the RAM compartment is underneath the notebook and a screwdriver can easily have it freed so that you can replace the RAM.

As far as a good brand goes, I've always had luck with Corsair products (and find them to always be reasonably priced as well)

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...2010260381+1309221136&name=DDR2+667+(PC2+5300)

 

Corsair, Crucial, Patriot are some example of good brands of RAM. I think you'd better replace 2x512 with 2x1GB RAM

 

Thanks for the help and listing good brands / examples.

Also, Could I replace one of the 512 MB sticks with a 2 GB stick and have 2.5 GB of RAM?

 

Yes, you can. Ram is very easy to change so don't worry.

 

No drivers. Just plug in and thats it.

 

Thanks guys. Was the yes an answer to the question above for having 2.5 GB RAM? So I could just remove one 512 MB stick and put in a 2 GB stick and there will be no problems?

Also would I lose the dual channel aspect if I did this? Is it that big of a deal?

 

Anyone know on this? Thank you.

 

RAM Deals thread covers it.

Dual channel is near worthless in today's computer world... little to no performance increase

 

I wouldn't go out of my way for dual channel either.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1720/en/sm/memory.htm#wp1180192

 

From what I understand, Vista 32bit can't actually use more than 2GB of ram at this time. The 64bit version can use 4gb or more effectively but that comes with other issues which aren't related here.

So, if I were going to lose the dual channel aspect of it, I wouldn't bother putting the 512 into it because Vista won't use it anyway.

I'm not a technician or anything but this is what I've read. You should probably check it out for yourself or maybe someone else can verify that what I'm saying is correct here.

Good luck.