Upgrading RAM in Dell Inspiron 1705/9400 - HELP!!

Hi All,

I will try to be as specific as possible so hopefully someone can provide me accurate information. I currently have a Dell Notebook, Inspiron 1705E (actually its the business model, 9400--similar if not the same).

This is what RAM I have installed right now:
1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm, for Inspiron 9400/E1705

I have two slots in total (one using the 1GB above)... and i want to upgrade my memory to 3GB in total. Therefore, I need a (2 x 1GB) DDR2 SDRAM Dual Channel, yes? I am a little confused because it says it has a "maximum of 2GB" but cant i put the (1GBx2) into one slot?

Couple questions..
1) i have a 32 bit system, is this an issue at all (ie do i need a 64 bit system?)

2) Should i buy a dell product or something from like newegg.com... would it be compatible? (see: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227185)

3) Is this the right one...
from http://www.directron.com/dell1.html
****Crucial 2GB kit(1GBx2) DDR2 667(PC2-5300) Memory Upgrades for Dell Inspiron E1705 Laptop/Notebook, 200-pin SODIMM, Unbuffered, Non-ECC. Model: CT541054. ds

4) Do the # of pins matter?

5) Can i have one memory stick at 533 MHz and another at 667 MHz or is that a potential issue?

6) Any other word of advice or issues you can see in advance id appreciate.

If you need to know ANYTHING about my system just let me know... I really do appreciate the help.

Thank you,
Orihaj

 

1.) Not an issue
2.) Anything you want, as long as it's either 533 or 667MHz it will run fine. Newegg is probably cheaper than Dell so i'd upgrade along that route.
3.) No, that is desktop memory. You need 200 PIN SO-DIMM sticks. Either pc 54/5300 or pc 43/4200. a 2x1GB kit will work, but only give you 2GB total. You have 2 slots on the laptop--2x1GB stick as in the kit you have listed will take both slots and give you 2GB of memory total.
4.) Yes, you need 200 pins
5.) Yes, it may not run in dual channel mode (~5% performance difference)
6.) No reason to get 3GB at this time, memory is expensive and 2GB is plenty right now.

 

Thanks Vespoli. To what you said:

3) How is that desktop memory... this is what it specifically says "Crucial 2GB kit(1GBx2) DDR2 667(PC2-5300) Memory Upgrades for Dell Inspiron E1705 Laptop/Notebook, 200-pin SODIMM, Unbuffered, Non-ECC. Model: CT541054. ds"
?

I am confused because this site apparently is showing i can have 4GB total in an Inspiron E1705 (see: http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.aspx?i=2766&p=2)

System Configuration Options

Dell Inspiron E1705
Intel Core Duo T2300/T2400/T2600 (1.66/1.83/2.16 GHz)
FSB Speeds Up to 667 MHz Up to 667 MHz
Memory Speeds DDR2-533, DDR2-667
Memory Slots (2) x SO-DIMM, max. 4GB, DDR2, Dual Channel supported

Clarification ?

 

vespoli meant the newegg link, which says " OCZ FlexXLC Edition 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail"

 

to my knowlege the inspiron line of laptops has a MAX RAM capacity of 2GB.
I'm a little confused you said that you have 1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm,wouldn't that mean you have 2X512MB sticks in there already. meaning both slots are taken. Even if you had a 1dimm setup, as you said above you can't put 3 dimms into 2 slots.
I'm assuming that these are typos and that you have 1GBX1dimm and you are looking to put a 2GB(1GBX2dimm) set into the laptop. and you can't because you don't have the slots.

anyways, as vespoli said, 2GBs is plenty. And as far as I can tell the E1705/9400 can only capacitate 2GBs.
so my advice to you is if you already have a 1GB stick, just buy another one like it, or buy a 2GB(1GBX2dimm) set and replace the existing RAM.

 

Based on DELL E1705's manual, it does support up 4GB memory
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins9400/en/om/specs.htm#wp1082923

 

Even If it does support 4GBs,Orihaj would have to buy 2X2GBs sticks of RAM to do it, and that's increadibly expensive, and for the time being, for most users unnecessary.

 

It dosent matter whether your CPU is 32 or 64bit. You can buy from Dell, but you can buy from any store/manafacturer as long as the RAM is compatable. You can use either 553 or 667Mhz RAM, but both Modules will be forced to run at the same speed. ie: Both Sticks will run at the speed of the slowest RAM.

This is what you need:

The difference between 553 and 667Mhz RAM isnt huge, you may as well save money and buy 553Mhz RAM, as RAM latency also has a big impact on speed.

How much of an impact more RAM will have on speed depends on what applications you use. For Office, e-mail, music + video, there will be hardly any difference in speed with 1GB more RAM. However, for programs such as high end games, 3D modelling, and Adobe Creative Suite programs, the speed difference will be huge.

You shouldnt really need to worry about maximum RAM amounts, 2GB really is more than enough for highly demanding programs, and you wont see much difference between 2GB and 3GB. It'd be a waste of money.

You also havent clearly told us how much RAM you have in each slot.

http://www.cpuid.com/download/cpu-z-139.zip

Download CPU-Z, Open up the zipped folder, and click on "extract all files" in the task pane on the left. Keep clicking next, and in the unzipped folder open the CPU-Z file. Click on the RAM/Memory Tab, and itll show you how much RAM you have in each slot.

 

Yes, I know that. I was just pointing out that the E1705 does support 4gb memory, replying to your post: