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    Upgrading RAM Dell Inspiron 1520?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by DarkG, Sep 7, 2009.

  1. DarkG

    DarkG Newbie

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    Hi everyone! I'm new here

    I want to upgrade my old Dell Inspiron 1520, it currently has only a pair of 512 MB RAM sticks and applications like Visual Studio 2008 and Matlab tend to lock and even BSOD the computer, so the cheapest and (I think) only possible upgrade is the RAM...

    I saw these 2 GB sticks of RAM, quite cheap: http://www.ewiz.com/desc.php?name=T800SB2G_S

    2 GB @ 800 MHz, 200-pin SODIMM DDR2, but before ordering them... will they work with this laptop? or it won't be able to use 4 GB? (I mean, hardware-wise, I have Windows 7 Professional x64 on it, so no probs OS-wise)

    PS: Any other possible upgrades for this laptop? it has Intel GMA965 IGP, so I don't think it can be upgraded, can it?
     
    DarkG, Sep 7, 2009
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  2. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    The memory should be good, though you might want to see if you can get DDR2-667 (in case it is cheaper), since the GM965 chipset will downclock the DDR2-800. Check the Dell forum to see if anyone is running your machine w/ 4GB.
     
    sgogeta4, Sep 7, 2009
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  3. DarkG

    DarkG Newbie

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    thanks for the reply
    actually, on that store (one of the few with International shipping), there's not much of a price difference... some DDR2-667 are even more expensive lol

    If you mean the official forum, I think I was trying to look there yesterday...couldn't find anything, and it was very difficult to even search the forums lol
     
    DarkG, Sep 7, 2009
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  4. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I meant this website, the Dell forum.
     
    sgogeta4, Sep 8, 2009
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  5. SomeFormOFhuman

    SomeFormOFhuman has the dumbest username.

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    The 1520 can use up to a max of 6GB DDR2-667 RAM with BIOS A09. Useing DDR2-800 will have it downclocked to 667Mhz effective due to chipset (1520 uses PM965) limitations.

    And no, your IGP can't be upgraded. You'll have to swap to a different 1520 mobo with a dedicated GPU slot and request for a separate 8400M GS/8600M GT GPU options. Those cards are removable.
     
    SomeFormOFhuman, Sep 8, 2009
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