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    Upgrading to 4GB from 2 GB

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Fewmets, Oct 8, 2007.

  1. Fewmets

    Fewmets Notebook Consultant

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    I'm considering an Inspiron purchase for about $1600; specs are as follows:

    PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB/4MB cache)
    OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition
    SYSTEM COLOR Jet Black
    DISPLAY Glossy, widescreen 15.4 inch display (1280x800)
    VIDEO CARD 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT
    MEMORY 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
    HARD DRIVE Size: 320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
    INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
    WIRELESS NETWORK CARDS Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini-Card
    BLUETOOTH AND WIRELESS USB Built-in Bluetooth capability (2.0 EDR)
    INTEGRATED WEBCAM No Webcam Option
    BATTERY OPTIONS 85Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)
    SOUND OPTIONS High Definition Audio 2.0


    My question is, can I upgrade the 2GB to 4GB (2x2GB Corsair DDR2) and have it run the full 4GB? The price on the RAM @ Dell is outrageous ($375more than 2GB) and if this is a viable option, I'm in for a savings of about $200ish.
     
    Fewmets, Oct 8, 2007
    #1
  2. coriolis

    coriolis Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    You could pick up ram aftermarket for less. Check the RAM deals thread.

    Are you set on buying the Dell? Cause $1600 is a bit high for that machine, crossing the $1300~ barrier in the 15.4" gaming notebook class opens many options.
     
    coriolis, Oct 8, 2007
    #2
  3. Amol

    Amol APH! NBR Reviewer

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    cori just wants to advertise them ASUS's out there :p

    but he has a point though... like teh HP's biz model (8510p, with the HD2600...). Alternatively you could wait till Dell has those coupons
     
    Amol, Oct 8, 2007
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  4. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    32-bit Windows doesn't use the full 4GB (somewhere I read that the max is 3.24GB). You could buy the Dell with 1 x 1GB and then add a 2GB module. That combination of 2 modules will give you dual channel performance as discussed in this thread.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Oct 8, 2007
    #4
  5. kickace

    kickace Notebook Deity

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    or just 64 bit windows and it will use all 4 - 4gb is the best option to be future proof
     
    kickace, Oct 8, 2007
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  6. Amol

    Amol APH! NBR Reviewer

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    The only problem with 64-bit windows is driver support. I could be wrong but I think 64-bit is, emm, "immature" :p
     
    Amol, Oct 8, 2007
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